Apple continues to lead in PC shipments despite rough quarter for the iPad

Apple experienced the sharpest ever decline in iPad shipments during the first quarter of this year but even still, the company outperformed all others in terms of combined worldwide PC and tablet sales according to the most recent information from independent analytics firm Canalys. The fall in iPad shipments would normally be reason for concern but according to Canalys Senior Analyst Tim Coulling, it’s actually a smart move. 

Worldwide client PC shipments reached 123.7 million units in Q1 2014, up 5% year on year, according to the latest Canalys research. Growth in tablet shipments slowed to 21%, yet at 50.8 million units they continue to out-ship notebooks. Tablets accounted for 41% of the market, notebooks 38%. The worldwide decline in notebooks slowed to 7% as Western Europe continued to grow and North America remained flat, partly due to commercial sales improving in both regions. Commercial shipments the world over have been lifted by the end of life of Windows XP, a trend that also influenced desktops, helping shipments to remain flat year on year. Notably, however, notebooks and desktops in China, the world’s second largest PC market, declined 13% and 6% respectively compared with the previous year. – See more at: http://www.canalys.com/newsroom/tablet-growth-slows-21-channel-stock-rises#sthash.qPhShqoz.dpuf