Dell overtakes HP in US sales, HP plans elaborate retaliation

Dell must be doing something right, because according to recent sales figures, the PC maker has topped HP as the number one computer supplier in the States. The Texas-based computer-maker saw sales hit 5.35-million units in the fourth quarter of 2007 (a jump of 15.2-percent over the previous year), while HP came in second with a paltry and embarrassing 4.5-million units shipped. Interestingly, the third and fourth-place slots filled by Apple and Acer swapped hands, with Acer taking the lead due to its recent purchase of Gateway, resulting in a crazy 294.2-percent gain. The increase in numbers of the leader, however, seems to stem from Dell's shift out of direct sales to the sale of systems at retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart, though internationally HP still rules the roost, garnering a 19-percent market share worldwide. Of course, if they can overtake in America, Dell can certainly turn it around elsewhere. Watch your back, HP.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 17th 2008 11:11AM]

"The increase in numbers seems to stem from Dell's shift out of direct sales to the sale of systems at retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart"

WELL DUH !

Walmart stocks the cheaper models of Dell configurations - you won't find any XPS on their shelves. Walmart typicaly stocks the mid priced HP laptops for $700 - $1200. When the average lay person is shopping for a computer - especially whilst shopping for groceries, they are more likely to pick a name they recognize for a price they can afford.

[kjb434 @ Jan 17th 2008 11:30AM]

And that is a really good thing.

It's a business and they are selling. Most computer consumers are not high end users. Higher end and more computer savy users typically never buy at a retail outlet, unless they are buying parts to build their own.

[JohnTitor @ Jan 17th 2008 12:30PM]

you buy parts at Walmart?

[Derbeste @ Jan 17th 2008 1:47PM]

They're rolling back prices on motherboards!

[OddManOut @ Jan 17th 2008 11:42AM]

More units shipped, huh ? You'd kind of expect that if they just picked up a couple new customers who buy thousands of units at a time.

With a gap of ~800,000 units I'm gonna guess Dell is legitamitely in the lead, but I think if you look at the number of machines that have been purchased by end users thus far (ie ones that aren't sitting in warehouses, back stocks, and store shelves, the gap would be a little narrower...

[Rand @ Jan 17th 2008 12:09PM]

Wouldn't all those caveats apply equally to HP who also sells through retail?

[OddManOut @ Jan 17th 2008 1:03PM]

Sure, but not necessarily(sp?) proportionally. I would tend to think retailers have a better handle on how HP stuff moves off their shelves than they would for Dell, them being the newcomer, and so would be able to stock and order more efficiently at this point.

But hey, could be going the other way. Being "fresh and exciting" in a realative way, Dells could be flying off the shelves for all I know. Like I said, They probably have switched positions (Dell in 1st, HP in 2nd), but I still doubt the numbers quoted in the Engadget post tell the whole story...

[iluvhatemail @ Jan 17th 2008 11:48AM]

It's because HP's quality has been continuously going down while Dell keeps getting better. I have a 6 month laptop from HP and this will be the 4th time I will have to send it in for the same issue. The problem isn't from a bad fix, it's because the last time they decided to wipe my hard drive and not fix the issue i sent it in for.

[Mike @ Jan 17th 2008 11:50AM]

Doesn't that qualify as a bad fix?

[SteveMB @ Jan 17th 2008 5:31PM]

I got two words for you: Genital wa... Lemon Law

[MosquitoControl @ Jan 17th 2008 11:52AM]

My last PC was a Dell, and I often recommended them. With coupons they could be had incredibly cheaply. And sure, there may be issues - my HDD died after a week, but Dell takes care of you. The dead 250GB HDD was replaced with a new 320GB one. Not a bad deal.

My only real complaints were that the power supply was a bit weak, a problem since I love jamming more HDDs into my PC, and the cooling system needed more umph. But whatever, after the $750 off $2000 coupon the PC cost me less than the parts would have had I built it off of Newegg (like the three computers before.)



Dell has been lacking lately, though. For one, extreme coupons are hard to come by. For another, XPS coupons are always skimpy, and extremely rare regardless. This is problematic as the best parts are XPS exclusive. Quads only recently made it out of the XPS lineup, even as other companies were offering Quad systems under $1000. Want a 512MB graphics card? Gotta go XPS.

No way would I go Dell now. They won't build you a gaming machine even remotely close to in price to what you can do it yourself. So it'll be back to building for me. No complaints, I like it. I just liked getting a better deal from Dell more.

[fortunado @ Jan 17th 2008 12:01PM]

All I know is a I paid $633 for an XPS 420 quad core straight from the outlet. Every outlet system I've ever bought has worked flawlessly or had minor minor problems that were quickly repaired. Also dell is having some crazy deal w/ the XPS where you can get a complete XPS system for just under $940 with everything a man could want. q6600+8800GT+3gb of ram. So yeah, coupons are still out there and the deals are still good.

[yuppicide @ Jan 17th 2008 12:08PM]

Don't buy HP. They suck. My Girlfriend has one and they're horrible. Sure you might be buying a machine with some nice processor and memory, but they load all this HP crap in the background that runs. Some of it is in the Add/Remove programs, but has no button to uninstall it. Her computer is pretty slow and takes awhile to start up. Also, I've read reports online of Lightscribe drives being defective or not lasting long. My Girlfriend's only lasted over a year. I replaced it with an LG Dual Layer with no lightscribe and it works great now.

[Peppie @ Jan 17th 2008 12:16PM]

Or you can do what I did and wipe the hard drive, download visit ultimate from your University and not have to deal with any HP crap. That's what I did. "But, but, but, what about drivers?" Back them up and install them once Ultimate is done. I know I may have an exception, but my HP dv9500 has had zero problems since I got it back in August and the biggest problem was trying to install OSx86, which I can't do for some reason

*glances angrily at ACPI*

[yuppicide @ Jan 17th 2008 12:53PM]

Well, I build my own computers. I've been building my own computers for many, many, years now. I never buy anything prebuilt. So, eventually I'll just put together something better for my girlfriend and we can give this POS to her Daughter maybe.

[Don Wilson @ Jan 17th 2008 12:16PM]

HP, fix your effing mousepad buttons. I don't need to push it three miles down before it receives the click. That's the reason why I haven't "upgrade" to a new HP laptop.

[OneLove @ Jan 17th 2008 12:27PM]

Just bought a dv9700t (simply a re badged dv9500t with 512mb video) from HP.I should have bought a DELL!!! Whats with no XP drivers, no raid, only 3 changeable bios settings, no nvidia "sharpening" mode, low contrast screen, can't find my laptop model in support/drivers download? ...and tech support sending me to the wrong download page?? My laptop is not a dv9000 CTO with 64bit vista!!

[OneLove @ Jan 17th 2008 12:31PM]

...and I forgot, having to send a custom built dv9500t back because the keyboard was warped and there were dents on the case. Then after 2 weeks of waiting, getting a new dv9700 replacement also with dents!!??. When are we going to tell HP china to fix their f'ing quality control issues!

[webran61 @ Jan 17th 2008 12:28PM]

HP laptops are nicer-looking than Dell's.

Dell, make more of your product line attractive and then we'll talk. Selling cheaper and uglier units through Wal-Mart doesn't impress me.

[OneLove @ Jan 17th 2008 12:34PM]

I agree, make them more attractive and stop with this 1280 x 800 max resolution nonsense. 1680 x 1050 fo-ever! lol.

[TareX @ Jan 17th 2008 12:52PM]

I'm still waiting for the Dell Phone with Windows Mobile 7.

I'm telling you, if no plans and details are leaked soon enough, I'm planning to get the HP Oak with WM 6.1

[jd @ Jan 17th 2008 1:10PM]

i'd buy dell than hp, anytime.

my sista bought a hp laptop. fck, it is one of the shittiest design ever.

1) no back up cd provided. wtf? my sista is an IT idiot, no back up cd means someone(probably me) have to go through alot of trouble to recover the system for her.

2) design wise, dell is way nicer. hp's design is just bad

3) hp still got so much spy wares. god.. get rip of them already..

4) i think dell will do well if they sell their products in buybest and wal-mart.

[Nacio @ Jan 17th 2008 1:29PM]

@webran61: Dell's new design has really influenced the year over year numbers... their new XPS 1330 slaps every hp hardd.

[KC @ Jan 17th 2008 1:50PM]

"Apple's shipments grew 30.9 percent to 1.06 million, a 5.7 percent market share".

Wow. That's a lot of Apple Trolls here if they only have 5.7% market share or 1 million units shipped.

[webran61 @ Jan 17th 2008 2:56PM]

Who are we kidding here? The black resin finishes on the HP dv series are much nicer and expensive-looking than any and every chunky/rotund Inspiron. Only the XPS models can stand next to the HPs without looking cheap, but those aren't the ones flying off Wal-Mart shelves.

Excuse me if I sound bitter, but I had a Dell Inspiron and was embarrassed to be seen with it almost immediately the first time I saw an HP dv.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 17th 2008 3:43PM]

THAT PITURE IS FUCKING HILARIOUS

I didn't even read the article!

Yes my imagination is hyperactive :]

[Majortom1981 @ Jan 17th 2008 3:48PM]

I have never had a problem with dell computers. HEck I bought an inspiron 1520 with a 8600gt processor for cheaper then what everybody else was selling a similiar system for.

Also dells powersupplies are rated much lower then what they can handle.

[JoshT @ Jan 17th 2008 6:35PM]

Just wanted to say that the graphic is awesome

[Sam Zebian @ Jan 17th 2008 7:20PM]

HP FTW!!! Seriously though, I don't hate Dell or anything, I just like HP better.

[bob e @ Jan 17th 2008 8:42PM]

I've seen this first hand at Best Buy. I go to the computer department and it swarming with people hovering over the Dell laptops.

Looked over to the Mac area and saw there was not a soul, not even a salesperson. And this is in a wealthy part of Chicago.

I am glad to see Dell is back!

[freakmarket @ Jan 17th 2008 8:58PM]

I think most Apple customers go to an Apple store or order online.

[benhk @ Jan 18th 2008 12:28AM]

I just read this article saying the opposite (that HP is now top in terms of market share).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7193862.stm

[DP @ Jan 18th 2008 4:24AM]

Is this really a surprise?

[ej @ Jan 18th 2008 10:54PM]

All those people will regret those dells they bought.
My family does, and everyone else I know that bought a dell.
Now HP is a better buy. All those people that bought a dell will wish they didn't an upgrade to hp.

[Simon @ Feb 11th 2008 4:14PM]

At least Dell knows better how to name a computer.
When I first check HP website for a laptop, I got so confused by the names of HP computers. Somehow I just don't like the way they name a computer dv9700t or dv6700z ...... Or maybe the way they present those laptops online is not attractive to me.