Dell slips to #3 in latest market share rankings

In the latest market share rankings through iSuppli, Dell is shown to be the only major computer manufacturer to decrease overall shipments comparing Q3 sales to the last year. In the same report HP grew 7% and Acer and Lenovo were up almost 17% worldwide.

This doesn't include any Black Friday or near-Christmas sales which might have improved Dells figures, but in the same light it would have improved competitors sales just as much. One thing we can take away from this is that in a time when everyone wants cheaper computers, releasing another $1,800 thin and light ultraportable probably wasn't the best idea.

 

Posted about it in another thread but even more bad news for Dell is ASUS trying to knock them out of #3 by purchasing Toshiba's notebook business.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/asus-courting-toshiba-in-bid-to-become-top-3-pc-maker/

 

I've always been a Dell fan but a lot of their stuff looks like shiny plastic garbage and their netbook selection is abysmal. Samsung has some pretty nice netbooks. Couple that with Dell's awful website, no surprise. I think a lot of people are buying more laptops in stores, where Dell has very minimal presence.

 

I saw this coming...Dell is a good brand, but is for some reason losing people...

I think the XPS disaster didnt help either, and that their configurations end up more expensive than the competition when configuring is not helpful either, though Dell is the only brand that allows you to customize all models AFAIK, and in some degree HP too.

The ASUS+Toshiba is not good for Del IMO.

 

I've been a loyal Dell customer, having bought a laptop for myself, and two others for the business, but they don't have anything I want.

I want a thin and light/netbook with decent graphics - either Ion or AMD's 2nd gen platform, and I'm leaning toward the AMD route. Dell has absolutely nothing to offer in the thin and light/netbook category for me. We know how badly the 11z turned out, too.

Dell is losing customers because they aren't selling what customers want to buy. The profit margin on netbooks may not be high, but a low profit margin is better than no profit at all.

 

No wonder cheap plastic heat boxes are so popular...HP is on top.

I have been a dell business fan since I got my vostro, but I'm not liking this trend of larger notebooks with lack of a full keyboard. Why waste the space with nothing when you can put something that is usable by many.

 

Not to mention that Dell graphics solutions are quite lacking, to say the least, in general on their consumer lines.

 

Dell should really just focus on the business and prosumer lines. There is really no point competing in the razor thin margins of the consumer market.

Dell's dominance has always been where performance and components mattered. In the consumer market, neither matter.

 

They have Alienware for that.

I like my Dell Studio 15, but I think I'm going to get an Asus this time. 2 year warranty is an absolute must, and I don't want to have to pay more for it with Dell.

 

I like Dell (after Thinkpad/Lenovo), and I think they are making decent machine, but somehow their recent (last couple of years) machines have been a tad off the target for me. For example, I'd love to like 11z, but the touchpad was rumored to be horrible. Their cheaper machines were not competitive against Asus or Toshiba or Acer, although I would have purchased Dell if the price conditional on features were the same...

I also do not like the pricing scheme (frequently changing prices); it induces potential buyers to wait until the next price change occurs, which kind of loses the momentum.

Too bad. I think they are not as badly losing as the number suggests.

 

Wow, Ashiba anyone?

 

Looks like Acer's marketing strategy and ambition to dethrone Dell from the #2 spot has finally paid off.

 

I for one would like to see it broken down between netbooks and notebooks.

Dell's business sales started falling last quarter, if I remember correctly.

 

I like Dell, I think they make a great product, but there's nothing on the consumer laptop side that's even remotely appealing in terms of aesthetics, save the Studio 15 with a certain lid design that would add 30 bucks to the price. The Mini's have a tendency to look "cheap" imo, something with even a faux brushed metal would look nice. The XPS systems look ok though, although they seem "thick" looking in comparison to their M1333/M1530 predecessors

Also, the quality and fit and finish issues they've experienced recently are a tad disconcerting. Esp. when systems that are supposed to be rock solid (Latitude and Precision) are involved.

I swore off HP ages ago due to quality issues. Now they have some pretty classy designs out like the Mini 311- A netbook that doesn't look like it's a toy...whodathunk? And several machines on the business side that look really attractive.

Don't make me turn away, Dell... really, get it together please!

 

I agree with Greg. Its a bit premature to be declaring the demise of Dell when Netbooks are the biggest sellers in the market.

 

I don't really understand Dell's marketing strategy. They have several decent laptops, but they deliberately hide them in the "business" sections of the site. I don't understand why they do this and IIRC it wasn't always this way (back when they still sent physical catalogs, the Latitudes were definitely in the same magazine as the Inspirons. Now you more or less have to pretend to be a small business in order to buy them. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if the stuff they offer on the home and home office section of their site was of the same quality, but it's not.

 

If the M6500 is an indication that Dell is sticking to 16:10 displays for their business machines then they stand to pick up more sales since business customers won't be so excited by 16:9 as the average consumer, particularly if they are replacing old models with 4:3 displays.

John

 

Good observation here.

 

That is if HP and Lenovo do ditch the 16:10 for 16:9.

The leaked T410 and T510 indicate 16:9 but I have yet to see from HP their offer.

If they do change to 16:9, then Dell could have most of the business market for them.

 

Lenovo + Economic crysis + People's Republic of China Goverment owning the majority of the Lenovo's shares has payoff.

 

I guess.....

 

Somehow I find the proliferation of ultra-cheap plastic notebooks a bit depressing, if that's what has hurt dell. Almost makes me want to buy a macbook pro...

 

Well, the HP 5310m is using metal too...aluminum I think or was it magnesium? The point is that not all are plastic, most are, but not all.

 

Here in Portugal there isn't almost any Dell, some stores have one, two models and that's it, some have no Dell at all. Everyone is busy buying HP,Asus,Toshiba,Sony,Acer...

 

If ASUS moves up to #3 Lenovo will get pushed down to #5. :tongue:

 

lol

Time will tell, if Asus manages to buy Toshiba laptop's division.

 

I can also envision an eventual tie up between Asus/Toshiba or Acer with Lenovo. That's assuming Dell doesn't buy Lenovo first (will that run into anti-trust issues in the US?)

 

I hope all these companies don't start buying each other, because all of this competition right now is causing some low prices on laptops. I think most are right though, it looks like some consolidation will be done. The Asus buying Toshiba laptop division seems like it's close to happening. Acer wants to buy somebody, it's even been rumored they'd try for Dell.

 

Listen when Taiwanese chairmen start throwing up giant foam-fingered gang signs you know they mean business and you give them what they want.

Tosh will sell.



[engadget]

 

This. If Acer buy's Dell, the differentiation between Dell, Gateway, E machines, Packard Bell, and Acer would no longer exist. I like the fact that I'm not using the same laptop with a different name slapped on the lid, that I'm using something unique. Granted, I don't have a "super boutique high end" laptop, but a lowly D630 but iidk, that's just how I feel

To be fair, Acer's brands do have some differentiation, and they have some products that I'd love to own, but some products are like I stated...

 

Booboo your laptop is actually a Samsung rebadged if i am not mistaken (I am not kidding)

Acer has money, but i dont think they have the free money available to buy Dell.

 

I agree if dell keeps 16:10 the would grab alot more market share. Im hoping lenovo also stays with tradition and bucks the trend on at least its t/w/x series laptops.

 

Michael Dell should Quit, he doesn't like netbooks he hates them that's why he doesn't have many. Many feel he is better without the company it is sad though a company you started wants to throw you out but that is what happens when you want to branch out. I am so sick of Alienware with Studio xps line, its time again for another XPS line, true XPS not some crappy remake of a " Better Studio" design LOL. I own a studio XPS 1340 good design good metal hinges and accents built good but reminds me too much of a studio. When i shop for a machine i pay top dollar for the deign and not a re branded design. Its time for Dell to remake notebooks, to make a design themselves by themselves and not qualcom or something. Sheesh were are these manufacturers going to? I own three Dells, netbooks are the way to go in this economy, and just in general since so many people want to be a zombie and droll loving over facebook all day like a bunch of monkies i stay on there for only 20 mins. Another thing too is this push for slot load drives it has to stop, i have Toshiba x505 only cost me 1,4000 compared to the dell studio 17 with the core i7 and a blu ray and drive and so much warranty it would of cost 2,000 for some cheap plastic lol. Dell better get it's act together or the nose will get them. The Precision M6500 is a joke for most part, i am very mad it has the same design as the precision m6400 so sad.

Another thing too is that they hardly sell machines at best buy or any other places its all crappy machines, best buy will have some high end dells with core i7 and a crappy intel intergrated GPUS. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735004574572203054030462.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/20/dell-in-a-handbasket-should-founder-michael-dell-resign/

The Asians are taking over lol

Everything is being outsourced today, it is so sad how our country is falling to a brink, dell made everything in their factories while the other competitors make crappy products to people who 3 dollars a day on labor while we sit here and enjoy ourselves arguing over computers and different things, dell is like the last company to make computers in their own factories fight for dell lol.

This is why dell is going into the smart phone market, but its also the economy most people forget, there will be a day when he won't even have money to buy computers.

Also the website is getting worse and worse every day.

Another thing is my god the customer service today is such a joke, the only good thing now is the business line. I rather sit and talk to American support IT guys who know what they are doing then to people who sit and scratch their head while i talk about computers. Even the XPS line is not even American anymore.

 

Nope, that would be the Latitude X1!

*Fun Fact: The reason why Samsung just entered the market recently, is because their non compete agreement with Dell expired.

 

If you look at the recent 2years release of Dell poducts, as well as the complain on Dell's quality popping out in the forum, it is not hard to see that Dell had loose it's charm.

I'm not bashing on the China assembled quality which were release during these period. But let's look at the figures from a wider angle. Long before Dell move it's plant/subcontract it's product to China, the mainland chinese is already in a state of handling different jobs from different companies. If Dell thinks that just by handing over the job to Compal, or Clevo, or Quantum or whatsoever... didn't this issue of reputation=capability x quality ever come into their mind?

Recently, one of my relative is shopping for a laptop for his son. We made several comparison, on the price as well as quality, and after sales support reputation from different manufacturers. He fell for the look of ACER initially, but i manage to pull him back by telling him to focus on the hardware specs as well as after sales support.
What did i tell him? "It dosen't matter whether how much you pay for the gear, all these models are featured with close identical hardware components, and are all assembled in china. You should look at what kind of after sales support as well as what kind of warranty package you received."

Dell is slowly walking into Motorola's path. Where the company is heading towards profits and earnings, than putting their concern on quality of produce, quality of service, which are 2 crucial elements of building their image of quality.

 

Your right everything is assembled in China, and they are becoming Motorola in many terms and every day they are losing their stock, what is going to happen soon is that chapter 11 is going to be filed. I am getting more about quality of design and service and price of the same hardware and not about buying from the same company over and over, but one thing i enjoy about Dells are that you don't have to worry about doing a clean install with the dell os disc but all OEM's are now shipping discs anymore you have to call them up. Yes dell is lossing their charm and they are not going to listen to us anyway until it is too late, what i would like to see is more updates to business machines since they want to focus on their primary customers government, universities, and corporations. Another thing i am sick of is the outsourcing of the jobs and the Indians with such cold customer support.

 

Next time!! I would have had it as well, if it wasn't for you and those meddling kids!

 

Could the problem be too much choice?

The one thing that Dell possibly enables more than any other manufacturer is a way to royally screw up your purchase by making choices you shouldn't, because you have the ability to do so.

No offence to anyone in particular, but even people here - an enthusiast site - frequently give me the impression they don't have a clue what they actually want when it comes down to it. Take your average joe on the other hand - and it's a total minefield of mis-choices in the making.

Other manufacturers, by limiting choice, seems to be delivering more of what people think they want.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems to me that no-one potentially does BYOD (Bring Your Own Disaster) better than Dell. Personally I know exactly what I want once I have a use in mind so the choice works in my favour, as it does for most actually savvy buyers - but I've always thought that for the vast majority of consumers, too much choice is a bad thing. Perhaps if, as others have said, Dell rids itself of the mentality that it has to compete in every single niche, then it could evolve to be a Lenovo with slightly more panache.

As for build quality, personally I think Dell has improved tremendously in general in terms of what it can engineer for and achieve. I remember my first Poweredge in the relatively early 90's - it literally fell apart as we were putting it together, and I remember the Dell PC's from the time as well - nasty, nasty machines compared to the other hardware I was using.

 

I think that Dell (and to a lesser extent HP) have a unique position though. I personally love the fact that there's a wide range of configurations available on every machine, not just a few "buckets" of choices like Lenovo does. (The fact that you can't really customize an IdeaPad is maddening!) Gateway dropped custom orders when they got bought, in order to match Acer's belief that custom orders aren't smart, much to my disappointment.

I do understand that the "dulled out masses" might get freaked out by the process of doing a custom config, but with proper safeguards in place (Both HP and Dell have compatibility warnings throughout the custom config process to help prevent people from making mistakes, simplified help and explanation screens, and (hopefully) capable online chat staff...) I feel like the full custom config experience can be a very smooth process.

A lot of makers also offer fixed configs for those unable or unwilling to do a custom config system. Maybe higher promotion of these for the uninitiated would help.

 

I think because Acer is available at retail more widely and at a lower price than Dell is the reason they are growing so quickly.

I personally find Acer's to be cheaply built compared to recent Dell offerings. To be honest I think the reason Dell is failing is because its trying to release higher quality notebooks at a higher price while everyone and their mother thinks of Dell as a cheaply built/cheap price company. Then they go to the store and see an Acer/Dell (if there is a Dell at the store to compare it too) and think, "why pay more for a Dell"?

 

I'm totally with you here. Their consumer lines should definitely be consolidated and the options seriously trimmed down. It makes it too bewildering for all but the most tech savy of us.

 

Someone I know is trying to purchase a laptop with a certain set of specifications (GPU and price mostly) and Dell won't sell him a laptop without the Intel card unless Dell upsells him to a laptop that costs $400-500 more.

I didn't believe it until I saw it myself, but Dell has seriously split up their lineup in such a way that in order to get one powerful feature (higher end GPU for instance)...you might have to buy a bunch of other features you do not really want (quad core processor, extra bundled security software). That puts people off from buying Dell...right now he is looking at possibly getting an HP instead if it meets his needs.

 

I know what you mean Greg.

Before getting my Envy, I was getting a Dell, but I HAD to get more RAM and the larger battery for my configuration, and I didnt want that.....obviously I looked away from Dell.