International Data Corp warns Apple Computer Inc not to pin its hopes on the European marketplace for a comeback in the personal computer business. Europe, once a strongpoint for Apple, saw unit shipments fall 31% in the second quarter compared to the same period a year ago, with its market share ranking falling from fifth place to ninth, according to the market research company. Even France, where widespread anti-Microsoft feeling has always made Apple particularly strong, saw a 30% downturn in sales. Apple’s overall share of the personal computer market in Europe fell to 2.6% in the second quarter from 4.2% a year ago, while the competing Microsoft-Intel camp saw robust growth. Compaq Computer Corp is market leader in Europe with a 14.1% share, up from 11.8%, with second quarter unit sales rising 30%. IBM Corp was second with 8.7%, but lost ground from last year’s 9.3% share, its unit sales rising 2%. Hewlett-Packard Co came third with a 6.9% share, rising 44.5% from last years 5.2% share. And fourth placed Dell Computer Corp moved to a 5.7% share from 4.3%, a 47% rise. Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG. Toshiba Corp, Vobis Microcomputer AG, and Fujitsu Ltd took the next four places, all ahead of Apple.
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