Gartner: as a Media Tablet, iPad deserves to be ignored in PC rankings

“Media tablet hype around devices such as the iPad has also affected consumer notebook growth by delaying some PC purchases, especially in the U.S. consumer market. Media tablets don’t replace primary PCs, but they affect PC purchases in many ways,” Ms. Kitagawa said. “At this stage, hype around media tablets has led consumers and the channels to take a ‘wait and see’ approach to buying a new device.”

Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipments Grew 7.6 Percent in Third Quarter of 2010.

Fascinating. I’d love to hear more about the non-iPad “media tablets” that delayed PC purchases last quarter. Maybe I don’t get out enough.

But more to the point, let’s combine the data from Gartner and the forecast for iPad.

I show below the impact of the iPad on PC vendor sales. I’m using my own estimates of world-wide PC sales (you can see other estimates here (Apple 2.0))

The world-wide PC units shipped without and with iPad:

When including the iPad Apple goes from 7th to 5th ranked, and with 50% growth clearly within shot of top rank next year.

Now I look at PC unit shares:

With the iPad Apple goes from 4% share to 10% share. Again, within striking distance of number one or two in a year.

Finally, growth rates:

Apple’s share growth goes from second to first but also several times higher than any of the others.

When Gartner spins the iPad as a “Media Tablet” it’s clear that the device is disruptive. Reminds me of what Gartner thought about Smartphones four years ago.

I cannot think of a better endorsement for an investment than a snub from Gartner.