News
IDC: Dell Led U.S. Intel-Based Server Market in Q2
- By Scott Bekker
- August 30, 2002
Dell Computer Corp. held a razor-thin lead in the U.S. market for Intel-based servers in the second quarter of 2002, according to results of a study by market research firm IDC.
The IDC report contradicts a study published in mid-August by rival market researchers at Gartner Dataquest showing that the new HP surpassed Dell with the top U.S. market share for Intel-based servers in Q2.
The IDC Quarterly Tracker puts Dell on top with 29.7 percent share, HP second with 29.6 percent share, IBM third with 10.8 percent share and Gateway fourth with 1.4 percent share. Gartner Dataquest showed HP surging into first place in Q2 with 28.7 percent compared with Dell's 26.7 percent.
The second calendar quarter of 2002 is significant because it is the first quarter that shows sales for the new HP, formed from the merger of Hewlett-Packard Co. and Compaq Computer Corp. in May.
In the Intel-based server space, the combined companies chose to retire HP's NetServer line and go with Compaq's ProLiant server line. Dell, especially, and IBM have been trying to capitalize on any confusion in the HP-Compaq installed base to take share away from the new HP. IBM's recent marketing in the Intel-based server space has focused more on challenging Dell on price with technology-packed servers.
In a related study, Dell noted that its PowerEdge Intel-based server line again took the top spot in customer satisfaction among Intel-based servers in Technology Business Research's quarterly report. Dell has held that position in 18 of the last 19 quarters.
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.