ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Gartner reports Q1 2013 W. European PC shipment decline for the 11th consecutive time with a -20.5% Y-o-Y drop on shipments reaching 12.3 million units-- the worst decline since Gartner started tracking shipments in the region.

"Wide availability of Windows 8-based PCs could not boost consumer PC purchases during the quarter," Gartner says. "Although the new Metro-style UI suits new form factors, users wonder about its suitability for traditional PCs."

All PC segments show declines. Mobile PC shipments fall by -24.6% Y-o-Y, while desktops drop by -13.8%. Shipments to the professional segment decline by -17.2%, and the consumer segment is hit even worse by -23.7%.

Both HP and Acer record declines of over -30%, even if HP remains the W. European market leader (with 19.7% market share) despite consumer notebook volumes dropping by half. On the other hand Acer slips to 3rd place in the vendor rankings, with shipments dropping by -36.8% Y-o-Y.

HP announces a pair of successors to the Envy x2 hybrid notebook PC, both with a detachable display allowing use as a standalone tablet-- the Android-powered SlateBook x2 and the Split x2 Windows 8 notebook.

The SlateBook x2 runs Android 4.2.2, and according to HP is one of the first devices carrying a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 processor. It features a 10.1-inch 1600x1200 IPS touchscreen, 16GB storage (expandable via microSD), 2GB RAM, an extra battery inside the keyboard and ports including x2 USB and HDMI.

Meanwhile the Split x2 is a hybrid Windows 8 PC powered by a 3rd generation Intel Core processor. The 1366x768 resolution display measures 13.3-inch, and storage options reach up to 128GB SSD paired with 4GB of RAM.

Intel and McAfee unites PC and mobile device security in LiveSafe, a cross-platform security suite combining cloud-based storage with biometric authentication and other security technologies.

The service protects PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets against malware and spam, secures devices against loss or theft (with remote device tracking, locking, wiping and data recovery from a single online console), and handles passwords through the SafeKey manager.

It also offers data storage with Personal Locker, a Dropbox-style cloud-based service for sensitive documents. Personal Locker provides 1GB of storage and access comes through the combination of voice, face and device recognition technologies.

Handling all these features is Intel Protection Technology, the authentication mechanism integrated in the most recent Intel processors.

LiveSafe will be available in retail from July 2013, with an annual subscription covering an unlimited number of devices.

Go McAfee LiveSafe

According to TrendForce's DRAMeXchange Q1 2013 sees a rebound in commodity DRAM prices-- mainstream DDR3 4GB module contract prices grow by 36.2% Q-o-Q (from $17.25 on Q4 2012 to $23.50), a rare occurrence in a traditionally weak 1st quarter.

The analyst expects growing DRAM prices will support revenue growth until at least until Q2 2013.

When it comes to vendors, Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix control 64.3% of the market, a -3% drop from Q4 2012. Samsung fails to benefit from the price rebound, with DRAM revenues dropping by -10% Q-o-Q due to commodity DRAM production reduced to less than 20% of total supply. However, thanks mobile DRAM output exceeding 40% (mobile DRAM remains the most profitable of memory products) Samsung still sees strong Q1 2013 margins despite revenue reductions.