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

IDC reports EMEA ereader shippings total over 1.9m units in 2010, most of which in W. European markets-- just over 15% of the WW market.

However the analyst predicts EMEA sales will reach 9.6m units by 2015, growing by a total CAGR of 37.9% and roughly matching the US market's size.

Since their entering the market in 2007 ereaders grew much faster in the US than EMEA, mostly thanks to the Amazon Kindle's rapid uptake in that market.

The IDC attributes this growth to ereaders' combination of e-ink screens and long-lasting batteries, which provides customers both an appealing alternative to actual books and justification to the purchase of such devices over a LCD-screened tablet.

Lower prices also aid in saving the ereader market from cannibalisation-- while aiding their conversion from "trendy gadgets" to accessible commodity goods. A number of European libraries, universities and schools are also implementing ereaders as additional consultation tools for students and users.

One factor limiting ereader growth in Europe is language-- the availability of ebooks in languages other than English remains relatively limited. Thus it comes to no surprise that the UK leads in ereader shipments, with Germany and France following behind. IDC says that however a majority of Continental European publishers are gearing put to offer ebooks in local languages.

Amazon leads in the ereader vendor stakes, taking over 35% of EMEA market share in 2010. Sony also has a strong presence, through a solid go-to-market strategy and support amongst almost all publishers for its epub ebook format. Once the likes of Asus and Acer enter the market, competition will only serve to cheapen prices and thus push the market further.

Go EMEA Market for eReaders Expected to Match US Market by 2015

Innergie announces 2 new universal power adapters for its mCube series, both coming in compact sizes.

The mCube Slim 95 handles up to 95W (110W peak) of power output in, as the name suggests, a slim form factor. It can charge laptops as well as any device with a 10W USB port (such as tablets, ebook readers, smartphones and mp3 players). It is compatible with a large number of laptop brands (between 18-21 volts) through the included x9 laptop tips, including Acer, Asus, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP and more.

It also carries built-in protection against unstable voltage and RTCA aviation-safe certification.

Meanwhile the mCube Mini 90 is an in-vehicle charger the company describes as one of the smallest on the market-- allowing users to charge their laptops and mobile devices on either cars or planes. Power outputs come in 90W for laptops and USB 10W.

It is RTCA aviation certified and UL2089 certified for car usage.

Innergie says both models will be available from May 2011.

Go Innergie

Intel has many a reason to be jolly-- its revenue for Q1 2011 totals $12.9BN, a 25% Y-o-Y increase compared to Q1 2010. Analysts were predicting revenues of around $11.6BN for the quarter.

The company says such earnings are an all-time record for the company-- reaching double-digit annual revenue growth in all its major product segments and across all geographies. Intel now aims to achieve more than 20% annual revenue growth in total for this year.

When it comes to product segment group growth, the PC client group's revenue is up by 17%, the Data Center group's by 32%, and the other Intel architecture group's up by 70%.

Atom microprocessor and chipset revenue totals $370m, a 4% Y-o-Y increase.

Intel's 2 major 2010 acquisitions, Infineon and McAfee, contribute a further $496m worth in revenue.

Go Intel Q1 2011 Results

Gartner reports EMEA PC shipments total 26.1m units in Q1 2011-- a 2.8% decline from Q1 2010 (where shipments totalled 26.9m).

This is the first show of decline for the EMEA market since Q3 2009, where the market declined by 8.9%.

Such decline, according to Gartner, is due to excess inventory accumulating from Q4 2010's end. Such stock was reduced slowly, particularly as delayed Sandy Bridge products entered the market in March.

This year also sees Q4 2010's downward trend continuing into Q1 2011.

All major PC vendors-- including market leaders HP (20.6% EMEA market share), Acer (20.7%) and Dell (9.3%), retaining their positions as from last year-- record declines in shipments when compared to Q1 2010.

The EMEA's area of weakness? W. Europe, where consumers continue delaying their PC-related spending, particularly after the iPad 2's launch-- leading to the extention of current PC's life cycles.

Meanwhile WW Q1 2011 PC shipment charts show similar Y-o-Y declines. coming below Gartner's earlier forecasts.

WW PC shipments for Q1 2011 total 84.3m units-- a 1.1% Y-o-Y decline from Q1 2010's 100.1m units. HP retains its position as market leader, accounting for 17.6% WW market share, followed by Acer (14.6%) and Dell (12%), all of which show declines, particularly Acer (with above average decline of -12.2%).

Go Gartner Says WW PC Shipments in Q1 2011 Suffer Y-o-Y Decline in 6 Quarters