Gartner says PC shipments in EMEA hit 28.8 million units in Q3, a 25.9% increase from last year. Sure, you have to credit cheaper mini-notebooks for a re-shaping of the market leaders.

For the first time since HP bought Compaq, HP lost its No. 1 PC position in EMEA. Acer took first by selling netbooks and selling into telco retail channels across W. Europe. Acer sold 20.6% of shipments in the region, and HP accounted for 18.7% in Q3.

"What do you have to say, HP?" HP launches a new Mini Continue reading...

The top-selling HDD capacity for notebooks in six W. European countries became 250GB for the first time in August, with 23% share, outselling 160GB (22%) and 120GB (21%).

Context research says distribution sales (for France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK) also highlights 80GB in fourth position with 10% (stable over the previous month), while 320GB jumps from 5% (July) to 8% (August).

Go See the Chart & Unit Sales

Asus adds scent to four laptops. If this smells like good business, that’s because the scent is supposed to evoke certain moods from buyers.

Asus developed a heat-transfer print technology that embeds scent into clear plastic film. The film is applied to the notebook cover will last for up to six months. Cold weather extends the scent; sun and wind shortens it.

GO Asus Adds the Smell of Success

It’s all about fashion and design at Dell now, as they talk about adding designers and selling off all their 11 factories. That brings the master of direct sales around to an Apple model. Analysts say the shift to notebooks clobbered Dell’s once-winning model based on custom-building desktops.

GO Dell Wants to Sell Off Factories