Tablet shipments grow 124 percent in first quarter

The overall PC market showed signs of life during the first quarter of 2012, with year-over-year shipments growing approximately 30 percent, according to stats from NPD DisplaySearch. Tablet computers remain especially strong, as shipments increased 124 percent from the previous year.

Notebook shipments also increased, posting year-over-year growth of 12 percent. In total, 76.2 million PCs shipped during the first quarter -- an increase from the first quarter of 2011, but a notable 15 percent decline from the holiday-filled fourth quarter. 

NPD DisplaySearch notes that Apple® has retained its spot as the top tablet computer manufacturer in the world, capturing nearly two-thirds of the global market. But Apple's market share does seem to be slowly slipping as more competition enters the field.

The upcoming launch of Microsoft's Windows® 8 is poised to threaten Apple's dominance. There is some speculation about the dual-natured operating system, which will run on both tablet computers and traditional PCs. However, many seem to agree that Windows 8 has a good chance of stealing away some of Apple's market share, particularly in the enterprise space.