Acer is struggling in the notebook market claims leading research Company Display Search because they have failed to integrate the Gateway and Packard Bell brands into their portfolio. In Australia notebook sales have slowed with many vendors now discounting models in an effort to grab retail sales. also slowing is the SMB market as well as State and Federal government markets according to Mark Whittard from Toshiba.

Display Search claim that both Gateway and Packard Bell were losing notebook PC market share prior to their acquisition by Acer, but the acquisition has failed to reverse, or even halt that trend," said John Jacobs, Director of Notebook Market Research and author of their recent Notebook market report. They also claim that Hewlett Packard has completed Q2'08 with a full two-year run as the world's leading supplier of notebook PCs.  Dell has remained #2.

Much of the growth in the notebook PC market over the past few years was driven by consumer purchases, a market that Dell has had trouble penetrating. Recent efforts by Dell indicate that they have placed a renewed emphasis on growing this segment. Indications are that Dell is having some success in these measures as they have grown Q/Q in each of the past three quarters. However, the brand's success varies from region to region say Display Search.

In some markets Dells share is well below 2006 levels. Acer is holding steady at #3 in the US market  with a 14.4% share of notebook PC shipments.

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