PC

5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business

From sluggish PC sales to Facebook regaining an important advertiser to a department store chain finally ousting its inept CEO, here are the wonders and blunders of the week.

Wall Street Watch Wednesday: Dell's Not Swell

Dell posted mixed quarterly results after Tuesday's market close, and that's not good news for the PC giant. No one is surprised to find that desktops and laptops just aren't selling these days.

Reports of the PC's Death Greatly Exaggerated

Personal computer sales fell 1.1% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2010, according to industry research firm Gartner, but while its report lists a few possible reasons for the decline, none are compelling, and the drop is unlikely to presage a serious decline in PC sales.

Tablets and Smartphones Slow Laptop Sales Growth

Gartner has lowered its laptop-sales forecast for this year and the next, predicting that the popularity of tablets and smartphones will slow laptop sales. Gartner expects worldwide laptop sales to increase 11% this year and and 14% next year, down from a previously forecast 16$ and 15%, respectively.

Why You Should Have Intel Inside Your Portfolio

No wonder President Obama is visiting an Intel plant as he stumps for U.S. innovation and high-tech jobs. After all, Intel is a clear industry leader. Indeed, some analysts argue that for investors seeking entry in the global growth of technology, Intel is the one-stop answer.

Ken Olsen Remembered: Lessons of a Great American Entrepreneur

Ken Olsen, the MIT-educated inventor who founded DEC in the 1950s and built it into multibillion dollar company, died on Sunday. In addition to inventing the minicomputer, Olsen was a pioneer as a manager. But perhaps the most valuable lesson his life can teach regards his one business blind spot.

No, the iPad Is Not Killing Microsoft's Business

Investors are buying into the meme that Windows is dying -- and therefore Microsoft is as well. While tablets are clearly cutting into the giant's core PC business, Microsoft is also showing remarkable agility in building new franchises for the future, the Kinect for one.

Holiday Consumer-Electronics Sales Fell 5%

U.S. consumers spent 5% less on consumer electronics during the last holiday season compared to a year earlier, according to a new report from NPD Group. Even at discounted prices, Americans bought fewer flat-screen televisions and desktop computers, as well as lower-end digital cameras and MP3 players, according to the report.

Intel Will Have to Prove Itself All Over Again in 2011

Intel's stock is up just 2% this year compared to the Nasdaq's 17% rise, and investors fret that the explosive growth of smartphones and tablets will crimp the market for the PC chips that produce the bulk of Intel's revenue. But the tech giant has a plan.

Blizzard's StarCraft Sequel Takes the Gaming World by Storm

StarCraft II, the sequel to one of the most popular PC games of all time, has been a dozen years in the making. But the wait has paid off. Game maker Blizzard Entertainment says it sold 1.5 million copies in the first 48 hours after launch.

With Businesses Buying PCs Again, Dell Could Prosper

After PC buying stalled during the recession, it's time again to replace those old machines. Such buying kicked in during the second quarter, and it's buoying expectations that Dell's sales and earnings growth will regain badly needed vigor.

Do Intel's Record Earnings Signal a New Tech Boom?

Intel's record earnings suggest that companies are starting to loosen up a bit on tech spending as they finally start replacing their four- and five-year-old PCs. This replacement cycle should bid up the stocks of companies in the IT sector. But how long will this wave of higher spending last?

Intel Is Poised to Set the Pace for Tech Earnings

Investors are looking for a strong showing from the bellwether chipmaker, which would offer further evidence that U.S. companies -- and tech firms in particular -- are continuing to emerge from the recession. Analysts expect Intel to come through.

Microsoft Vice President: We're Still No. 1

In an extraordinary blog post, Frank Shaw presses a case for the company's primacy in tech -- clearly a reaction to its many critics and skeptics on Wall Street, given that Microsoft's share price is less than half what it was in 1999.

Chip Sales Show a Healthy Jump in March

Semiconductor sales hit $23.1 billion in March, further solidifying the industry's growth after a brutal downturn a year ago, according to the closely watched Semiconductor Industry Association report. It was the second-best period on record after November 2007.

Global First-Quarter PC Shipments Jump More Than 20%

Worldwide personal computer shipments increased more than 20 percent in the first three months of 2010 from the same period a year ago, a sign the PC business is on firmer ground after one of its shakiest stretches ever. The quarterly increase was higher than expected by IDC and Gartner.

Apple's 'Latest Creation' Fuels Tablet Chatter

With speculation mounting that Apple is preparing to unveil a new tablet-style computer, the company invited reporters to come see its "latest creation" at an event in San Francisco next week. Meanwhile, a news report said Apple will release a 22-inch, touch-enabled, all-in-one PC in 2010.

Intel Could Revive Earnings Season

The world's No. 1 chip maker will release its fourth-quarter earnings in a new format on Thursday, better to show Wall Street how it restructured to remain competitive during the recession.