Source: IDC via Fortune

Earlier this week, I offered my opinion on: Why Microsoft insists tablets run Windows instead of Windows Phone (Windows CE). My opinion is that PC shipments are flat at best (worldwide numbers). This means that Windows sales are probably flat too (not accounting for people upgrading PCs). Assuming that tablet sales (mostly the iPad) is a partial factor for this situation, putting Windows on tablets could help prop up Windows sales.

The data from IDC mentioned by Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt (Snapshot of the computer market, with and without iPad) supports my theory. IDC’s data indicates that if the iPad is considered a “computer”, then the global PC market share is falling for Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Apple’s market share hockey sticked and would, in fact, be the “PC” market leader if iPads are included.