First-quarter PC returns are in and according to Gartner and IDC, Dell's slide continues, HP is still ascendant globally and is severely threatening Dell's primacy in the US, Acer ousted Lenovo from third place globally - or is about to - and Apple can claim 5% of the US market and the mightiest growth rate of anyone.

Gartner says PC growth worldwide was about 87.9% at 62.7 million units, better than expected. Portables continued to be the driving force. The US was still sluggish, up around 3% to 16 million units and was still buoyed by the blessed consumer. However, other figures suggest that the US consumer is sated and that sales will slow.

Gartner gives HP 25.7% of the US, up from 21% a year ago. Dell has 27.9% left, down from 33.9% a year ago. Gartner credited Vista and HP's channels. In the US Dell shipped 4.1 million units in Q1, down 15.5% year-over-year. HP shipped 3.9 million boxes, up 26%.

Gateway remains third in the US with 7.7% on the back of 1.15 million units shipped. Toshiba was fourth with 5.4%, up 26.8% and Apple has 5% with sales of 741,000 units, up 30%.

Worldwide Gartner gave HP 17.6% of the market with 11 million units, up 29% year-over-year. Dell claimed 13.9% after its shipments dropped 8% year-over-year to 8.7 million units.

Lenovo, despite its loss in status to Acer, grew 16%, its best showing since it acquired IBM PC unit two years ago. Gartner figures Acer for 6.8%, Lenovo 6.3% and Toshiba 4.1%.