Demand for mobile computers continues to increase despite slower overall sales growth in the UK PC market, according to analyst Gartner.

The UK was one of the weaker performers in western Europe, but still grew 13.6 per cent in the third quarter of the year, compared with 2006.

But while mobile PCs remains a key driver of PC sales, desktop PCs are falling out of favour.

Suppliers are having to accomodate increasing demand for mobile PCs, said Ranjit Atwal, principal analyst at Gartner.

"Vendors are more than ever investing in meeting users' key requirements around mobility. This has led to mobile PCs constituting more than 50 per cent of PCs in both the consumer and business markets for the first time ever," he said.

Growth in the consumer market was lower than anticipated and was slightly overtaken by business sector expansion.

HP is the UK's top vendor for the first time in four years, while Dell has had a bad run in the consumer market.

HP could have further to go, thanks to strong mobile growth, said Atwal.

"HP and Dell control more than 45 per cent of the UK market, and with mobile growth remaining strong, HP could extend its market share in the fourth quarter of 2007," he said.

PC shipments in western Europe in the third quarter of 2007 were up 17.7 per cent on the year before.

Growth in the western European market outpaced expectations with shipments totalling 13.8 million units.