ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

The Matias One keyboard has a clever idea-- it controls both computers and devices with Bluetooth connections (including iDevices), swapping between devices with the press of a button.

Connecting to PCs via USB, it carries x2 additional USB ports and a row of standard function keys acting as media player controls on Macs.

Four versions are available-- Standard, Slim, a Blackberry-compatible model (even if most Blackberry devices already have excellent physical keyboards) and most interestingly, Tactile (with Alps mechanical switches, sculpted keytops, x3 USB ports and anti-ghosting circuitry).

Each keyboard also includes a handy stand, lifting and tilting mobile devices for easier viewing.

Go Matias One Keyboard

Is RIM looking for a potential buyer? According to Reuters recent market rumours suggest Goldman Sachs is helping the BlackBerry maker "explore strategic options."

This is not the first time RIM takeover speculation is popping up-- last month Reuters reported Amazon was considering to buy RIM (before backing off) while the Wall Street Journal said Microsoft and Nokia were also planning to make a joint bid for RIM.

As one expects, RIM and Goldman Sachs are still to either confirm or deny the buyout speculation.

Of course, a company hiring an investment banker might mean nothing-- some companies hire banks before deciding to keep things as they were. Other analysts suggest RIM needs to stabilise its platform and handset offerings before hoping someone will spend an excess of $10 billion on an ailing purchase.

Go RIM Stock Up on Talk Blackberry Maker Hired Goldman (Reuters)

Go Amazon Weighed Buying RIM (Reuters)

Go Microsoft, Nokia Flirted with RIM (WSJ.com, subscription required)

Cloud-based gaming specialist OnLive steps towards the remote desktop market with OnLive Desktop-- a free iPad app providing "instant access" to the Microsoft Office Suite.

The company claims “OnLive Desktop is the first app to deliver a no-compromise, media-rich Windows desktop experience to iPad, opening up powerful new possibilities for consumers and businesses." Users should be able to view and edit cloud-hosted documents, complete with multi-touch gesture support and high-quality HD video playback.

A free option has 2GB of storage, while the subscription-based OnLive Desktop Pro will make 50GB of storage space available (together with a larger, yet to be announced application and feature set) for $9.99 monthly.

The company will also launch OnLive Enterprise-- a version aiming at business clients, allowing IT departments to have full control of user entitlements/access privileges to applications and associated data.

Go OnLive Desktop Announcement

Gartner reports EMEA PC shipments total 28.9M units in Q4 2011-- a -9.6% Y-o-Y decline, the fourth consecutive quarter of decline for the region.

As a result, Gartner estimates year-end 2011 EMEA PC shipments will be down by 7.2% from 2010, as a continually uncertain economic environment squeezes spending on PCs.

On a global basis, both consumer and professional PC markets remain weak in mature markets such as W. Europe, resulting in overall negative growth. Gartner reports WW Q4 2011 PC shipments decline by -1.4% Y-o-Y to reach 92.2M units.

The HDD shortages caused by the October 2011 Thailand floodings had "limited impact" on Q4 2011 shipments and prices-- but Gartner warns we should feel a "major impact" on H1 2012 as HDD shortages will temporarily lower 2012 PC shipment growth.

Ultrabooks failed to draw consumers' attention following their quiet Q4 launch, as only "a small group" of potential customers understands the "ultrabook" concept and is willing to pay the premium for such models.

When it comes to vendors, HP remains top WW PC vendor in Q4 2011, despite -16.2% Y-o-Y shipment declines due to confusion regarding the company's position on the PC business (following the Great Garage Sale), not to mention aggressive pricing competition and weak PC demand throughout the holiday season.

Lenovo comes 2nd, with the strongest growth among the top 5 PC vendors-- Q4 Lenovo shipments show 23% Y-o-Y growth according to Gartner, thanks to aggressive pricing in both professional and consumer markets.

Dell follows with 7.8% Y-o-Y growth and shipments reaching 11.6M units for Q4 2011 due to stable growth in the professional market (growth Gartner attributes to the migration towards Windows 7). Acer comes 4th (with a -18.4% Y-o-Y decline) and Asus remains 5th, even if a successful move from mini-notebooks to regular notebooks resulted in 20.5% Y-o-Y growth and shipments reaching 6.2M units.

Gartner says WW 2011 PC shipments total 352.8M units-- a slight 0.5% increase over 2010. While professional market growth was "good," the consumer market remains weak, particularly in mature markets.

Go Gartner Quarterly PC Market Tracker