Apple has become the leading computer vendor in the Western European Educational market, with 15.2 percent of the market, leaving Dell behind with 14.7 percent.

"During the fourth quarter 2005, Apple became the number one PC vendor in the Western European Education market. The company has continued to grow very strongly (+22.4 per cent) and achieved a 15.2 per cent of market share in Q4 2005," reports Gartner analyst Isabelle Durand.

According to the Gartner numbers, "Apple market share in the UK education market during the fourth quarter 2005 was 12.5 per cent," but the UK market pales when compared to the whooping 54.4 percent share of the educational market which Apple holds in Switzerland. Apple is also number one in France, Sweden and Germany, with 19.5, 25.2 and 15.6 percent of the market respectively.

"We have gained significantly in the last few years. It’s only in the last few years we have emerged in Europe," said Apple UK general manager Mark Rogers.

While Dell holds the second place with 14.7 percent, third place is taken by HP with 14.2 percent, followed by Acer and Fujitsu with 9.5 and 7.8 percent respectively. The remaining slice of the market it taken by ‘other’ computer vendors, and accounts for a significant 38.6 percent.