Chinese computer maker Legend Holdings dislodged the United States' International Business Machines (IBM) as the biggest seller of personal computers in the Asia-Pacific region outside Japan in the third quarter, marking the first time Legend has gained the top spot, according the International Data Corp. (IDC), a market-research firm.

Legend led with an 8.5 percent market share, up from 6 percent in the previous quarter and 5.7 percent a year earlier.

The gain in market share was largely because of aggressive pricing in the Chinese market and a weak performance from other vendors, The Wall Street Journal quoted an IDC official as saying.

IBM was second with a 7.8 percent market share, while Compaq Computer came in third with a 7.4 percent share.

Meanwhile, a new survey by AC Nielsen eRatings.com shows that Singapore and New Zealand have the highest Internet-penetration rates in the Asia-Pacific region outside Japan, with 32 percent of their populations now hooked up to the Internet. (Xinhua)