(Image Source:  Apple)

BY ADAM FALK

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Hewlett-Packard’s PC reign might be coming to an end. A study released by Canalys says computer superpower Apple is set to claim the top PC vendor spot before the second half of 2012.

But there’s a big but lightweight catch. The iPad. Canalys counts Apple’s dominant device as a PC - not as part of a separate tablet category.

And a blogger for BetaNews says that’s just not right.

“Hell, not even Apple counts iPad as a PC. Tablet and Mac sales are separate. Before his death Jobs spoke enthusiastically about the post-PC era, and he referred to iPad and iPhone in that context. ... From that perspective, Canalys shouldn’t classify iPad a PC...”

But Canalys says Apple needs the iPad to take the top spot. And with the competition from the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, Apple might even need an update.

“HP and Apple will fight for top position in Q4, but Apple may have to wait for the release of iPad 3 before it passes HP.”

Looks like Apple’s in a Field of Dreams scenario. And USA Today says the numbers agree.

“According to research released by NPD on Tuesday, the combined sales for all non-Apple tablets in the U.S. for January to October was just 1.2 million units. … Apple sold more than 25 million iPads for the first three quarters of this year.”

Although the iPad is the clear tablet king, The New York Times notes...

“Without tablets, PC growth will be anemic, with [technology research firms] Gartner and IDC predicting growth in the low single-digit percentage points. Nice of Apple to give the industry a lift, even if Mr. Jobs didn’t think the iPad was a PC.”