Heads are bound to roll at Compaq after yet more research has revealed it is losing its lead over Dell. Research by Dataquest showed Dell's shipments of PCs in Europe climbed 49 per cent to 9.7 per cent of the market. Though Compaq stayed ahead, its European sales rose just 18 per cent to secure 16 per cent of the market. Total European shipments rose 23.5 per cent with PC prices dropping 14 per cent. Dell also recorded a whopping 85 per cent jump in its laptop sales in Europe for the quarter, compared to Compaq's 13 per cent and Toshiba's 18 per cent. Fujitsu Siemens Computers, the European newcomer, also put Compaq in the shade. Started only last month, the joint venture now has more than 12 per cent of the European market – second only to Compaq. Last month, Dell beat Compaq to the top slot in the US PC sales market, netting over 17 per cent of the market for the third quarter. ®