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Sales of computers in the Asia Pacific region outside Japan fell for the first time in a decade during the fourth quarter, as the global meltdown hit consumer spending, a study said Monday.

Preliminary figures showed 17.2 million desktop computers and laptops were sold in the December quarter, down 14 percent from the previous quarter and five percent lower than a year ago, global market intelligence firm IDC said.

The figures marked the first year-on-year decline since the third quarter of 1998 when the region was grappling with the Asian financial crisis, it added.

"This quarter was quite a jaw-dropper" not just in China but also in India, said Bryan Ma, regional director for personal systems research with IDC.

"The clouds are darkening in 2009, although there might be some pockets of shelter in the region's public sector."

For 2008, struggling Chinese computer giant Lenovo was the region's number one vendor with market share of 18.3 percent, followed by US rival Hewlett Packard which had 14.1 percent, and Dell at 9.1 percent, IDC said.

Taiwanese computer firm Acer was fourth with market share of 7.5 percent and China's Founder ranked fifth, with 4.0 percent.