Worst PC sales drop in history

[fusi0n]

Let's stick to the topic and not call out other members, eh?

sorry :(

[Mike Loney]

As someone who uses both Windows and Linux (and clearly by my avatar, I despise ie6-ie8, but ie9 and ie10 are decent), I must say that I hope PC sales at least are big enough for Microsoft and Linux to both hold on. Sure, Linux has mostly always been a thing for geeks, and Microsoft has some die-hard users as well, but in reality, we may very well be in the same boat here. If everyone leaves for mobile phones, there is not enough demand for hardware. I hope however that traditional PCs with Windows and Desktop Linux will continue to sell for a very long time. I cannot code on my Android phone or tablet. At least not efficiently. Some crap app cannot compare to Visual Studio or GCC with all the IDEs Linux has. But on the plus side, I believe that all the viruses may just move off the PC platform and head for Android, so at least Windows may not be plagued by crapware as much anymore. That would suck though, in one way, because phones these days hold more personal info that PCs, unless used by a business. Then the viruses would have even more ways to spread on phones (contact lists, wireless networks, etc.) And the average user is dumb enough to just download APKs that look suspicious. Although now the viruses aren't that bad, and Linux has always been relatively secure (Windows Vista, 7, & 8 have each gotten more secure though), I fear that if enough people are stupid, we could have to deal with mobile botnets. I would much rather use my PC with either Windows or Linux than a dumbed down, locked in mobile phone. The phone and tablet are just for doing quick things, like calling, texting, browsing the web, making notes, and casual gaming.

[brainsuck]

It's not Windows 8 it the under power hardware that being push out The only way to get anything is put it together yourself cpu at 1.6 gig is not power anybody Play gta4 on a surface pro

[Noir Angel]

That's not even close to being true, the hardware being pushed out today, even in the very cheapest of new computers comfortable exceeds what Windows needs to run smoothly. Consumers have a hell of a habit of reacting to crap software and it seems to me that they are doing so here.

[MorganX]

That's not even close to being true, the hardware being pushed out today, even in the very cheapest of new computers comfortable exceeds what Windows needs to run smoothly. Consumers have a hell of a habit of reacting to crap software and it seems to me that they are doing so here.

Agree except in the case of Surface RT. It needs more horsepower to run as fluidly as say an iPad. Don't know about the Pro. I have one in the office waiting for me but I just have no need for it at the moment.

[matt4pack]

I'm using my desktop from 2008 as my main machine and it still functions fine. Even runs every game I throw at it. PC's have just reached a point where they are ahead of software now so they aren't becoming outdated like they use to and thus don't need to be upgraded as often.

Throw in smartphones and tablets and it's not surprising to see this at all. Windows 8 has a little to do with it but not nearly as much as they would like to make you believe.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Windows 8 is not the cause of the declining PC market.

can you at least admit that it might have had a TINY TINY bit to do with it?

[Dot Matrix]

can you at least admit that it might have had a TINY TINY bit to do with it?

Maybe. But we could also blame Windows 7 just as equally.

[Motoko.]

Maybe. But we could also blame Windows 7 just as equally.

Seek employment with Microsoft's Marketing, you can take Adam Orth's place

[Arceles]

Seek employment with Microsoft's Marketing, you can take Adam Orth's place

He would lose it by I think the same reasons as him just as fast...

[+Warwagon MVC]

Maybe. But we could also blame Windows 7 just as equally.

So then that's a no. *face palm*

[Roxkis]

didn't theres news Lenovo said that they choose preinstall new computers with windows 7 instead of windows 8, and it helps their pc sales ?

so its not a stretch to say that Windows 8 might be detrimental for pc sales growth.

Actually yeah the they do.

http://www.channelre...vo_windows8_meh

So let me get this straight.

The only oem that has pc's auto downgraded to Windows 7, is the only oem doing well...Hmmm...

One might even say thats an indicator of where customer demand is..

But hey, Windows 8 has nothing to do with the declining Pc sells! Not one bit! /s :D

[BajiRav]

That link talks about enterprise customers and those wouldn't have gone Windows 8 this early even if it came with free unicorns but whatever.

[Ravensky]

recession, bad economic status for a lot of the world right now, Windows 8, it all adds up... Not surprising really.

[BajiRav]

can you at least admit that it might have had a TINY TINY bit to do with it?

oh well...windows 8 failed to revive an already dying market that's for sure but let's not forget the major flaw in these numbers.

[Detection]

Is there a site that shows you a chart / figures of Windows OS sales since say 2001 to today and for each OS XP > 8 ?

[Shannon]

Why does everyone assume new OS = new computer. Did each and every person here run out and buy a whole new computer when the beloved Windows 7 came out? No. Yes Windows 8 failed to produce any excitement in the market, but it's not like PC sales rely on new operating systems being released. If so they would lock out the ability to upgrade the operating system.

PC sales are dying simply because of the rise of mobile computing (phones and tablets), and the fact that desktop hardware today exceeds the majority of user's needs (more time between upgrades). Windows 8 is not why PC sales are declining. It sure as hell isn't helping the situation, but the market overall would still be dying even if Windows 8 was a huge success.

[Growled Member]

A lot of people blame Windows 8 and I'm on the fence about whether that is true or not. A lot of people including myself don't like Windows 8 but I have said for a long time that mobile is the future, whether it be phones or tablets. It just seems to me that most people see Microsoft as a desktop company and they would rather have something else on mobile. I love Android and find it hard to beat.

[Roxkis]

That link talks about enterprise customers and those wouldn't have gone Windows 8 this early even if it came with free unicorns but whatever.

I can buy a laptop from Lenovo right now with windows 7.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=21BD2EF51AAB4D6C05B33FEBADC47191&action=init

So its not exclusive to enterprise customers.

oh well...windows 8 failed to revive an already dying market

I agree

.... but let's not forget the major flaw in these numbers.

Whats the flaw in these numbers?

[vcfan]

Windows PCs sold in much greater numbers than what is being reported by bloggers and sites. All because IDC and Gartner have decided to redefine what PC means,and they have not clarified this information. According to them, PC only equals desktop and notebook. Windows 8 ultrabooks,convertibles,tablets,etc... are no longer included in PC figures. The "traditional PC" may be down this much, but the other devices are defined in a different segment and are now grouped in their own category. If you bought one of these devices,guess what,you didn't buy a PC.

BTW to know how full of **** these firms are,check out this gem

<p>

• According to Gartner, Mac sales in the U.S. grew 7.4%
  
• According to IDC, they fell 7.5%
  

http://tech.fortune....ac-gartner-idc/

theres a %15 gap, WHAT??? ladies and gents,welcome to the world of sponsored reports.

:)

[Sandor]

Come Summer I'll be building myself a new PC.

One to add to the numbers :D

[Tartan]

While it's true that tablets etc have caused a decline, and windows 8 has contributed to that significantly, I feel that a lack of innovation on pc designers is also to blame. You need only to walk into a Best Buy or PC World, to be underwhelmed by not only what's on offer, but the terrible specs on them too. The best PCs as we know are the ones we build ourselves, and the average consumer doesn't do that.

The PC isn't going anywhere, but unless it innovates somehow, it can expect to share a larger portion of market with other devices.

[BajiRav]

I can buy a laptop from Lenovo right now with windows 7.

Whats the flaw in these numbers?

Check your link, business/enterprise targeted laptop.

Flaw: https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1146454-worst-pc-sales-drop-in-history/page__view__findpost__p__595632062

[siah1214]

IDC DOES NOT INCLUDE ULTRABOOKS OR TABLETS IN THESE NUMBERS

So that means that clunky desktops and laptop sales are declining. And yes, that is absolutely Windows 8's fault. It's making tablet and ultrabook form factors look far more appealing and people are getting those instead. So yes, Windows 8 is killing the desktop market. I think we all saw that coming, except for the idiots that seriously believe that Windows 8 is killing the Windows-based computer market (since apparently we're not calling it a PC anymore)

IDC's report is correct, but for the opposite reason that everyone here seems to think. Old form factors are dying, new ones are taking over. And that's good, for Microsoft, for the consumer, for everyone except for the haters in the tech industry.

[Amiren]

Its the economy and the fact 90 million plus americans are out of work and the rest of the planet isn't doing much better and in a lot of cases is doing worse - it has nothing to do with Windows 8, it has to do with the economy and lack of money. People are slower to upgrade, hanging onto what they have longer due to costs, and there's so much negative bull**** publicity out there there are lots of falsehoods circulating of course some people who don't know better are scared of it.