Windows 8 is depressing PC sales in record numbers

PC sales are plummeting because consumers are confused and unhappy with Windows 8, and there's no end in sight. So concludes an IDC report, which says the sinking sales are the worst it's ever seen.

O'Donnell adds that he doesn't expect Microsoft to admit its mistakes and make significant changes, telling the Seattle Times:

"I think this is the pride before the fall – because they are unwilling to make those changes, because it would show them as having given up or lost on their radical new vision."​

Windows 8 is depressing PC sales in record numbers, warns IDC | Computerworld Blogs

Do you think M$ will get its head out of the sand any time soon?
​

 

[Ray8]

On exactly the same machine, Windows 7 boots faster, not that boot time matters much to me. The operation of programs is no faster on Windows 8 than 7, so that's no compelling argument either. The underlying OS improvements are positives for Windows 8, but I still haven't heard whether the System Restore function works. On an aesthetics note, the more I use Windows 8, the less I actually like the very flat look Microsoft has adopted.

 

[labeeman]

Windows 8 will bring up the programs faster due to the striping out of the eye candy that is in Windows 7. With an SSD all is moot no difference between Windows 8 and Windows 7. Windows 8 has more bugs than my Bee Hives.

 

[pcRat]

I agree with everyone who believes kindles, iPod's etc. are affecting desktop pc sales.
75% of the kids walk to & from the bus stop looking down at their portable online connection device.

Who knows, with everyone absorbed in those 'portable online connection devices' , they may become the peacekeepers of the future.

 

[XweAponX]

It's one of those computer mysteries.
Some hardware/software products work for some people and fail for others.

I've seen comments from:

• W8 Lovers claiming it's faster and runs every program ever written.
• W8 Haters claiming it's slower and most programs are broken

Apart from the boot speed, I didn't notice any performance improvement, or degradation, when I was using the 4 W8 Previews.

Really? The "Score" tells it all, on Windows 7, my score is 3 or less, on Windows 8, its at least 3.4 - Based on the Graphics cards I use, which are the slowest things on the system. But there is marked improvement with all my scores, not just graphics.

On my machines, the tale is told by VideoLAN. On Windows 7, Video playback starts and stops, especially watching 1080 stuff. On Windows 8, the 1080 stuff plays without one glitch, without dropping one frame. Even when the drives are optimizing, and I have that set to daily.

I think the main thing is I no longer use Eset NOD32 antivirus, that was slowing me down a bit, but even when I still had it installed, it was still faster overall.

 

[XweAponX]

Ray8 - The System Restore does not work on at least one of my systems. Does not even come up. But I was trying to start it through the Troubleshooting area, not from the main GUI.

 

[Ray8]

Ray8 - The System Restore does not work on at least one of my systems. Does not even come up. But I was trying to start it through the Troubleshooting area, not from the main GUI.

I've been trying to run it from the normal dialogue box and it simply does not work. There's still some debate as to whether this is an issue with dual boot systems or Windows 8 itself. Windows 8 has introduced some new restore features and the traditional System Restore has been problematic for many. System Restore is one of the most useful features Windows has ever had and I'd hate for it to be lost with future versions.

 

[XweAponX]

I just created a system restore point, I'll try restoring tomorrow am and I'll let you know if it worked.

 

[Coke Robot]

Hahaha! Love Coke's Posts.

True. PC sales were bound to fall no matter what but advertising Metro on PC monitors on the shelves made things far worse because it doesn't show what a PC is for, it's not a mark for professional use (to say the least!!!), it's anti-geek, it's not symbolical of performance like speed and heavy duty. etc.

I think I agree, I've gone to all of the big stores where are trying to sell Win 8 PC's - And all they show is the Metro "Tablet-Top" - I think if the stores would show a few PC's running in Desktop Mode, it would be better. I think the people who buy PC's - See the Metro Interface, and go WHAAAT? Where's My Windows? And then go buy a Mac. To make sales better, MS has to SHOW that the Desktop is actually still there and runs better than it does in Windows 7.

Metros IS kind of "anti-geek" at first glance, when I first looked at it, I was asking, WHERE are the settings? Where are the Programs? I had to install it to find out. The demos they show at stores, have the desktop mode Locked Out, so potential customers can't see the full potential.

But - Even with sales "meager" as they apparently are, almost 80 million people have bought PCs, is that what I'm reading? That's not chopped Liver, that's 80 million Windows 8 Machines.

I think Microsoft needs to tweek their sales pitch a little, show people, all is not really lost. Metro is a choice as it stands now. If MS makes Metro the Only Choice, that will be the failure of Microsoft. If I were Microsoft, I'd ENSURE continued sales by making a version of Windows 8 that is Desktop-Only, just like they have Metro-Only versions. That way, people can choose how they wish to run it. They do have the choice, but it is not clear that the choice is there, if all you see are the store demos.

There are people who have hated Windows 8 here, and then later turn around and say it's actually not that bad, ONCE THEY HAVE USED IT. If everyone hated it and didn't try it, there would be a problem. But since there are people that will give it a go and realize the bad hype around it is literally idiotic and makes those who keep hyping it that way look like a bunch of rabid, deranged, radiated monkeys.

Hahaha! Well, that was ME. I Hated it, but I just hated the IDEA of it. Until I tried it for myself and saw, I CAN run my programs on it.

Those PC displays do have the Desktop on display.... you click the Desktop tile... They have UAC controls on them so you don't install something stupid on there. Even the Windows display loop shows, "Work on your familiar Desktop." That is actually there, you have to ACTUALLY watch the demo loops to show that there are new things about Windows 8 and familiar things about it. There is NOTHING "locked down" or whatever nonsense, that's Windows RT.

And that would be REALLY stupid to have a "Desktop only" version of Windows when it can literally take less than five minutes to arrange Windows that way. Apparently it must be too "anti-geek" to have some "geeks" not be able to figure that simple fact out. This right here is WHY I don't feel Windows 8 takes anything away from the Desktop, it's just like Windows 7 but MUCH better. I have what I used to use on the start menu on the Start Screen, except I can navigate that new part of the UI MUCH quicker and easier than in 7. The Start Screen is Desktop dependent IF you set it up that way, that's why it's called a PC not a mac, it's a Personal Computer able to adapt to YOUR personal preferences. Been that way since forever...

 

[Coke Robot]

It's one of those computer mysteries.
Some hardware/software products work for some people and fail for others.

I've seen comments from:

• W8 Lovers claiming it's faster and runs every program ever written.
• W8 Haters claiming it's slower and most programs are broken

Apart from the boot speed, I didn't notice any performance improvement, or degradation, when I was using the 4 W8 Previews.

With Office 2013 and 8, there is a slight faster speed to it than 7 and 2010.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 and 8 is faster for SURE than KIS 2012 and 7.

Some examples there, but overall nothing gets slow. There isn't a UI lag ANYWHERE. I remember in 7 sometimes that would happen. On older hardware, 7 was better than vista, but still pounded it. With 8, it can literally run better on an xp era PC than Windows xp itself.

Newer software will run faster on Windows 8 for sure.

With PC gaming, there have been certain games that get several FPS more than 7 (because of WDDM 1.2 in 8 and newer drivers) sometimes not. Some games that had difficulty installing in 7 installs and runs like a champ in 8.

Mileage varies.

 

[Wenda]

I agree with everyone who believes kindles, iPod's etc. are affecting desktop pc sales.
75% of the kids walk to & from the bus stop looking down at their portable online connection device.

Who knows, with everyone absorbed in those 'portable online connection devices' , they may become the peacekeepers of the future.

Or the hood ornaments of the future...


Wenda.

 

[Wenda]

Ray8 - The System Restore does not work on at least one of my systems. Does not even come up. But I was trying to start it through the Troubleshooting area, not from the main GUI.

I've been trying to run it from the normal dialogue box and it simply does not work. There's still some debate as to whether this is an issue with dual boot systems or Windows 8 itself. Windows 8 has introduced some new restore features and the traditional System Restore has been problematic for many. System Restore is one of the most useful features Windows has ever had and I'd hate for it to be lost with future versions.

I don't dual-boot, Ray, and don't have UEFI. My System Restore seems to work fine.
It lets me create my own restore points and will restore from them without a problem.
In fact, I only put this to the test the other day while testing a program. It's always
restored ok from its own restore points.

Wenda.

 

[Ray8]

I guess it could then be just a dual boot issue.

 

[labeeman]

Really? The "Score" tells it all, on Windows 7, my score is 3 or less, on Windows 8, its at least 3.4 - Based on the Graphics cards I use, which are the slowest things on the system. But there is marked improvement with all my scores, not just graphics.

The WEI scores on Windows 7 is on a scale of 1 to 7.9 the WEI scores on Windows 8 is on a scale of 1 to 9.9 you cannot compare the two because they are on different scales. M$ pulling a fast one.

 

[freeeekyyy]

M$ pulling a fast one.

Not really. Just updating it for current hardware. It is a relative score, you know. What would be the point in "pulling a fast one" on this matter? How would it help Microsoft one bit?

 

[Frank1]

Yes, PC sales are plummeting. Sales are plummeting on otherthings as well. I believe that if a person needs a PC he's/she's going to buyone. I honestly do not think that just because they now come with Windows 8installed will keep the person from purchasing a PC. But that is only anopinion. Who really knows for sure why things happen the way they do? There aremore questions in this world than there are answers.

 

[labeeman]

M$ pulling a fast one.

Not really. Just updating it for current hardware. It is a relative score, you know. What would be the point in "pulling a fast one" on this matter? How would it help Microsoft one bit?

By making you think your hardware is faster when it is NOT.

 

[bobkn]

M$ pulling a fast one.

Not really. Just updating it for current hardware. It is a relative score, you know. What would be the point in "pulling a fast one" on this matter? How would it help Microsoft one bit?

By making you think your hardware is faster when it is NOT.

Sort of had the opposite effect for me. While my system came close to max'ing out the WEI under 7, it's reported a little higher under Win 8. But it is nowhere near the Win8 maximum of 9.9. Makes me wonder what sort of hardware would be required to approach that. Dual 8 core Xeons? A couple of GTX Titans in SLI? PCI-E SSDs?

I suppose that MS might be playing tricks, that would work on those savvy enough to know that WEI exists, but dim enough to believe that WEI numbers can be compared across different OSes.

 

[freeeekyyy]

M$ pulling a fast one.

Not really. Just updating it for current hardware. It is a relative score, you know. What would be the point in "pulling a fast one" on this matter? How would it help Microsoft one bit?

By making you think your hardware is faster when it is NOT.

You do know they also changed it from Vista to 7, and it went the opposite direction, right? Why would they care about people's perception of their hardware? If they're colluding with hardware companies, they'd want them to think it was slower, not faster. Quit looking for conspiracies and think about what you're saying.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Looking at Best Buy and they have more PC's with Windows 7 then Windows 8. So its not the OS that is stopping sales its the economy.

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Jim

Finally the economic situation puts people off buying what is normally regarded as a luxury product -- although we are beginning to turn the corner on this one (at last).

You can forget rubbish reports from people like IDC and especially Gartner -- those people are just JUNK.

Windows 8 / Windows 7 / whatever OS really has very little to do directly with PC sales (or lack of them).

Right on, guys. :thumbup: It's not due to the OS IMO. It has a lot to do with the economy. Although showing signs of improvement as of late as Jimbo stated, people are afraid to spend their money. Sales in all sectors are still down, especially on big items. When unemployment lowers as we've seen here in the States then people will ease up on their wallets for they'll feel more secure. Unemployment in Europe continues to be high as I understand it. Not sure on the rest of the world.

If anything, 8 is slowing sales because it does run better on older hardware. Personally if 8 didn't come along, I'd be out buying a new desktop PC this year for I was thinking on that order, but it runs much faster and more stable than 7 on my older Acer, so no need to now. I plan on buying a mobile hybrid instead.

We were all born with a common problem no matter what income level we're at -> Cash flow. Unemployment, fear of spending, investing, or borrowing money is still too high. Throw the high cost of energy into the factor also.

Let's hope these signs of recovery continue.

 

[labeeman]

Quit looking for conspiracies and think about what you're saying.

M$ had a finding of fact in a court of law on abusing there monopoly so nothing new here. There judgment ended in 2013.