Windows 8 uncertainty blamed for decline in PC sales

or the first time in five years, PC shipments over the holiday shopping season were lower than the year before - and IDC is blaming Windows 8.

The research firm says that a hoped-for boost to sales from the new operating system failed to materialize, contributing to fourth quarter sales down by 6.4 percent, 4.5 percent in the US.

"Although the third quarter was focused on the clearing of Windows 7 inventory, preliminary research indicates the clearance did not significantly boost the uptake of Windows 8 systems in Q4," says Jay Chou, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

Source

A Guy

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

Aren't these the same analysts that claimed that IBM O/S 2 Warp would force Microsoft out of business, and that young upstart Bill Gates into bankruptcy court?

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I have a crystal ball for sale. Anyone interested?

 

[Speedcomputer]

Im using windows 8. and its good. .but if using loptop the windows 8 its really unuseful. .its better using windows 8 in ipad tablets and anykind of touch screen device. .

 

[BillWindows]

Lenovo seems to be pretty happy with Windows 8

.Lenovo Sees Explosive Tablet Growth, CEO Enthusiastic About Windows 8

.Lenovo has been responsible for some inspired form factors based on Windows 8. Their IdeaPad Yoga and ThinkPad Twist are both multipurpose tablet/ultrabook hybrids with competitive pricepoints and enterprise-friendly features.


Lenovo’s upcoming Thinkpad Helix should only serve to bolster sales when it launches this February. [See why it snagged one of our Best of CES awards.


Unlike Acer, who is selling more Google ChromeBooks than Windows 8 hardware, Lenovo seems downright enthusiastic about the future of Microsoft‘s new OS. Yuanqing was quoted as saying that “new technologies like Windows 8, ultrabooks, and convertibles will drive new demand. 2013 will be better than 2012.”

 

[Lee]

This poor horse . . .

 

[A Guy]

This poor horse . . .

Tenderized...

A Guy

 

[Dave76]

This poor horse . . .

Tenderized...

A Guy

Glue factory time...

 

[Lee]

This poor horse . . .

Tenderized...

A Guy

Glue factory time...

 

[labeeman]

It looks like M$ has a hungry tiger by the tail.

It’s no secret that Windows 8 is a very controversial product, but users have now turned to Microsoft’s support forums to criticize the new operating system.

Users Bash Windows 8 on Microsoft?s Support Forums - Softpedia

 

[Ray8]

How the worm turns.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

I don't get this, it is no different than the Android O/S , touch screen wise. People JUST have to get use to a new way of using their PCs.

 

[steveb]

Aren't these the same analysts that claimed that IBM O/S 2 Warp would force Microsoft out of business

I've got a copy up in the attic. On about 50 floppys!! I know a dud when I see it. And every time I see that Metro interface I see a dud.

 

[steveb]

I'm sick of hearing touch is the way forward for PCs. Touch is the way forward for simple tablets, for simple tasks, which is what most consumers who used to have to buy PCs need. That's why tablets are selling.
People who do real work on their computers still need real PCs and touch has no place on large monitors on such a machine.

 

[BillWindows]

Aren't these the same analysts that claimed that IBM O/S 2 Warp would force Microsoft out of business

I've got a copy up in the attic. On about 50 floppys!! I know a dud when I see it. And every time I see that Metro interface I see a dud.

Some really, really intelligent people thought the PC was a passing fad, I bet those same people thought the automobile was going to be a dud.

 

[BillWindows]

I'm sick of hearing touch is the way forward for PCs. Touch is the way forward for simple tablets, for simple tasks, which is what most consumers who used to have to buy PCs need. That's why tablets are selling.
People who do real work on their computers still need real PCs and touch has no place on large monitors on such a machine.

I can't immediately see the need for extra large touch screen monitors, but then again in a workplace with a few people around touching various parts of a large screen and making changes it seems to make sense.

 

[Teerex]

Windows 8 flies or crashes on the wings of (IFKA-)Metro app ecosystem. If there will be no compelling 'Windows 8 style' apps that will generate income for developers on Windows RT platform (not OS), and instead Windows 8 developer revenue continues to depend in the most part on classic Windows 7 old-style applications, all that forcing IFKAMetro on users was for naught. The only positive revenue factor here is the in-OS and in-app advertising revenue, and that's shameful. Disgusting. Windows 8 is not a free-to-use OS, and foisting advertising on its users is unfair.

I haven't seen any positive movement on that front, and neither have others. Hell, even the significant other part of Microsoft, the Office tribe has bit the Windows tribe in their sensitive behinds, by fronting almost nothing from the Office 2013 package to ''Windows 8 style UI''.

On the basis of what I stated and linked above and the record of months that have passed since GA, Windows 8 has already failed. Windows 8 UI is a burqa you have to rip through to get to the place where there is money to be made, old-style, Windows 7 style. Connect the dots...

 

[4wd]

Windows 8 UI is a burqa you have to rip through

The burqa UI rofl +++

 

[Coke Robot]

Windows 8 flies or crashes on the wings of (IFKA-)Metro app ecosystem. If there will be no compelling 'Windows 8 style' apps that will generate income for developers on Windows RT platform (not OS), and instead Windows 8 developer revenue continues to depend in the most part on classic Windows 7 old-style applications, all that forcing IFKAMetro on users was for naught. The only positive revenue factor here is the in-OS and in-app advertising revenue, and that's shameful. Disgusting. Windows 8 is not a free-to-use OS, and foisting advertising on its users is unfair.

I haven't seen any positive movement on that front, and neither have others. Hell, even the significant other part of Microsoft, the Office tribe has bit the Windows tribe in their sensitive behinds, by fronting almost nothing from the Office 2013 package to ''Windows 8 style UI''.

On the basis of what I stated and linked above and the record of months that have passed since GA, Windows 8 has already failed. Windows 8 UI is a burqa you have to rip through to get to the place where there is money to be made, old-style, Windows 7 style. Connect the dots...

I know, toolbars that are installed when you install freeware, what is this absurdity!?

Office won't come to the WinRT style soon as that's a pretty large suite of software that needs to be coded from almost more than 15 years on Win32. This isn't simple nor easy, let along designing it for touch. That's why OneNote and Lync apps were released, because those two were best suited for touch and the Windows 8 style.

Honestly, the Desktop is probably the most desirable Windows 8 style "app" on a tablet PC than anything. The rest comes later, and will come later. Can't expect everything to happen overnight...

 

[Teerex]

I know, toolbars that are installed when you install freeware, what is this absurdity!?

You are comparing apples with oranges and you know it. When you see a third-party add served from internet in a Win7style application, especially a built-in one, revisit this subject. Meanwhile, play square.

Office won't come to the WinRT style soon as that's a pretty large suite of software that needs to be coded from almost more than 15 years on Win32. This isn't simple nor easy, let along designing it for touch. That's why OneNote and Lync apps were released, because those two were best suited for touch and the Windows 8 style.

Office 2013 should've been reimagined™ for touch from the get go. On the desktop, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook should've been at least ergonomically touchable. They are disastrous on Surface Pro.
Now it's too late, and it's a classic example of Microsoft divisions going each in its own direction.

Honestly, the Desktop is probably the most desirable Windows 8 style "app" on a tablet PC than anything. The rest comes later, and will come later. Can't expect everything to happen overnight...

Why would anyone develop Windows 8 UI apps if the most desirable app is the one that banishes them from your sight in a split second? Where's the monetary incentive? Where is the rising curve in the Store? The Win8 apps are flatlining. The money is not making an appearance there. There are no developers coming, they prefer getting paid. They are staying on iOS, because that's where the money has camped.
So, there is no 'later'. The 'later' is now. It has come and passed.

 

[Coke Robot]

I know, toolbars that are installed when you install freeware, what is this absurdity!?

You are comparing apples with oranges and you know it. When you see a third-party add served from internet in a Win7style application, especially a built-in one, revisit this subject. Meanwhile, play square.

Office won't come to the WinRT style soon as that's a pretty large suite of software that needs to be coded from almost more than 15 years on Win32. This isn't simple nor easy, let along designing it for touch. That's why OneNote and Lync apps were released, because those two were best suited for touch and the Windows 8 style.

Office 2013 should've been reimagined™ for touch from the get go. On the desktop, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook should've been at least ergonomically touchable. They are disastrous on Surface Pro.
Now it's too late, and it's a classic example of Microsoft divisions going each in its own direction.

Honestly, the Desktop is probably the most desirable Windows 8 style "app" on a tablet PC than anything. The rest comes later, and will come later. Can't expect everything to happen overnight...

Why would anyone develop Windows 8 UI apps if the most desirable app is the one that banishes them from your sight in a split second? Where's the monetary incentive? Where is the rising curve in the Store? The Win8 apps are flatlining. The money is not making an appearance there. There are no developers coming, they prefer getting paid. They are staying on iOS, because that's where the money has camped.
So, there is no 'later'. The 'later' is now. It has come and passed.

Using Internet Explorer, you can go to Bing Weather, Outlook.com and others along with third party sites to see third party ads. Some concept. Complaining about adds within free apps that come preinstalled on an operating system that you bought is the very same as complaining about ads on websites that you browse in your free web browser built into the operating system you bought.

And hate to break it to you, Office 2013 was rebuilt for touch...


Also, Office 2013 doesn't come preinstalled on the Surface Pro, it's on RT.

You're not getting my point in that the Desktop is the most "desirable app." There is already a multitude of apps that can be used on the Desktop, all of them MUCH more useful than what you'll find on ios or android. In fact, you use an app called iTunes to manage the ipad that claims many apps. Even in the Windows Store, you will find all of Adobe's Creative Suite programs, Desktop games from publishers like Rockstar, Office 2013, SkyDrive and many others that have gone and published themselves on the Store. Actually, no, app developers have more of an opportunity on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 to monetize their apps, HIGH QUALITY apps, versus ios or android. More people on Windows Phone have been found to buy several apps versus android and ios where people using android only really use free apps and ios already have lots of competition as it is. So no, there really isn't a lot of money camped out there. High usage does not always equal high app payoff. Even on the Desktop, many people prefer free software over paid, unless if it's high quality and worth it, like Decor8. You must have a poor perception of time if four months means something new and different is an overnight success...

The iphone wasn't this successful in four months, android wasn't successful in four months, Windows wasn't successful in four months, not a lot becomes successful in four months.