I think decline was already happening. People like tablets and smartphones and don't have as much need as they used to for an actual computer.
I don't think Windows 8 had a darn thing to do with it.
Hi there
Absolutely correct.
Honestly some of these stats are so bleedin' obvious people only need to have the brain a size of a pea to realize that it's not necessary to use a PC for a lot of things that we used to use it for -- for example smart phones can easily suffice for basic email, quick google searches, things like train, bus times, restaurant and pub finder etc etc as well as for social media like facebook etc.
I've sometimes gone several days without even LOOKING at a PC (other than when at work). Even on these Forums it's relatively simple to submit replies via a smart phone -- or certainly a tablet for those that like them.
Windows 8 (to re-iterate your post) has absolutely NOTHING, repeat NOTHING! - ALDREI! - -Gar Nichts !никогда ! Nigdy ! ei koskaan ! ه
رگز ! etc in whatever language you care to name to do with the sales of PC's.
In any case when were PC sales EVER dependent on the OS installed on them. - In the good old days we used to get "Bog standard PC's with a load of CD's and it was up to the user to install the OS when they got home -- but I suppose things move on in the "general Dumbing down" of the masses where it's all done for you --but it's actually far worse to UNSCRAMBLE if this stuff goes wrong.
Slightly OT here but relevant to Windows 8 sales :
Windows 8 will be OK especially as Windows 8 phones are getting (Finally) some really good reviews -- the previous versions using some sort of hybrid W7 system were quite frankly not very good and the handsets themselves had the appeal of a piece of some really old stinking rotten fish. The latest batch of handsets running Windows 8 that have actually APPEARED in the stores are quite good and sexy --I'm even considering one as my 2nd phone even though I love the Samsung Galaxy IIIs (and it's little brother the Galaxy IIIs mini which can be had here for about 220 EUR Network free or unlocked --( phones here are always unlocked BTW).
Now as far as Licenses for Windows 8 are concerned I'm not sure how W8 phones are licensed by Ms -- I'm sure it would be a block payment rather than a levy to Ms on each phone sold so we can't really count Windows licenses in the classical way we did with XP or W7.
The whole RT idea was a bit of a red herring to Ms -- I really think they would have liked to get the PRO version out first - especially at XMAS time -- business usually release the top of the line model first to whet the public's appetite and then release a cheaper / less featured version.
Look at Samsung -- after their flagship Galaxy IIIs phone which by any standards has been a world runaway best seller -- not easy to do in a "Mature market" they've released it's little brother the SAMSUNG Galaxy IIIs mini --- an excellent slightly smaller phone with a DUAL processor instead of a quad --still powerful enough -- at less than HALF price -- great phone for around 200 EUR (where I am phones are always unlocked and not tied to networks although you can still take out short term contracts -- nothing to stop you after 1 or 2 months from then changing the SIM !!).
Anyway the whole distinction between tablets and PC's is becoming blurred -- all a tablet essentially is now is a PC without a built in keyboard.
If you look at say the HP ENVY series of laptops with the detachable tablet lid that operates as a tablet would you call the machine a PC or a tablet -- it's both -- not a Phablet as that refers to ta combination of Phone and tablet like some of the larger Samsung "notepads"
cheers
jimbo