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

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Eight Forums KentC. A Guy

 

[Ray8]

Windows CE has always been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde OS, worse because it's always been firmware locked. I still have a number of CE devices and one which I use just about every day. But I always need to have a spare copy of the entire program for when it seizes, which is about once every few months or so.

I think there's a bigger future in tablets and the like for Microsoft, but only if they do it right. What's right? That remains to be seen, but I have my concerns.

 

[KentC]

Windows CE has always been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde OS, worse because it's always been firmware locked. I still have a number of CE devices and one which I use just about every day. But I always need to have a spare copy of the entire program for when it seizes, which is about once every few months or so.

I think there's a bigger future in tablets and the like for Microsoft, but only if they do it right. What's right? That remains to be seen, but I have my concerns.

Let me jump in here one last time and say, I was sooo thankful when Sega Dreamcast had this as the underlying OS. I was able to use the Echelon Self Boot Tutorial and get the games online when it was in fashion. Also, that same OS on my Verizon Treo 700wx i got for cheap flashed to Pageplus Cellular, I never had any issues with that Windows CE interface either. Worked great with XP. Windows 7 not so much. But my point is those are my real life experiences with that OS, and I have fond memories of it as well.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

YOU'RE missing my ENTIRE point here! I am saying that Microsoft has explored the tablet before and it was a TOTAL bust!! Millions bought a palm pilot, and where are they today eh? Everything is fun for awhile, BUT we will go back to traditional computing PLAIN and SIMPLE! Lets look at current sales of the iPad, it is in a huge slump, no one is buying them. I already know "A Guy" is going to argue it is due to they, the people that want them bought them already. If the Microsoft Surface sells at all, it will be due to curiosity than anything else. Burn me once shame on you! Burn me twice I'm a moron! And guaranteed I'm not a moron.

 

[KentC]

YOU'RE missing my ENTIRE point here! I am saying that Microsoft has explored the tablet before and it was a TOTAL bust!! Millions bought a palm pilot, and where are they today eh? Everything is fun for awhile, BUT we will go back to traditional computing PLAIN and SIMPLE! Lets look at current sales of the iPad, it is in a huge slump, no one is buying them. I already know "A Guy" is going to argue it is due to they, the people that want them bought them already. If the Microsoft Surface sells at all, it will be due to curiosity than anything else. Burn me once shame on you! Burn me twice I'm a moron! And guaranteed I'm not a moron.

No I'm not missing anything. It's a thread describing Microsoft being blamed for hardware sells. I think of Microsoft as the pc industry's version of Sega. They win some, they lose some. I agree the technology must evolve, and I think the surface offers huge leaps as does the Ipad with the Logictech snap-on attachment. It's a shame more companies aren't going tablet as they are lighter in the field and actually more portable then even a netbook. I think personally the industry is just sluggish to jump on what is going to be the de-facto soon. Just like the death of Compact Disc to Digital Sales, I see the same for tablets, let the technology come about that iron-man 2 and 3 showcase, bring that to tablets, you won't see them underselling.

I think the Microsoft Surface has amazing features, i admit you can't put that in your lap, but it doesn't matter who's using what technology at this point, it's about who's advancing it.. I hope you understand that as my reasons of posting both originally and this post.

I agree ancient technology goes away, we all owned a Nintendo SNES or Genesis, not to bash but we as people, just like new gadgets and the tablet move is a great choice especially for project management on travel alot. Just my thoughts..

 

[A Guy]

YOU'RE missing my ENTIRE point here! I am saying that Microsoft has explored the tablet before and it was a TOTAL bust!! Millions bought a palm pilot, and where are they today eh? Everything is fun for awhile, BUT we will go back to traditional computing PLAIN and SIMPLE! Lets look at current sales of the iPad, it is in a huge slump, no one is buying them. I already know "A Guy" is going to argue it is due to they, the people that want them bought them already. If the Microsoft Surface sells at all, it will be due to curiosity than anything else. Burn me once shame on you! Burn me twice I'm a moron! And guaranteed I'm not a moron.

Errr, have you ever seen me argue the point? No. I posted an article, so all you can argue

A Guy

 

[pparks1]

YOU'RE missing my ENTIRE point here! I am saying that Microsoft has explored the tablet before and it was a TOTAL bust!! Millions bought a palm pilot, and where are they today eh? Everything is fun for awhile, BUT we will go back to traditional computing PLAIN and SIMPLE! Lets look at current sales of the iPad, it is in a huge slump, no one is buying them. I already know "A Guy" is going to argue it is due to they, the people that want them bought them already. If the Microsoft Surface sells at all, it will be due to curiosity than anything else. Burn me once shame on you! Burn me twice I'm a moron! And guaranteed I'm not a moron.

Didn't the ipad just have the best Christmas sales ever? I have not heard of any sales slump.

 

[SIW2]

Apple is doing fine overall.

Macbook sales were down a bit ( though windows pc sales did far worse ).

Iphone is facing stiff competition from Android devices.

Unless they have something new up their sleeves, it now doesn't look like Apple will suddenly double or treble in size.

That is why the share price does not reflect that expectation.

Uncle Tim is doing the right thing. In the absence of a new product, he is embarking on product life extension.

I wouldn't be surprised to see further moves into lower price arena, and some kind of visual redesign.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

LMAO AGuy

 

[Coke Robot]

YOU'RE missing my ENTIRE point here! I am saying that Microsoft has explored the tablet before and it was a TOTAL bust!! Millions bought a palm pilot, and where are they today eh? Everything is fun for awhile, BUT we will go back to traditional computing PLAIN and SIMPLE! Lets look at current sales of the iPad, it is in a huge slump, no one is buying them. I already know "A Guy" is going to argue it is due to they, the people that want them bought them already. If the Microsoft Surface sells at all, it will be due to curiosity than anything else. Burn me once shame on you! Burn me twice I'm a moron! And guaranteed I'm not a moron.

The ipad is selling well, the iphone 5 has some concerns, but still selling.

I don't know what traditional computing you're referring to. If you mean a desktop PC, that's not what people are going for anymore. The laptop PC, yeah, but it's iffy. Tablet PCs? Yet to be seen.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

Coke Robot, my mistake, didn't state that right. What I had meant overall Christmas sales 2011 -vs- 2012, and there has been a huge drop over the 2 Christmas seasons.

 

[jimbo45]

Coke Robot, my mistake, didn't state that right. What I had meant overall Christmas sales 2011 -vs- 2012, and there has been a huge drop over the 2 Christmas seasons.

Hi there
not only of PC's but almost anything -- even Supermarkets selling basic foodstuffs had very poor XMAS 2012 sales -- and this was for necessities not items people could do without.

I don't think that comparing Sales of PC's in 2011 with 2012 is a valid statistic by itself without looking at other factors such as people's disposable income , do other more convenient devices do the job, do I actually NEED a new PC etc.

PC sales will decline whatever OS is on them -- there are other devices around now that do a lot of the simpler stuff people used to do on a PC -- tablets, phones etc.

Hardware is good these days, you don't need to upgrade so often and sales always decline once the market has matured -- doesn't matter what the product is - upgrades and replacements will never equal the first flourish when devices are new and few people have them.

You could have these devices powered by "Mickey Mouse OS" - and they'd still fly off the shelves --then it would be interesting to see if the title of this thread would be "Mickey Mouse OS causing drop in PC sales".

Reading a lot of statistics quoted by people on both the W7 and W8 Forum leads me to conclude that I really ought to do a tutorial on Statistics 101 in the tutorials. !!

You must look at ALL the available data not just say PC sales are declining and choose a single event which probably has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the original statement and blame that event on the sales decline.

"==> BAK 2 SKOOL 4 U".

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Tepid]

Yeah, and statistics can be manipulated to show whatever you want them to.
Statistics are only as good as the data, research and the person doing them.
If any one of those produces lazy, incorrect or manipulated data, then it's all bogus.
One must always take statistics with a grain or more of salt.

 

[labeeman]

Now Microsoft blames PC makers for Windows 8 crash landing.

Microsoft blasts PC makers: It's YOUR fault Windows 8 crash landed ? The Register

 

[DooRules]

Yeah, it's the pc makers fault that people are staying away from w8, lmao.

 

[jimbo45]

Yeah, it's the pc makers fault that people are staying away from w8, lmao.

Hi there
you could argue it's "Customers who are staying away from PC's".

Honestly it doesn't matter WHAT OS is on a PC -- if you want a PC you can install what you like on it.

Bog standard PC sales are declining --FACT and it's NOTHING to do with WINDOWS or the weather or your Grandma's cat.

There are OTHER devices that do the job more conveniently for some applications so a lot don't really need a PC any more.

TV's now can connect directly to Video on demand services so even a last bastion of PC use for watching Films / DVD's isn't needed so much any more.

I don't think I've used a computer at home for watching a movie for AGES now -- TV can play via video on demand or via "Network Disk" where you can use all sorts of different hardware for multi-media streaming without a computer anywhere in sight.

I'm even replying to the thread on my Samsung smart phone.

(I still use a PC -- but when I'm not at work my use is far far less than even one year ago).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Allison]

Again, I think this very much has to do with the whole; people don't necessarily buy new computers every year. My new desktop was a must buy. My old (three years old in April) computer's HDD was too small, graphics and memory were inadequate and for what I needed it to do, it just couldn't and the price of upgrading it exceeded the price of a new desktop. But then, I've passed on that Windows 7 Compaq desktop onto my parents, so they don't have to buy a new one. People aren't as wasteful as you'd think. I think PC sales will go up when people are ready to replace theirs. It has nothing to do with Windows 8. Which although awkward to use, is getting more familiar for me and I’m near the end of my third week. I had the same problem with Windows 7 and I ended up loving it. I liked Vista and I don't get my rose tinted glasses for XP because I disliked it by the end for its limitations and issues. Operating systems come and go- people replace their computers when they are good and ready. Not because any operating system says jump. Tablets just aren't capable of what desktops are and the same goes for laptops/notebooks although they are stronger than tablets.

Oh, and my 'mobile' uses for my laptop are in blackouts and when I have to go somewhere. It's a popularity trend, one with the life about as long as until real computer viruses sink their teeth in or some other issue causes tablets and smartphones to lose their shiny veneer.

 

[Coke Robot]

I do think OEMs do have responsibility here as for one, touch enabled PCs are usually already expensive ultrabooks, so the cost is 1,000+. There are some touch laptops, but they're still rather costly. Touch AIO PCs have been said to be selling well, mostly I bet since they're 23 inch touch screens with decent specs over a 1,000 dollar touch ultabook. Considering that half of all new PCs aren't touch capable, it makes sense. That, along with a really high cost for tablet PCs of around an asking price of a solid 1,000 dollars. Why those OEMs couldn't take current lower end hardware certified for 7 and put a touch display is beyond me.

It seems that the price they set is one that can be argued that you're getting two in one for a price just under buying those two separate devices. People just want affordable right now over an arm and leg.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

labeeman JUST read that! Microsoft has it's NERVE!! Why wasn't their new tablet (Microsoft Surface) released for this past Xmas eh?
DAMN talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[Ray8]

Ask not what Windows 8 can do for you, but what you can do for Windows 8.

Manufacturers have responded. Funny about that. This reflects exactly what I've been saying about Windows 8 and platform specifications.

But the computer makers are fighting back: they claimed that if they’d followed Microsoft’s hardware requirements and ramped up production, they'd have ended up building a lot of high-end expensive slabs that consumers didn’t understand nor want.

The Reg has learned Microsoft provided clear and specific guidance on the hardware it wanted inside any machine running Windows 8 so as to show off and utilise the operating system's new capabilities, such as the touch-driven interface. Microsoft also gave its advice on the mix of high and low-end form-factors manufacturers should build, namely Ultrabooks, hybrids and simple laptops.

Windows 8 should have worked on any current specification tablet/laptop and, again, manufacturers question the point of RT.

Also, release the Surface only in the US/Canada and there'll be enough reviews, good and bad, that any subsequent worldwide release will effectively be a flop. Other manufacturers would have taken the kudos, if any, and the Surface will be another me too device.