Why PC Sales Have Stalled

Quite a few are hanging on to what to what they already have. 8 does not appeal to many.

scr said:

Maybe PC sales are lagging because people are waiting to see if the next Microsoft OS is going to flop.

I'm waiting to replace my poor 12 year old XP machine because I really don't want Windows 8.x.

As far as desktop PCs go, I've never bought one for my personal use and have only built my own for the last... 20 years, since I was a young teenager.

Assuming you're looking for a desktop PC, and have a working knowledge of which computer components work together, building your own PC is the only way to go, and you can order up a copy of Windows 7 to instal as you like.

With money being tight these days and having my computer's running smoothly I see no need to upgrade my stuff!
That's my story and I am sticking to it.
THW

I would imagine that's a very common story Dennis

Others would find these portable devices phones mostly "Android world" allot cheaper than the new Microsoft thing I keep calling a slate
And allot cheaper than any laptop or desktop around

Businesses cycle PCs between 3 and 5 years depending on a number of factors.

What is changing is the need for every department to have a full fledge PC. Sales and Marketing need only glossy brochures and access to corporate information.

Support needs access to the knowledge base and a few test machines.

Executive Mgmt. has been fine with handhelds for well over a decade (anyone remember Research In Motion?).

That leaves R&D plus QA (if there is one!) plus Manufacturing.

As the market moves, so will the users. When was the last time any company asked you what you wanted and then delivered it?

PCs are a commodity item. You might be able to customize a machine before purchase (CTO), but those choices are pre-defined and limited by the manufacturer.

As far as capability - machines have long outpaced out ability to use them, except in a few cases (video editing and gaming - both graphics and memory intensive).

I somewhat agree with King Arthur in that most of my machines are well over their prime. I only replace a machine on a need basis. I just fired up an HP Vectra 400 XP machine and ran Windows Update to show a friend that he can still get updates. Man was that SLOW! ... even maxed out with 512 MB RAM.

Anyway, this happens in the middle of a sales / purchase cycle. Articles are published stating a decline in PC sales..... but this time there are reasons outside of the normal cycle.

It's a transition phase. It's not just the PC vs. handhelds. The ancillary support systems (big pipes, large cloud storage)are becoming robust enough to support distributed computing, support, product delivery, and installation.
, and support.

Welcome to the Future!

SIW2 said:

Quite a few are hanging on to what to what they already have. 8 does not appeal to many.

Prexactly!

PC's are made to last longer than other handhelds device and could cause that market showing slower sales. But in another hand how manies of you are buying brand new one every year? Most are upgrading parts from a solid background hardwares components and will buy at last resort a new Motherboard and CPU when feeling they do have reach the end point of their actual one.

Got no mobile, smartphone nor a tablet pc and nothing showing me that i should have the need of one of these.

I will be now parts of those PC's market share or one have betrayed my future plan.

To me the number of desktop will never out sell portables.
People like their little carry around things. Some of the portables are just toy computers but it suites their pocket book and their needs.
Many of them are thrown away. If they break their is no fixing. They just go buy another one. That sure helps sales.

Many of the same people with portables also have Desktops at home. If they break they have them fixed. That don't help sales.

I believe now most new PC's are being bought by businesses and corporations that want to or need to move up from XP and use Windows 7.
Off the retail shelf for normal customers all they have to choose from is mostly Windows 8.xx. That has to slow down PC sales. I think they are waiting for Windows 9 hoping it will be something they like.
The biggest thing in my opinion that is slowing the sales of new PC's is Windows 7.
If you got a good working Windows 7 PC what is the rush to buy another PC.

I have two PC's. One is in the hardware remodel stage waiting for hardware to be delivered. The other is working just fine and they both have W7.
I have extras ssd's and a hot swap bay waiting for W9 just to give a run for its money and see if I like it.
I'm like many members I build my own computers so I have choices of what to use with and on my computers. I don't have to buy a new computer with W8 and then throw W8 away to install W7.
This mounts up to a conclusion in my mind that their are many reasons for slow PC sales.