Why PC Sales Have Stalled

[King Arthur]

The article fails to fully take into consideration the progression of hardware and technology.

Simply put, CPUs and GPUs are quickly reaching the point that they are outperforming the needs of the average user (including most gamers). You don't need a bleeding edge i7 to work on your spreadsheets or check your emails or to do hardcore gaming nowadays, about the only thing you really want top-of-the-line hardware for these days is for very heavy-duty professional work such as CAD and video editting. You could easily pick up a CPU from several years back and it would still run almost everything you do today fine, which is a testament to how far processing power has grown in comparison to how slowly the needs for such power has grown.

On top of that, PCs in general have always been built to last (besides those $250 friday night specials). Unlike smartphones/tablets which are honestly designed to "go out of style" in a few years, either by way of hardware failure or forced hardware/software obsolescence, PCs can easily last a decade or more depending on how well you take care of it.

Hardware and software that last and remain relevant for a long time mean lower numbers of "replacement/upgrade" purchases, which is part of what's behind the notion of "declining PC sales".

 

[scr]

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.

 

[SIW2]

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

 

[Wrend]

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.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

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

 

[ThrashZone]

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

 

[Slartybart]

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!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

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

Prexactly!

 

[NoN]

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.

 

[Layback Bear]

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.

 

[A Guy]

Well what do you know...discussion Sometimes I think I should change my name from A Guy to s**t disturber

A Guy

 

[jimbo45]

The Let's have fun groups:
First group 12-23, Fourth group 65-80
The Let's keep a job groups:
Second & Third groups: 24-64

The "Let's keep a job groups" see the necessity of PCs.
The "Let's Keep a job groups" can of course indulge themselves in smartphones and tablets when time permits.

Hi there

Why stop at 80 --I know people around 90 who are having the fun of their lives -- a Friend's Grandad has just started to learn to fly Cessna's at 91 !!! He's fitter than some 60 year olds (and some 40's too I regret to say) !!!.

This group also seem to have oodles of dosh too !!!!

@A Guy etc -- nothing wrong with people hanging on to older gear if it does the job -- would I get rid of my Baby Grand Piano -- Never -- even though I often use a decent electric keyboard (with proper pressure sensitive keys like playing a Real piano -- cheaper ones play like an Organ - just Touch the note and it plays the same volume - with a real piano the note's volume depends on the intensity with which you strike the key).

I also like my old decent High quality sound amplifier too -- that's got to be at least 30 years old but with Mission quality studio reference speakers the sound just blows anything modern away - especially Boomy emphasized over Bassy Computer sound systems with "El cheapo" speakers.

If your old PC works and is fit for purpose - why change it. XP can still run safely if you use it sensibly and you like it.

I LIKE new technology etc and I don't find windows 8.1 bad -- I hated the original Windows 8 - like a lot of people - but I don't throw away perfectly good functioning kit if it satisfies me for what I use it for.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Solarstarshines]

Hi everyone ,I think it has stalled because of the rise in Smartphone use and the fact people are using more handheld platforms for information

PC's are great multi purpose units but with Smart TV's and devices tend to kill it for people like us who like to build for fun

I do a big part of gaming on PC i am not interested in PS4 or XBOX the PC platform is pretty much a beefed up XBOX anyway

Pretty much with the cost of Handheld being dramatically cheaper i would say this is why and windows 8 Metro killed it because it's more for Smartphone tablets users once you take away the original PC platform all is lost

 

[mjf]

Go into just about any business corporate through to small business and you will see some form of PC. They are critical to business success and they won't be going away soon. Business people don't view them as a discretionary/entertainment spend and upgrade when they need to. With the exception of areas like design (eg CAD) why would you expect a business user to upgrade immediately when something "better" comes out - it's an expense. When times are a bit lean they'll hold off on an upgrade program. But networked PCs are still vital to their business. Big as it may be, more conventional PCs and the business sector may not be seen by MS (or even Intel) as having much growth potential.

Maybe there will be a decline in home PCs. Maybe just stick the kids on some crappy laptop to do their homework as long as they have a good smartphone to socially network.