The results also marked the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year shipment declines.

That is quote from the IDC press release. So its Windows 8 fault and it wasn't even released yet. If Windows 8 is so bad why didn't the consumer buy a PC with Windows 7 as they were the prime system during most of this time frame.
Even today Best Buy has more Window 7 units then Windows 8.



Jim

The big thing here is that the market for 'traditional' desktops and, to a lesser extent laptops
is not dead, and nor is it dying. Nor will it in the foreseeable future.

What has happened, though, is that it has stabilised. Sales are no longer driven so much by
newcomers to the computing scene, as many whose usage patterns never really needed a
PC in the first place now have the choice of several varieties of tablet/smart-phone which
suit their needs far better. They're choosing these over the (for them) over-kill of a desktop
or laptop. Many newcomers, however, will still need/want a desktop/laptop and so will still
buy.

Secondly, the technology is mature, and performance and reliability are not the issue they
once were. Those who already have a desktop/laptop aren't driven to upgrade their machines
as often as was once the case. These people will still buy desktops/laptops, but they are not
prepared to (or need to) buy a new machine every six months to stay 'current'. They'll buy
when their current machine expires, or on a significant technological improvement (and no,
touch isn't it), but they will be buying. They may use a tablet as an accessory to their desk-
top/laptop, but not usually as a replacement for it.

Thirdly, there's those who will still need the power simply to do what they need to do. Gamers
(both creators and players), those with high-end CAD or video-processing tasks (for example)
and businesses will still be buying. With a blend of these and BYOD, maybe not as many, though.

My point is, the desktop/laptop format is not going anywhere as it's essential for some tasks
and preferable for many more, over a tab/hybrid. The different formats (desktop/laptop, hybrid,
tablet, smart-phone)will end up complementing each-other, rather than one killing all of the
others off. People will buy the one (or ones) that suit their needs.

As for Windows 8, yes people are staying away in droves, it seems. But the same applies for
OSes as I explained in point #2 above. If you aren't an enthusiast/hobbyist you're not as likely
to race out and upgrade your OS just for the fun of it. You'll wait until you need to, for what-
ever reason, or you'll simply wait until you replace your machine and get the new OS then. The
more so since Windows 7 was such a roaring success that people aren't actually clamouring for
a new OS, and the pasting that Windows 8 has been copping in the tech press and on the
techie/enthusiast forums.


Yes, I know it's a long post, but there was too much to fit into a one or two line post. Sorry.

Wenda.

Phone Man said:

The results also marked the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year shipment declines.

That is quote from the IDC press release. So its Windows 8 fault and it wasn't even released yet. If Windows 8 is so bad why didn't the consumer buy a PC with Windows 7 as they were the prime system during most of this time frame.
Even today Best Buy has more Window 7 units then Windows 8.

People have bought huge numbers of PCs since 2009.

Any PC that could actually run Vista, could be upgraded to W7 and it would perform better!
That probably accounts for the slow down in new PC sales.

Desktop PCs less popular than ever

"U.S. desktop PC shipments are down 40% in the past decade ..."
Notice how the graph doesn't support this statement.

PC shipments are actually up 100%+ over the decade.
2002: 14.2M units
2012: 30.6M units