PC Sales Remain Flat As The Market Waits For Windows 8?

PC Sales Remain Flat As The Market Waits For Windows 8?

Intel has launched a new generation of processors, PC markers have released a slew of new machines, and yet nobody is buying them. New data from Gartner and IDC are suggesting that OEM’s continue to struggle in the second quarter to sell new machines, even though refreshed designs traditionally help kick start sales. PC makers shipped around 87.1 million PCs this quarter, which when compared to last year’s 87.2 million represents a concerning trend for investors who expect constant growth. Both analyst firms have been on the hunt for a reason why, and seem to agree that consumers are waiting for….. Windows 8?

No matter what your opinions are of the new operating system, it’s hard to deny it might be possible that consumers are in a wait and see approach this close to the release of a new OS, and will make a decision once the reviews are in. The only OEM who showed any type of growth was Lenovo, with HP, Dell, Acer, and even Apple showing mild to steep declines. Both IDC and Gartner believe that Windows 8, in combination with Ivy Bridge will inspire a new wave of hardware that will help rejuvenate the market in the second half of the year. Considering that Windows 8 won’t launch until mid to late October at the earliest, I’d say these are ambitious predictions, but that’s why they get paid the big bucks!

“The announcement of a Windows 8 launch date, as well as broader communication of new features in the OS, are key steps that would help to address uncertainty about new product availability and help consumers and channels plan their purchases,” IDC’s Jay Chou noted. “Though Ultrabook was at first introduced in the market in 2011, the major promotion kicked off toward the end of [2Q 2012] with the Ivy Bridge-based Ultrabook release,” Gartner’s Mikako Kitagawa said. “This segment is still in an early adopter’s stage.” Ultrabooks aimed at Windows 8 will often feature touch screens and other features, such as convertible tablet designs, that could further differentiate them from today’s products.

Are you waiting on Windows 8 for your next hardware purchase?

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