Worst PC sales drop in history

CNN Money ^ | April 10, 2013: 5:19 PM ET | Julianne Pepitone

[Olog-hai]

PC sales certainly haven’t been good over the past year or so, but this past quarter was record-setting bad.

Shipments of PCs fell 14% worldwide last quarter, according to IDC. It was the worst yearly decline since IDC began tracking the data in 1994. …

Bob O’Donnell, a vice president at IDC, said in the company’s report that “the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market.” …

[uncommonsense]

Smart phones. It's all about capabilities and results, not the name on a device. In fact, I expect head's up visor or eyeglass peripherals to take on an expanded role in smart phone video extension...

[Paladin2]

Once your hardware is 1080P capable, there’s no real need for faster hardware.

[Revolting cat!]

>>A kludge is a program that works by accident, IOW the programmer made it work but doesn’t know why or how it works. Usually the result of making up the code as you go along instead of having a plan.

>Not necessarily. A kludgy program is also one that is just a collection of disjointed features that gives it the look and feel of something created by committee. As you said, a program without a plan.

Not necessarily. A kludge is also a quick and dirty code fix to a bug, or a weird, non-standard (code wise), inelegant addition of a feature demanded by the user(s.) Because that may be the only way to do it.

[Bryanw92]

>>Not necessarily. A kludge is also a quick and dirty code fix to a bug, or a weird, non-standard (code wise), inelegant addition of a feature demanded by the user(s.) Because that may be the only way to do it.

That’s what I meant by a program created by a committee.

[Roccus]

Like a lot of “Old people” I would be perfectly happy with a device that would give me internet access and e-mail (like the old WebTV did only at computer speed) plus would accommodate my digital camera. I used to like my XP, but when that PC fried I was forced into Windows 7. I got so tired of MS's updates changing things that I shut them off over a year ago.

[corbe]

Win 7 PRO w/ Virtual Machine loaded, though QUIRKY, gives my small bussiness customers XP Compatability for their OLD Software and better Domain/Security Capabilities.

I miss the ol’ Packard Bells, man I made allot of money back then in Retail Tech Support....

[Castigar]

“Countdown until the Microsoft vendors/salesmen find this thread and claim Windows 8 is really great but we are just stupid to realize how brilliant it and Bill Gates are”

Sounds like the democrats talking about obamacare

[stars & stripes forever]

Old people (half of my customer base) don't want to use (LEARN) Tablets, readers, smart phones etc.

So true. I learned to be proficient with my computer and mouse. Why change something that isn't broke?

Also boomers have already done "spluge"; now they are into "frugile" MS would be wise to come out with a Senior version of Windows 8 that resembled Windows 7... with a Senior discount, of course.

[Larry381]

Dell is now offering a downgrade to Windows 7 on its new systems-that's how horrible Windows 8 has become.

Word is they were inundated with complaints from potential customers who were refusing to buy their new computers if they sold with Windows 8

[Standing Wolf]

Is this about hardware and software, or the Obama Depression?

[tacticalogic]

Love Mac, or hate’em; why not just get the real thing?

If you hate it, you should just buy it anyway?

What happened to the "buy what you like" mantra?

[Squawk 8888]

Independent vendors do, or you can by a barebones kit and install it yourself.

[Inyo-Mono]

Dell is now offering a downgrade to Windows 7 on its new systems-that's how horrible Windows 8 has become.

I have Windows 7 on my desktop PC and love it. I made the mistake of mentioning to my brother last year that I was looking at getting a lap top for trips out of town and he bought one as a gift for me last Christmas. It has Windows 8. Horrible, horrible! I never would have bought a computer with Windows 8 if I had a choice, but now I'm stuck.

[bigbob]

“Adequacy is sufficient”

Adam Osbourne

[Drew68]

So, I decided on a 15” MacBook Pro. It works like a computer should. It cost more, but I can now rely on my computer.

In the end, you're probably still saving money. I got six years out of my iMac before my toddler knocked it off the desk and broke the screen. I could probably fix it if I really wanted to but it is so old I can't upload the latest version of iOS so I'm holding off for a Mac Mini. It was still running strong and virus-free though. MacBooks are the same way. You'll probably have replaced a Windows laptop twice before you need to replace your MacBook.

[daniel1212]

See Windows 8 pro review (upgrade XP to Windows 8 with Classic Shell)

I do not think the problem is W/8 or MS, but that too many people had PCs that do not really need them, or need a better one, as most all they do is surf and email. To write you could even use MS 3.1 with MS Office or 9X with OpenOffice.

[D Rider]

Agree, Win 8 sucks big time. I much prefer a mac.

[rollo tomasi]

PC gaming market as well as the graphic artist that need regular upgrades/power/a lot of memory will keep desktops going.

There is a sizable market for graphics cards/monitors that can do 1440p on up plus with multiple monitors.

Nvidia is doing rather well (Of course they have a hold on the mobile market) at the moment with their desktops cards. Once Graphics Cards developers/manufacturers start going south, then you know desktops might go the way of the dodo.

[meyer]

Windows 8...

[tacticalogic]

If you don’t like the UI, just install Server Core.