The ones that are dying because Microsoft hasn't come out with a truly great, compelling operating system in a decade other than Windows 7, and arguably that is still being upstaged by the un-dead, Refuses-To-Die WinXP.
I applaud Microsoft for supporting XP that long. They had every right to kill support a long time ago if they wanted to. But they were forced to yield to the marketplace of users and businesses who demanded continued support.
Unfortunately, they didn't come out with anything (other than Win7) that could hold a candle to XP for simple usefulness.
And their hardware partners are dead, dead, dead. They were subsisting on tiny margins because of the race-to-the-bottom of PC hardware prices, and then the combination of Vista and Win8, at the same time Apple was bringing out the iPhone/iPad family, dropped the bottom out entirely.
And then Microsoft comes out with Surface. Geez, it's a wonder that the PC hardware makers didn't burn Redmond to the ground.
My apologies. My error.
Thanks for the pointers and info. Sounds like you are in the “business.”
It must be tough for the hardware folks. I have noticed that computers have gotten “cheaper” in quality in recent years. At least Dell, anyway. Probably their effort to try to compete. Dell computers used to be built like a Sherman tank.
I read a while back that the touch screen market killed the laptop. I guess that it makes sense for the casual user however I prefer a desktop or laptop with a real keyboard if I am going to be typing a 50 page term paper. So there should still be a demand for PCs. Who knows.
Anyway, thanks!