PC sales declined 14% first quarter 2013

[16k_zx81]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22103079

.............................

 

[DataBitSolutions]

Interesting... thanks for sharing.

Oddly enough, we've had one of our best quarters this year... we have had a tremendous spike in repairs. I can't give you percentages, but we've been busy.

 

[mraikes]

Interesting... thanks for sharing.

Oddly enough, we've had one of our best quarters this year... we have had a tremendous spike in repairs. I can't give you percentages, but we've been busy.

Doesn't seem odd to me. Along with money just being tight all over, people want to keep the computers they have working as long as possible rather than buy a new machine with Win 8.

The article 16k linked even mentions Win 8 as a specific depressor to the market.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Most everyone has PCs. Unless it is dead what compelling reason is there to upgrade? Not much.

AND many homes got PCs to play games, get on the internet for email, aol chat, and myspace. Now they use there iPhone to check email, text, and use facebook and twitter.

If you have an iPhone, an iPad, and a xBox who needs a PC? Not at home you don't.

 

[16k_zx81]

I bought an Android tablet awhile back and its my main computing device at home now. In fact I almost never use the desktop and have retired it.

My wife uses her ipad almost exclusively, as does my Son.

Our household computing habits have changed significantly as a result of the 'new' technology, and I can see why so many people are turning away from PCs.

I still 'have to' use PCs on the bench at work, but if there was another option, I would be on it in a heartbeat.

 

[Martyn]

I bought an Android tablet awhile back and its my main computing device at home now. In fact I almost never use the desktop and have retired it.

My wife uses her ipad almost exclusively, as does my Son.

Our household computing habits have changed significantly as a result of the 'new' technology, and I can see why so many people are turning away from PCs.

I still 'have to' use PCs on the bench at work, but if there was another option, I would be on it in a heartbeat.

Pretty much the same here. The urgency to get laptops repaired is not the same either.. I have a laptop in for repair where the screen was broken 3 months ago. My IPad suffices out on site, in fact I've used my laptop on site probably 5 times in the last year.

 

[joydivision]

I don't have a tablet, but I do have a modern smartphone, and while it can do everything a PC can within reason, the experience is just not the same. It depends what you need to use the computer for I guess. But even in my office, I cannot imagine typing this on anything less than my full size qwerty keyboard and my 'small' 20" monitor.

But yes we know PC sales are falling, we know it is the end of the world as wer know it, but I feel fine.

Everybody always hurts in the technology game but if we can put a man on the moon, and go for a night swim everything will be fine. Excuse me while I go and drink some orange crush.

Sorry.

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

I don't have a tablet, but I do have a modern smartphone, and while it can do everything a PC can within reason, the experience is just not the same. It depends what you need to use the computer for I guess. But even in my office, I cannot imagine typing this on anything less than my full size qwerty keyboard and my 'small' 20" monitor.

im in same camp as you even at home i use a desktop, yes there are times i will just use tablet or phone for basic web browsing or single page lookup but mostly it the desktop. She who must be obeyed though prefers her laptop.

As for in the office i don't know how anyone can work efficiently without dual monitors.


Yes PC sales are falling but then again almost every report since 2000 has claimed the same thing and we are all still working.

Market saturation will be main killer of the industry not the lack of work. As unfortunately in the main (excluding businesses) we as an industry have lost the war in educating customers to the difference between quality work and the pizza techs but i guess that a whole different thread.

 

[Metanis]

Microsoft to blame.

I think Microsoft really screwed the pooch trying to force people onto Windows 8 Metro. Even if you had the money to buy a new computer this year perhaps it gave you pause when you learned you would be forced to learn a new operating paradigm?

I read that computer sales to business was actually up slightly. You know they're doing corporate installs of Win7.

Billy Gates needs to grab Steve Ballmer by the balls and squeeze a UI option into Win8 SP1.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

We will see this number climb over the next year, especially Q1 and Q2 of next year. As Windows XP support wanes....and businesses start replacing their fleets.

Right now a drop in sales should not be a surprise, Windows 8 has not had the most welcome arrival to the market....so there is a bit of hestitation.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I'm not looking at it like its windows 8 thing or its tablet competition/smartphone competition, etc etc.

I am looking at it like this. If the person has a core 2 duo or higher processor already why in the world would they buy a new computer unless they are a gamer or do some kind of very resource heavy media work.

Edit: but then again sometimes people use to buy a new comp for the newer OS and I know thats not going to happen with windows 8 lol.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I agree with idea that most pcs in the last 5 years are good enough for consumers. Myself I only upgraded bc I was just tired of my old system that still did everything I wanted I just was bored.

 

[brandonkick]

Yep, it doesn't have as much to do with tablets as many would have you believe.


The economy is rough. People are trying to get more out the computer systems they have already paid for. I do a fair bit of repairs on 5-7+ year old machines running XP... but they suit the needs of the customers just fine.

My main workstation is heading for 3 years old now and it doesn't show it's age one bit. It's a core i7 930 with 6GB of ram and a beefy graphics card that still plays all of todays games at 1080P on my 47" HDTV. The one I had before that was a socket 939 Operton 165 with 2GB of ram and a radeon X1800XT. I ran that system for over 4 years maybe 5 years. And I do much much more with my machine then these average users hanging on to theirs for 5+ years.

Why spend $400-$500 plus when you can fix the one you have for $100

 

[phaZed]

Yep, it doesn't have as much to do with tablets as many would have you believe.

The economy is rough. People are trying to get more out the computer systems they have already paid for. I do a fair bit of repairs on 5-7+ year old machines running XP... but they suit the needs of the customers just fine.

This. We're looking at a slow motion train wreck and are headed for a huge market correction. Virtually everything you see in the markets is rigged, leveraged, or manipulated. I have been so busy fixing computers I can hardly keep up.

The other thing to keep in mind is that many people are picking up their phones and tablets from wireless providers at a subsidized price (You can get a $500 phone for $100 simply by signing a 2-year contact) - this makes such a purchase of such a device more palatable.

 

[mraikes]

We will see this number climb over the next year, especially Q1 and Q2 of next year. As Windows XP support wanes....and businesses start replacing their fleets.

Right now a drop in sales should not be a surprise, Windows 8 has not had the most welcome arrival to the market....so there is a bit of hestitation.

While I generally agree with this, I think the importance of XP support is overrated. Even though XP is still roughly 38% of the market overall (over 50% here at my FTJ, with 48% Win 7 and 2% Win 8), MS dropping support is nothing more than a tiny pebble in the pond. The loss won't be noticed by most users.

Attrition may force businesses to upgrade their fleets, but no business that I know of is eager to "upgrade" to Win 8. They're sitting on their hands or purchasing Win 7.

Tablets and phones are fine for many home users and some worker-bees, but they aren't desirable for most businesses large-scale. And the bottom line is that without workarounds, Win 8 turns your computer into a tablet/phone (interface-wise).

It will be interesting to see which way industry turns if MS continues down the path of hostility to most of the "producers" of the world while pandering to the consumers.

 

[johnrobert]

PC Market Bleeds

http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/desktop/pc-market-bleeds-windows-8-tablet-fix-ne/240152706

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

While I generally agree with this, I think the importance of XP support is overrated. ... MS dropping support is nothing more than a tiny pebble in the pond. The loss won't be noticed by most users.

Attrition may force businesses to upgrade their fleets, but no business that I know of is eager to "upgrade" to Win 8. They're sitting on their hands or purchasing Win 7.

I agree with you on all of that. Many businesses won't care. But I maintain that next year we will see a climb in sales as XP is officially sunsetted.

 

[phaZed]

PC Market Bleeds

http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/desktop/pc-market-bleeds-windows-8-tablet-fix-ne/240152706

The ignorance of what is really happening is astounding. What a fluffer.

It's a problem, he stated, that "a system designed for touch has been used on hardware not designed for touch."

Ya, well, if MS didn't retrofit Windows 7 with Metro, removing the Start menu, then gave a choice between the two.. the system would be friendly for either system.. touch or not.

 

[JustInspired]

We've got a whole lotta sales of new PCs and upgrades lined up for this year... in fact we have done a few already.
This is mostly for aging XP machines that are going to be upgraded to Windows 7 and new Windows 7 PCs for the small businesses we support.
Most of the clients want to get it into this year's budget and some bought their new stuff even before the end of their financial year, beginning of this month.

XP support's being dropped but I ain't complaining.

 

[joydivision]

im in same camp as you even at home i use a desktop, yes there are times i will just use tablet or phone for basic web browsing or single page lookup but mostly it the desktop. She who must be obeyed though prefers her laptop.

As for in the office i don't know how anyone can work efficiently without dual monitors.


Yes PC sales are falling but then again almost every report since 2000 has claimed the same thing and we are all still working.

Market saturation will be main killer of the industry not the lack of work. As unfortunately in the main (excluding businesses) we as an industry have lost the war in educating customers to the difference between quality work and the pizza techs but i guess that a whole different thread.

My existing customers appreciate me and have put my prices up quite a bit this yeah, most involved tune ups are coming at £40 now and nobody minds paying because the system is so much better when they get it back.

The problem is finding the new customers, I am finding it more less impossible.