One thing has become apparent over the last few years, shape has become the defining factor in what computing in the future will look like. More evidence supporting this theory has now emerged, courtesy of the IDC, with PC shipments continuing to decline throughout the world.
In 2015 alone, worldwide shipments are expected to suffer a 6.2% drop. Following a relatively strong performance in 2014, when the end of support for Windows XP saw a drive for replacement machines, shipments are still expected to fall in 2015 even despite the debut of Windows 10 later in the year. IDC describes the climate for PC sales in the second half of the year:
Windows 10 should be a significant contributor to the PC market – providing an upgrade path from Windows 7 for commercial users and a range of features boosting convenience and integrating the user experience across platforms. Nevertheless, changes like the free upgrade option for consumers and platform integration aren’t expected to drive a surge in new PC shipments. The commercial segment is expected to evaluate the OS before deploying it and most new commercial PCs will be replacement systems. The consumer transition to Windows 10 should happen quickly, but the free upgrade reduces the need for a new PC and IDC expects many consumers will continue to prioritize spending on phones, tablets, and wearable devices like the Apple Watch during the holiday season.
What the impact of lower PC sales will be for Microsoft is difficult to say, with it arguably being the case that with Windows 10 being so diverse it simply does not matter. Despite this, as smartphones continue their inexorable ascendance, expect the PC sector to continue declining throughout the rest of the year.
Do you think more should be done to halt the decline of PC shipments?
