IDC: Windows 8 Failed to Boost PC Market

The release of Windows 8 failed to help boost the PC market in the fourth quarter, but that was not entirely unexpected as consumers instead picked up tablets, smartphones, and other mobile gadgets during the holiday season.

According to data from IDC, worldwide PC shipments during the last quarter were down 6.4 percent from the same time period in 2011, which was more than the 4.4 percent predicted by analysts. New PCs "continued to take a back seat to competing devices and sustained economic woes," IDC found.

"As a result, the fourth quarter of 2012 marked the first time in more than five years that the PC market has seen a year-on-year decline during the holiday season," the firm found.

The focus on the touch-centric aspect of Windows 8 might have aliented some shoppers, IDC said.

"Lost in the shuffle to promote a touch-centric PC, vendors have not forcefully stressed other features that promote a more secure, reliable and efficient user experience," said Jay Chou, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. "As Windows 8 matures, and other corresponding variables such as ultrabook pricing continue to drop, hopefully the PC market can see a reset in both messaging and demand in 2013."

Among those who did buy PCs in the fourth quarter, most were from HP, which captured 16.7 percent of the PC market, up from 15.8 percent last year. "An aggressive push for Windows 8 volume helped the vendor make gains in Asia/Pacific and its home turf in the U.S. HP struggled in EMEA but posted the first year-over-year growth in Asia/Pacific in four quarters," IDC said.

Close behind was Lenovo with 15.7 percent. Rounding out the top five were Dell (10.6 percent), Acer (7.8 percent), and Asus (7.2 percent).

For more, see PCMag's review of Windows 8.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414187,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000760

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