Windows 8.1 won't rescue PC market this year, IDC says

[steve2470]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2047777/windows-81-wont-rescue-pc-market-this-year-idc-says.html

The PC market will weaken even further this year, and Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8.1 OS will be unable to reverse the drop in shipments, IDC said on Thursday.

Due in part to increased adoption of mobile devices globally and a drop in PC sales in China, shipments will shrink 9.7 percent in 2013, according to IDC, which previously had predicted a fall of 7.7 percent drop.

Microsoft’s Windows 8 has also been blamed by analysts as one of the reasons for the decline in the PC market. Windows 8.1, due to ship in mid-October, will address some user complaints, but PC shipments will also fall next year, and rebound with only single-digit growth in 2015, said Jay Chou, senior research analyst at IDC, in a statement.

With Windows 8, Microsoft has put a tablet-like touch user interface on PCs, which has baffled users buying non-touch PCs. Touch laptops remain expensive, and PC makers expect enterprises to upgrade laptops to the Windows 7 OS. The Windows 8 OS and high prices of PCs are reasons why people are looking at attractively priced tablets instead, Chou said.

[msongs]

1. attempt to turn PC into a cellphone has failed...too bad as win 8 has some improvement over 7

according to those who have tested/used it extensively.

[steve2470]

2. I like it, been using it since the alpha release, use a few tweaks

8.1 will boot directly to desktop, so that solves a lot of frustration.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. I have no problem with it, but...

what, 90% or more people just watch videos, chat, tweet, and such so a tablet or smart phone is ideal for them.

Way back when, people wrote books on Tandy 100's because you could easily carry them around-- now we're heading back that way with technology that works as well as desktops for that stuff.

Microsoft has created a cross platform OS for phones, tablets and PCs-- for now, though, nobody's buying. Android seems to rule.

[A Little Weird]

3. Another year with no funds to purchase new computers

I'm sure my agency is not the only one who is still barely scraping by and can't afford to purchase new PCs. We would prefer Windows 7 PCs if we could get them but we would figure out how to deal with Windows 8 if it meant we could retire our 8 year old computers.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Too bad there's no money, but...

I got a Win8 all-in-one without touchscreen for under 600 bucks and it's got a few quirks, but what doesn't. It's far faster and more secure than my Win7 laptop.

[A Little Weird]

9. Good to know!

I've heard mixed reviews from people I know who have tried it. But it sounds like it's just that people pass judgement before they get to know what's different about it.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. People hate change. I run my Win8's with a desktop...

just like XP and 7. When it starts with all those tiles, just hit the Windows key and they go away leaving you with the desktop you always loved. I'd love to completely avoid the tiles and the startup screen bugging you for a password, but I'm sure someone will figure that out.

I haven't figured out how to play Solitaire while watching the browser during a long download, and there are one or two things I used to do easily with the Start button that now take maybe an extra mouse click or two. But, hooking up to a network or installing a printer is now even easier.

Other than that, it's very stable and many of the add-ons I used to need are built in. The XP machine is now almost completely retired, and the 7 laptop doesn't get that much use any more.

We'll see how much better 8.1 is when it's available to us great unwashed, but rumor has it it can bypass the tiles.

[steve2470]

6. can the IT department simply upgrade the components in the computers ?

That might be a lot cheaper than buying new. Maybe not.

[A Little Weird]

7. We have had to do that a few times

We have had to do that a few times and it is cheaper. But I don't always know which part I need to replace and trial and error can get expensive. We don't really have full IT support (offsite IT crew deals with servers, most software updating, and network infrastructure) so PC maintenance usually falls to me (in addition to my regular job). So it's much better all around if we can replace. When I first started, they were on a 3-year replacement cycle, but that is a thing of the past. It will eventually get better I hope.

[steve2470]

8. if you wish, you can get some help in our Computer Help sub-forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

Lots of helpful people there.

[A Little Weird]

10. I have been saved by the Computer Help forum before!

Sometimes by just reading old threads. I'm sure I'll be posting my maintenance woes over there at some point. I have come across some other online forums that have been very helpful as well. I'm always amazed by the shear number of generous people who will take time out to help total strangers with stuff like this. It gives me hope for the world!

[steve2470]

11. me too :) nt

[NuclearDem]

13. Ah Windows 8

Microsoft Exec: So how do we design an operating system? What things do people still like about Windows?

Reasonable Person: Well, the start menu is still pretty popul...

ME: AWAY WITH IT

RP: But people like the start me--

ME: AWAY WITH IT. TOUCH SCREENS ARE THE FUTURE.

RP: But...

ME: I HAVE SPOKEN