Study: first quarter of 2013 is the largest decline in sales of personal computers

Study: first quarter of 2013 is the largest decline in sales of personal computers

According to IDC, the company specialized in market research and advisory services, a decline in sales of personal computers around the world during the first quarter of this year grew by 13.9% compared to the same period last year. This is the worst quarter since 1994, when the company began monitoring the computer market rate quarterly.

The total number of units sold, including desktops and laptops wentbok and "work station", 76.3 million units. The current rate of decline exceeded the worst expectations of the IDC to 7.7%, the fourth consecutive quarter of contraction in sales of personal computers.

Saw the markets of Europe, Middle East and Africa the largest percentage decline since reaching 16% in the number of only 23 million affected by uncertainties about the economy in southern Europe, along with greater reliance on mobile phones.

And the Pacific region except Japan and Asia declined by 10.3%, the first time that up to this percentage. United States market has contracted by 12.7%, for a total of 14.2 million units, the lowest since the first quarter of 2006.

Japan was excluded from the fall, which came in conformity with expectations, because of some economic improvement, which support the process of replacement before the end of the specified time to stop supporting "Windows XP" next year.

According to David Daoud, Research Manager, personal computing at IDC, the decline was not a surprise, but its sheer size as a disturbing surprise. Daoud said: "take the industry toward a critical crossroads, and it will require strategic decisions to compete with alternative devices, and maintain relevance to the consumer". He would be on reviewing organizational structures and strategies, market research, distribution and supply chain products to cope with shrinking demand.

As for the top five global producers, long falling sales are all disproportionately excluding Lenovo, HP retained first place, down by 23%, the worst figures since the acquisition of the company "Compaq" in 2003.

Followed by a slight Lenovo represented except as maintained its sales rate, and growth in the markets of the United States. Dell replaced in third place, followed by "easier" and "ASUS". Computer hardware sales declined as Apple faced major competition from its "iPad".

IDC's report said that despite the slight improvement in the economy, and new models of devices that support Windows 8″, sales of personal computers have fallen around the world, at a time when the Tablet and acquires smartphones on a growing share of consumer spending.

And the personal computer industry's efforts was to enter the touch features and very thin traditional obstacles such as price and provide the ingredients, while struggling to provide new innovations distinguish them from other products and encourage consumers to do so, face stiff resistance to the changes that are described as costly and cumbersome.

It also has not helped the launch of the operating system "Windows 8″ in the rehabilitation market. Said Bob O'Donnell, Vice President of IDC's customers and offers: "at this point – unfortunately – it seems clear that the launch of Windows 8 not only fail to provide a positive impetus for the computer market, but contributed to the slowdown in the market."

He added: "while the price of some new elements and potential users of touch in Windows 8, radical changes in the user interface as a Remove button" start ", and the cost associated with touch of attractive computer compared with tablets and other competition agencies. It would be for Microsoft to take several several strict resolutions if it wants to reactivate the computer hardware market.