Windows Vista has failed to become the killer product designed to catalyze an increase in worldwide PC sales. Following the general availability of the operating system in January 2007, Vista was supposed to fuel new international PC shipments. Analyst firm Gartner revealed that Microsoft's latest version of the Windows platform impacted only superficially computer sales, and that manufacturers are forced to turn to emerging markets to score growth for their businesses.

"The release of Microsoft Windows Vista operating system at the end of January has, so far, failed to stimulate the market in the way many hoped. Our market data suggest Vista has had very limited impact on PC demand or replacement activity. We don't see Vista having a significant effect on these going forward unless Microsoft becomes much more aggressive in its marketing efforts," commented George Shiffler, research director for Gartner's Client Platforms Markets Group.

Gartner forecasted that PC sales will grow with an estimated 11.1% in 2007 compared to 2006, but not thanks to Windows Vista. If Worldwide PC shipments will indeed reach the predicted 257.1 million items this year, it will be almost exclusively because of the new sales in emerging economies around the world. The past year, PC shipments totaled some 231.5 million units.

"Vendors continue to face a thorny mix of select growth opportunities and serious challenges in mature markets," Shiffler added "Continuing strong demand for mobile PCs, especially among consumers, offer vendors tremendous growth opportunities. But, generally weak desk-based PC replacement activity and narrowing penetration opportunities, especially among larger businesses, pose some serious challenges."

In mid May 2007, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, revealed during his address at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2007 in Los Angeles that Windows Vista had sold approximately 40 million licenses. Still, the success of the operating system, outselling Windows XP more than 2 to 1, is in no manner reflected in the PC shipments worldwide.