Forecast shows that Microsoft’s new OS update won’t boost new PC sales

Aug 30, 2013 06:18 GMT  ·  By

Windows 8.1 will officially hit the market in mid-October and Microsoft expects the OS update to spawn not only a new wave of devices optimized for the touch, but also to boost new PC sales ahead of the holiday season.

That’s not going to happen, market researcher IDC said in a new forecast rolled out today, claiming that worldwide PC shipments are now expected to fall by 9.7 percent in 2013.

And this is going to happen despite the debut of Windows 8.1, the new version of the operating system that will bring several improvements, most of which are aimed at touch-capable devices.

“The days where one can assume tablet disruptions are purely a First World problem are over,” said Jay Chou, senior research analyst, Worldwide Quarterly PC Trackers at IDC.

“Advances in PC hardware, such as improvements in the power efficiency of x86 processors remain encouraging, and Windows 8.1 is also expected to address a number of well-documented concerns. However, the current PC usage experience falls short of meeting changing usage patterns that are spreading through all regions, especially as tablet price and performance become ever more attractive.”

Next year, on the other hand, IDC expects a “slow rebound,” especially because more businesses are likely to have a look at newer operating system such as Windows 8 and 8.1.

At the same time, given the fact that Microsoft will officially discontinue Windows XP in April 2014, more companies and users are expected to make the move to a newer platform, a transition that usually requires upgrading hardware as well.

“We also anticipate operating system migration (Window XP to 7) will drive some volume in the commercial segment. Entry-level ultraslim systems and lower-priced convertibles will also be bright spots in an otherwise still troubled consumer market,” Rajani Singh, research analyst, Client Computing, explained.

Windows XP remains one of the top OSes in the world, being installed right now on approximately 38 percent of computers worldwide.