News Gartner blames tablets, not Windows 8, for PC market slump

I think Gartner has a much more sensible analysis than IDC - simply blaming Windows 8 seemed a little lazy to me.

I think tablets are far more to blame than a new operating system. After all, most consumers don't even think about the OS when they're buying a new laptop, all they're concerned about is whether they can read email and use Facebook. Even corporates will wipe a new PC and install whatever the corporate standard OS image is.

The tablets thing is borne out in my work - I work as an adult tutor teaching IT classes, and we've seen a decrease in the number of "Computers for the Terrified" courses we run and an increase in the number of "Learn Your Tablet" courses.

 

A tablet does what they want it's cheaper more portable.

 

Can somebody write a script or something that inserts '[sic]' whenever someone writes 'going forward'? Maybe there is a firefox extension or something that does this? :/

 

i want to go back to 1998. schooldays, no worries and the start of usb i think and just great feelings all round. bliss

 

i dont pc growth slow down

 

While I think Tablets are the main cause of this, I don't think Win8 is helping either (earlier in the week I overheard someone trying to return a copy of Win8 they'd bought because they hated it and get a copy of win7 instead (in Asda of all places, and no, they don't stock Win7))

 

Said this allready, when the other article blaming Win8 was written.

Smartphones and tablets can do most of the stuff people need, like eMail, social media and media-playback. Even office works nice with a tablet, aswell as some casual gaming.

There's actually nothing wrong with smartphones and tablets cutting into PC-sales, as they're nothing else then a PC basically. Atleast I see no difference between a low powered 11-13" laptop and a 10" tablet, when you attach a keyboard-cover.

 

I think the reason so much blame is laid at 8's door is because in the past most of the time when a new M$ OS came out it came with increased hardware requirements.
So maybe rather short sited people think this would have been the same with 8 or all future OS's, apart from the divisive modern UI touch capabilities i don't think 8 has caused people to rush out and buy new kit.

 

So ... if tablets and smart phones are the only things cutting into PC sales then why aren't the Surface and other Win8 tablets taking over that market?



(That's a rhetorical question.)

 

Indeed. Let me add: "I can do most of what I want on my smart phone anyway." Even some of my business associates do a great deal more on their phones than on their desktop computers / laptops or tablets. Many people are already investing a great deal of time on devices that are not running Windows. They are already more comfortable with those (iOS / Android / BB) than with Windows 8.

I bought an iPad(3) and IMHO it's only really worth it if it's jailbroken. I think my next tablet (in a few years) will be either Android or Surface.

 

disagree gareth i brought my ipad cause it was the best tablet on the market when i got it ( ipad 2) and the only one at the time that had sky go as compatible a major purchase decision for me.

Money never came into the question was about filling a need that i had.

 

I bought an iPad3 aswell, and I think that it's better then most Android-based tablets even when not jailbroken. I do draw alot on the iPad for example with Sketchbook Pro and the Retina Display makes it just that much better then all the Android-devices with the smaller resolutions and iOS in general runs alot smoother then Android, as hardware and OS are optimized.

Besides that. My next tablet definately needs a SDHC-slot or even better an USB-port for mass-storage, and currently I think only the Surface / Pro provides that. The Surface Pro especially could be very interesting when installing Photoshop.

 

I blame the parents

 

Eh?

 

Swipe Selection, ShowCase, Activator, SBSettings, Manual Correct, Always Close, f.lux ... all free with a jailbreak. All greatly improve the usability of iOS. I'm pretty sure Android has eqivelants without the need for jailbreaks. I like my jailbroken iPad but I believe Apple needs to catch up with Android. Even Windows 8, despite MS's new locks, may heve better options than what Apple locks users into. Apple openned the tablet market up but Android has caught up and MS may be there as well - if they can get enough market share.