Windows 8 Can’t Arrest Decline in PC market

June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- London,- Latest analysis of Western European distribution data by market research company CONTEXT, shows that all PC form factors continue to decline in the early second quarter of 2013, despite the launch of Windows 8.  

“Demand for Windows 8 was not channelled particularly skilfully with mixed press prior to launch, insufficient marketing activity at store level as well as low availability of touch systems,” says Marie-Christine Pygott, senior PC analyst at CONTEXT.

There have been some positives over the period, however, with clamshell notebooks recording a lesser decline, while the Windows 7/ Windows 8 scheme - which offered a free license upgrade to the new operating system for those investing in pre-installed Windows 7 Pro - proved to create some demand.

Most vendors aimed for a fast product transition to Windows 8 in Western European distribution across consumer channels. As a result, the adoption rate for Windows 8 in the Windows consumer segment reached 95% by mid-May across Western Europe. Samsung, HP, Sony and Toshiba achieved the highest Windows 8 shares in their Windows consumer portfolios in mid-May (Samsung 100%; HP, Sony and Toshiba 99% each).

However, the potency of Windows 8 as a PC flagship was undermined by the clumsy way in which channel marketing was conducted. CONTEXT research suggests that the low availability of attractively priced Windows 8 touch products on retail shelves had a negative impact on sales, while retailers report a poor Windows 8 user experience on the shop floor.

Windows 8 Pro market adoption stagnated at 22% in early Q213, although the Windows 7/Windows 8 OS version (in which systems come pre-installed with Windows 7 Pro as well as a licence and media to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro) proved increasingly popular in early Q213, with a 29% share of the Windows market - up from 17% in Q113.

About CONTEXT

Headquartered in London with over 130 staff in 12 countries, CONTEXT specializes in tracking technology sales and pricing across the globe. With real-time data captured from a wide range of channel sources including exclusive access to Global Technology Distribution Council members, the $3 billion of sales processed each week in Europe provides the most accurate channel market information available today across a range of business and consumer technology products. CONTEXT reports and services enable our customers to assess their business operations in the light of actual sell-out figures, and make business-critical decisions based on hard data. Follow us on Twitter: @contextworld.com or visit our website: www.contextworld.com.

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