[Gartner] Q1 PC Sales down 1.4%

[IntelUser2000]

Then explain why more and more people abandoning their pc's and using smart phones and tablets for a large majority of the things they once did on their pc's?

Why does it always have to be one vs another? In this case, Smartphones, Tablets, Notebooks and Desktop PCs all have their use. Smartphones have reached their peak too. It's not like because sales volume starts dropping, all of a sudden that means people are using PCs that much less. There's what, something like 2 billion PCs all over the world? 250 million annual sales for a device thought to be in replacement mode is pretty darn good.

 

[mindless1]

While it's a trend I expected, a mere 1.4% could just mean PCs have 1.4% more performance and/or lifespan each year. As someone already mentioned there's no new killer app so more and more people want to just keep using what they have been.

Phones and tablets are a different story, still much evolution going on but they too will experience the same sales declines in a few years.

 

[mindless1]

Then explain why more and more people abandoning their pc's and using smart phones and tablets for a large majority of the things they once did on their pc's?

You might be overgeneralizing. More and more people would tend to mean the younger, poorer population which NEED a phone but a PC is less necessary. It's not that they're abandoning their PCs as much as that they're not buying one or replacing one when it fails.

Granted, phones and tablets became more capable, as did the general population's skills using them, so it's no surprise that they'd be used for more things formerly reserved to a PC.

What you really have with "more and more people" is the less intelligent, or at least less computer savvy, using simpler devices more because the usability has improved. It's an engagement of a larger % of the population, starting at a younger age by learning to use a phone because it's a necessity.

 

[Mr Evil]

Because smart phones are not PCs.

Depends on how you define "PC". Originally it meant a computer intended for use by one person, especially as opposed to mainframes. By that definition, not only are smart phones PCs, but they are much more personal than desktop machines. On the other hand, if you go by Apple's more modern definition, then smart phones aren't PCs because they aren't desktop machines and (mostly) don't run Windows. I have never been sure where Linux desktop machines fit into that definition.

 

[IntelUser2000]

What you really have with "more and more people" is the less intelligent, or at least less computer savvy, using simpler devices more because the usability has improved. It's an engagement of a larger % of the population, starting at a younger age by learning to use a phone because it's a necessity.

There would be folks who would have never bought a PC anyways. TAM for a device that's mobile, capable of making calls, and being able to send short messages with ease, that alone was much greater than PCs, be it mobile or desktop.

Some cannibalization may exist, but when tech companies plaster every part of the world with computers capable of internet browsing, its logical to expect a category of device would have its sales dwindle.

 

[whm1974]

Depends on how you define "PC". Originally it meant a computer intended for use by one person, especially as opposed to mainframes. By that definition, not only are smart phones PCs, but they are much more personal than desktop machines. On the other hand, if you go by Apple's more modern definition, then smart phones aren't PCs because they aren't desktop machines and (mostly) don't run Windows. I have never been sure where Linux desktop machines fit into that definition.

I would call Linux desktop systems PCs due to the fact that the vast majority of them are standard x86 machines. But yes by the old definition then smartphones and tablets could be considered Personal Computers as well.

 

[ehume]

I remember when a PC was made by IBM. Then we had "compatibles." It was Apple II and others vs PC back then . . .

As for PC vs smartphones, smartphones are enough for most people for their personal lives. But in a work environment where you are sitting down (as opposed to mobile techs and nurses) you need the large screen that comes with a PC. And don't forget old folks who need a larger screen just to read.

Everything has a S-curve. Everything flattens out.

 

[Markfw]

I remember when a PC was made by IBM. Then we had "compatibles." It was Apple II and others vs PC back then . . .

As for PC vs smartphones, smartphones are enough for most people for their personal lives. But in a work environment where you are sitting down (as opposed to mobile techs and nurses) you need the large screen that comes with a PC. And don't forget old folks who need a larger screen just to read.

Everything has a S-curve. Everything flattens out.

I am one of those. Even with my reading glasses, its hard to see my phone. I use 28 inch monitors just about everywhere. And my TV is a 75 inch 3D LED

 

[Thebobo]

I use to hate the computer news and TV shows when decribing other computers. They would always say the PC and the Mac or Amiga.

 

[ondma]

My reply was to someone who said that tablets and smartphones are not computers. It was not directed at you or your post.

They are computing devices, but they are not PCs in the conventional sense. They are not x86, and also don't have the physical keyboard/mouse of a PC.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

My reply was to someone who said that tablets and smartphones are not computers. It was not directed at you or your post.

I wasn’t replying to you, I was replying to whm. I agree with your last post (post #25) - people really have no clue about the size of the PC market and the niche enthusiasts like us occupy.

Phones and tablets aren’t, however, considered in the figures tabulated for the PC segment.

 

[beginner99]

Most are trying to wait for the low powered quads and faster memory, faster wireless ect..

Exactly what I'm doing at work. Still running this old chunky ivy bridge based laptop but setting everything up again will be a hassle so I just delayed upgrading. And now with low powered quads coming soon, that would be a good time to upgrade. For sure not going dual-ore again in 2018.

My new PC purchase is on hold until sanity returns to the GPU/RAM markets.

Yeah that was my plan too until meltdown. My old PC (lynnfield i7-860) has become very slow since the fix. I get these annoying hangs sometimes like in hdd times...

 

[B-Riz]

A general response about us niche builders vs. the whole system buyers.

AMD Ryzen and Threadripper were majority sold piecemeal, not through integrators. And the response was more successful than AMD predicted. Their goal was the enthusiast first, and it worked.

Also, Intel regretted skipping desktop Broadwell, as people do like getting a new shiny every year. https://www.pcworld.com/article/2984128/computers/intel-regrets-skipping-broadwell-desktop-cpus.html

So we may be an insignificant, maybe immeasurable data point in the grands scheme, but we still influence AMD and Intel.

 

[Gikaseixas]

I agree with the longevity angle. I'm keeping my CPUs for much longer these days.
When i bought my first Intel MMX chip, it was obsolete in a few months, same with my Pentium 3, Athlon XP, etc. You had to buy more often.

GPUs are the same btw

 

[frozentundra123456]

A general response about us niche builders vs. the whole system buyers.

AMD Ryzen and Threadripper were majority sold piecemeal, not through integrators. And the response was more successful than AMD predicted. Their goal was the enthusiast first, and it worked.

Also, Intel regretted skipping desktop Broadwell, as people do like getting a new shiny every year. https://www.pcworld.com/article/2984128/computers/intel-regrets-skipping-broadwell-desktop-cpus.html

So we may be an insignificant, maybe immeasurable data point in the grands scheme, but we still influence AMD and Intel.

Not sure if AMD targeted enthusiasts first, of if the chips without IGP were simply ready first and AMD was desperate to get something on the market that was competitive.

 

[scannall]

Then explain why more and more people abandoning their pc's and using smart phones and tablets for a large majority of the things they once did on their pc's?

Smartphones and tablets *can* work as a PC replacement for some people. Certainly not me, and likely not anyone that reads these forums. But that isn't the reason for the sales downturn. You have a saturated market, with the current equipment out in the field being good enough for most people. You don't replace your water heater or your stove every three years either. And that's what a PC is, to most regular users. An appliance. Nothing more. If it works, it's good enough.


(Edit for bad grammar, hey it's early)

 

[B-Riz]

Not sure if AMD targeted enthusiasts first, of if the chips without IGP were simply ready first and AMD was desperate to get something on the market that was competitive.

Well, they did target enthusiasts first. I'm not going to argue this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UasmBgBLznw