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| PC sales worldwide have tumbled, data from IDC shows | PC sales worldwide have tumbled, data from IDC shows |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Global sales of PCs fell 14% in the first three months of the year, the biggest fall since research firm IDC started tracking the industry in 1994. | Global sales of PCs fell 14% in the first three months of the year, the biggest fall since research firm IDC started tracking the industry in 1994. |
| IDC said 76.3 million units were shipped, a figure that underlines the appeal of tablets and smartphones as alternatives to PCs. | IDC said 76.3 million units were shipped, a figure that underlines the appeal of tablets and smartphones as alternatives to PCs. |
| The firm said Microsoft's latest version of Windows had failed to revitalise the industry. | The firm said Microsoft's latest version of Windows had failed to revitalise the industry. |
| Similar analysis by another research firm, Gartner, found a fall of 11.2%. | |
| IDC said that while recession had played a part in companies putting back the renewal of their PCs, the latest Windows software failed to inspire the market. | |
| The firm's vice president, Bob O'Donnell, said: "Unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only didn't provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market." | The firm's vice president, Bob O'Donnell, said: "Unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only didn't provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market." |
| Windows 8 is designed to work well with touch-sensitive screens, but the displays add to the cost of a PC. Together, the changes and higher prices "have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices,'' Mr O'Donnell said. | Windows 8 is designed to work well with touch-sensitive screens, but the displays add to the cost of a PC. Together, the changes and higher prices "have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices,'' Mr O'Donnell said. |
| Microsoft was not immediately available for comment. | Microsoft was not immediately available for comment. |
| According to Gartner, global PC shipments fell below 80 million units for the first time since the second quarter of 2009. | |
| "Consumers are migrating content consumption from PCs to other connected devices, such as tablets and smartphones," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. | |
| IDC also said that, traditionally, companies replaced PCs every three years, but that during the economic downturn this was more likely to be every five years. | IDC also said that, traditionally, companies replaced PCs every three years, but that during the economic downturn this was more likely to be every five years. |
| "This is horrific news for PCs," said BGC financial analyst Colin Gillis. "It's all about mobile computing now." | "This is horrific news for PCs," said BGC financial analyst Colin Gillis. "It's all about mobile computing now." |
| Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest maker of PCs, saw a 24% fall in shipments in the first quarter compared with the same period a year ago. | Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest maker of PCs, saw a 24% fall in shipments in the first quarter compared with the same period a year ago. |
| China's Lenovo Group, number two in the market, is benefiting from sales to first-time buyers in China and other developing countries. Its sales held steady, IDC said. | China's Lenovo Group, number two in the market, is benefiting from sales to first-time buyers in China and other developing countries. Its sales held steady, IDC said. |