Ian Sherr for WSJ citing the latest numbers from IDC:
Worldwide shipments of personal computers fell 13.9% in the first quarter, according to market researcher IDC, in the biggest decline since the firm began issuing quarterly numbers in 1994.
And:
Indeed, IDC said that Windows 8 hasn’t only failed to spur more PC demand but has actually exacerbated the slowdown—confusing consumers with features that don’t excel in a tablet mode and compromise the traditional PC experience.
Wait. “Compromise”? What happened to “no compromise”?
Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc on the Windows Blog almost exactly one year ago:
All editions of Windows 8 offer a no-compromise experience.
I’m confused.
Actually, no, I’m not.
Brian Eno to the BBC last year when asked if he created the Windows 95 startup sound on a PC.
A nice follow up to this and this.
This looks like such a joy to use. – View on Path.
Phillip Greenspun on his experience using Windows 8 on a regular PC (not a Surface):
Confused about how the tablet apps work and want to Google for the answer? You go to a Web browser in the desktop interface and can’t see the tablet interface that you’re getting advice on how to use. Keep your old Windows 7 machine adjacent so that you can Google for “How to use Windows 8″ on the old computer and have the pages continuously visible.
Greenspun also can’t figure out how anyone could give this OS an even somewhat favorable review:
Given how misguided the whole design of Windows 8 seems to be, why have tech journalists given it basically positive reviews? My theory is that journalists love anything new, different, and complicated. Windows 8 is all of those things.
[via John Gruber, who notes Greenspun’s history of anti-Apple rhetoric]
Alexandra Chang for Wired:
The general consensus among companies Wired spoke to is Windows 8 device sales are meeting, or almost meeting, projected sales.
But:
That’s not to say Windows 8 is selling superbly. On the contrary, one OEM said it had lower expectations for Windown 8 than previous launches simply because the field is so much more crowded.
And:
“We had a little bit different expectations for Windows 8 than previous OS launches,” Jeff Barney, VP and general manager of Toshiba America’s PC and TV business, said. “In the past Windows was the only game in town, when it was Windows 7 or Vista it was the big event of the year. These days it’s a different environment.”
So Windows 8 sales are meeting expectations for some PC makers — but only because those expectations are so much lower than they have been in the past. And some aren’t even meeting those lowered expectations.
My proposed new nickname for Windows 8: Windows Ate (My Homework). So many excuses. So little to be happy about.
Sarah Perez lays out her thoughts about the Surface on TechCrunch.
Interesting to note that Apple’s Mac shipments actually declined year-to-year but the decline was less than half (percentage-wise) of their biggest PC rivals (HP and Dell). In other words, the entire PC market is in decline (with the exception of Lenovo which saw a modest gain, but is a smaller player than Apple in the U.S.), but Apple is just declining slower so they’re making gains percentage-wise.
They’re “winning” by losing less.
