Does PC Market begin to Collapse?

With competition from more convenient, less costly mobile computing devices like smartphones and tablets taking its toll on PC sales, Worldwide PC shipments are now projected to decline 1.2% in 2012 for the first time in 11 years, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. Meanwhile most PC manufacturers (excluding Lenovo and Asus) suffer sales falling, which takes its toll in related traditional chips shipment. Looking ahead of PC development prospect, the launch of Windows 8 seems to be the only approach rescuing PC market. Then can Windows 8 really help recover PC prosperity? Does PC market begin to collapse?

According to the latest news, windows 8 using touch screen will be introduced on October 15, 2012, which is long-expected good news to PC manufacturers, due to the decline of market shares of PC. But IHS market research firm predicted the release of the new Microsoft operating system will not provide enough bounce for the market to avoid contraction this year, which get support from many people, for the reasons as followed:

Undoubtedly, in addition to the overall economic malaise, the rapid development of mobile devices such as smartphone and tablet PC (including increasing functions enabling consumers similar operation like on PC) plays the most important role in PC market shares decline. For instance, the order quantity of iPhone5 reaches 5 million units on the first weekend since its release. With the coming of holiday season in the fourth quarter, sales will achieve greater increase rate, fighting for PC’s market shares.

Then, it is reported that the US market has reached saturation on PC selling, which is another blow to PC market due to market demand for PC dropping as well as the upgrading of Windows operating system lacking attraction to individual consumer who do not want to change for a new one.

However, despite the disadvantages aiming at PC, there is still factors allowing changing the market outlook of PC in addition to the launch of Widows 8. According to IHS, shipments of ultrabooks will rise to 136.5 million in 2015 from less than 1 million in 2011, accounting for 42% of notebook shipments, which will improve the PC market environment. Besides, PC shipments, some people believe, has just down by 1.2%, not too much, maybe PC market has reached its peak, so what will happen to PC up to later market change.

There is a certain rapid development for some products, therefore, maybe this decline of PC shipments is just a transitional time or something else, and the later development depends on multiple factors.