Despite the high-profile launch of Windows 10 in 2015, the PC industry still recorded the biggest sales drop in its history last year.
According to market research firm IDC, the PC market shrank by 10.6% in 2015 compared to the previous year – a record-breaking decline in sales.
This is despite of the much-hyped release of Microsoft’s flagship software, what it says will be the last version of Windows, with just periodical updates to be steadily released to tweak the Windows 10 platform.
More annoying for Microsoft will be that offset against the decline in PC sales is the continued growth of Mac sales – Apple’s own personal computer line. According to fellow market researchers Gartner, Mac sales were up 2.8% year-on-year.
There was some good news for Microsoft and Windows though, in that the experts are predicting a better 2016 for the PC market as new hardware appears specifically for Windows 10, and many users take the opportunity to upgrade their devices.
The firm’s Surface line of hybrid tablet-laptops has been performing well, and more devices, as well as new hardware from partners including ASUS and Lenovo could help boost PC numbers.