Intel Quarterly Results May Not Be Good News for PC Sector

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
MichaelSP

MichaelSP

Honorable
Oct 26, 2012
92
0
10,640
I don't think you can ever replace PCs. Sure, current software may not need the most powerful stuff or be able to address all of it but that will change. The software will get bigger and stronger and PCs will have to as well. And that cutting edge technology will likely always be desktop material. PCs may change into quantum devices with technology we cannot conceptualise right now but they too will still likely have 'PCs' for the best stuff and for people. Even if you don't need one, they may become, at the worst, enthusiast equipment. And I agree with friskiest; I intend to build PCs for my future family.
 
g00fysmiley

g00fysmiley

Distinguished
Apr 30, 2010
2,175
0
19,860
peopl ehave limited bugets, when you decide you want a tablet instead of upgrading a laptop or desktop puching that upgrade back you end up with losses somewhere. I am on an every other year upgrade path, 3 year upgrade path, one year my pc next year my wife's pc then next year our laptops, with the addition of possibly adding tablets in there i have to consider when to do it. the desktops ar emore expensive so it would make sense to add them with the laptops but at the same time upgrading both portables at the same time seems... kind of pointless i am sure people are questionging having a laptop and a tablet and tablets seem smaller and can be held for use vs most laptops. honestly i think intel should concentrat more on convertable and laptops/ultrabooks that can be used for both purposes if they did that i wouldn't bother with actual tablets and would prefer a x86 hybrid system that works as both but something reasonably priced compared to what is out there now
 
G

Guest

Guest
Windows 8 is only part of the reason. I've upgraded a couple of computers to windows 8 and actually quite like it - it's faster than 7 and has newer features beyond the interface. I've gotten used to the new interface and also like it.

Most desktop users don't need to upgrade as often given the power of CPUs over the last 5 years. I used to upgrade every 2-3 years. I have a old CPU/MB (AMD 600e II x4 ) which is about 4 years old. Runs windows 8 fine. Even on older core 2 duo could probably do fine with windows 8. Wont run the latest games well but for email/internet/accounting it does just fine. Most computer users aren't hard core gamers. My dad runs an Athlon 4850e quite happily and doesn't feel the need to buy a new computer.

I think tablets have taken away some market. They can't do what desktop/laptop can, but if you were looking for a 2nd device in the home, I can see people buying a tablet or 2 instead of another desktop. Most peoples computer use is surfing, email and internet browsing. You don't need a desktop for this.

Desktops wont go away, but there are other competing products now which are cheaper that do what people used to buy a desktop/laptop for.
 
G

Guest

Guest
A few problems:
1.) People just don't do anythig on a computer beyong browsing the web these days. They just want to know what is happening on their social networks. This has put more people in the hands of technology than ever before, but the need for a 'geeky' computer has decreased as all those people need is mobile internet.

2.) The industry shift altogether. Microsoft's OS is tailored toward mobility, not usability on the desktop. It is a HORRIBLE interface for traditional mouse+keyboard. This has effectively pushed consumers towards the mobile segment along with what Apple has already done with the IPAD and the Android tablets, nooks, etc. Intel hasn't helped this by pushing its products towards mobility as well, but Intel is following and not leading here.

What is a traditional PC user supposed to do now? Windows 8 doesn't work for many of us. So, we are stuck wth Windows 7 or just using Linux. Using Linux works, but drivers don't support the top features that you can get on PCs these days. Virtu doesn't work under Linux. Heck, Intel just open sourced QuickSync. Video drivers are never as good as they are under Windows. Printing drivers aren't as good, etc. You are forced back in basic technology many years to fully use Linux, or you just bite the bullet and use Microsoft's Windows 8 even though it is difficult to use for traditional desktop uses.

All this likely means people buying less desktop hardware and more mobile devices that all the companies are pushing towards anyway.
 
N

newbie_mcnoob

Distinguished
May 6, 2009
58
0
18,640
In my opinion, Intel is hurting themselves by releasing their mainstream chips first and their enthusiast chips much later. Ivy Bridge-E will not be out until a year after Ivy Bridge, and by then their next mainstream chip Haswell will already be out.

They should release the enthusiast chips first, then the mainstream chips later. That way anyone who wants the fastest CPU will be buying the more expensive enthusiast chips instead of settling for the cheaper mainstream chips just because the mainstream chips were released first.

More revenue for Intel and more bragging rights for the early adopters.
 
D

DRosencraft

Distinguished
Aug 26, 2011
743
0
19,010
You can't blame Win 8 for this. This is hardware. The choice not to upgrade to Win 8 doesn't stop anyone building a PC from buying Win 7. This is simply the reality that is repeatedly being stressed every time a similar article comes up - most people don't do enough computing to care about a full desktop computer. They need a relative lightweight in terms of device performance, and tablets are the new sexy tech, so they're jumping ship over to that instead of upgrading their existing PC or buying a new PC.

No OS will change this, and a CPU that's simply faster or smaller or more energy efficient will change this. You need a combination of hardware that is ONLY possible with a desktop, and software that makes using that hardware exciting. Some can say it's a gimmick, but right now that is what the PC industry needs to do - try gimmicks until the catch on to something that has more staying power. Continuing to double-down of the strategy for desktop computing from the past, and trying simply to emulate the always more mobile tech of phones and tablets, isn't going to solve the problem.
 
ojas

ojas

Distinguished
Feb 25, 2011
2,924
0
20,810
"The fourth quarter played out largely as expected as we continued to execute through a challenging environment," said Paul Otellini
Click to expand...
Exactly. They HAD said this before, we heard the saying "PC IS DYING" crap then as well.

I think the next one year at least will see things go back into positive growth for the PC part of Intel.
x86 of course, should see a huge increase in general, as they move to ultramobile devices.

Does this drop in sales mean we're truly entering the Post-PC era?
Click to expand...
Alright. STOP IT. It's sick. You just love saying that, without much ground for saying it. POST PC ERA MEANS "AFTER THE PC ERA". With one billion active PCs, and more being sold every day, you can't make that statement, it doesn't make sense.
 
ojas

ojas

Distinguished
Feb 25, 2011
2,924
0
20,810
It's not about desktops either. If people are using notebooks, their using PCs. So even if people have really old desktops in their homes that aren't being used, because they have a more recent laptop, THEY'RE STILL USING PCs.

Even these convertibles will count as PCs, or tablet PCs, and unless they use Atoms they'll continue to count as full PCs or tablet PCs in terms of Intel's processor sales at least.

And then people keep saying that Mac OS X market share is on the rise. ALL Intel Macs are PCs FFS!

Consider this: My college has made laptops from this semester onward. Their recommended spec is a Core i5, 6GB of RAM, a 2GB GPU and a 750GB HDD.

It's excessive for the intended purpose (online tests and assignments), but the point is, it's not doable on a tablet or phone.

Tomorrow, I'm going to pick up an old Intel MacBook from a family friend who's had it lying around unused (BECAUSE HE BOUGHT A NEW ONE), i'll throw in an SSD, Install mountain lion, add more RAM, and i'll be set till graduation.

If i need heavy computing (i'm in engineering college), or for playing games and stuff, i have my Windows 7 based desktop (WHICH I'LL UPGRADE TO HASWELL THIS YEAR).

We're also moving to a new home, where i may set up a media file server...

So what post PC era? Stop talking about it untill it comes. Or until the ipad plays Crysis.
 
G

Guest

Guest
No one is building a PC. Only enthusiast do this so the OS DOES MATTER. The OS is what OEMS are putting on their system. This certainly matters for everyone else (95% of the PC population). Win8 has certainly had a negative effect on the PC.
 
g00fysmiley

g00fysmiley

Distinguished
Apr 30, 2010
2,175
0
19,860
as a side ntoe i am sure they will see growth when sony and m$ release new consoles as people will have a legitimate reason to upgrade their pc's since most aaa titles are console ports anyway
 
M

mugiebahar

Distinguished
Oct 1, 2010
37
0
18,530
I think many reasons that pushed PC growth over the last decade have come to pass. Things that pushed upgrades were:
-games (now offset by consoles, smart phones, and lack of new must have/play games that are computer only)
-cd music ripping ( faster cd Roms and fast busses and thus CPUs and the sort was taken care of 10 years ago)
- DVD ripping (this was a huge factor for many years, faster DVD Roms w/faster system allowed you to rip/burn More DVDs. Now who burns DVDs as much? With Netflix Hulu and most cable companies putting everything online to stream that aspect of computing has really become less important.
- high def displays ( upgrading your cards to run a nice monitor became a non issue with the integrated graphics that is found in systems the past couple of years)
- multi monitor setup ( these were always a issue and you needed high end cards to do do properly. But since gaming habits have changed along with cards @ sub $100 can push 2 monitors for most daily tasks, now we are @ the point of saturation.)
- pirating ( let's face it downloading and running a program that we got for free that could edit photos and such! Which pushed the computers are not so relevant anymore. You can edit photos and have free doc programs that easily run on the basic hardware. Also most are free now and are good enough for the average user.)
There is more like economics, tablets by far have impacted new sakes (not be ause they replace PCs but with the economy the way it is, people can splurge less and tablets are the new it must have splurge items) also computers are needed but they have a boring feel to it now.(they need anew reason to sit there and face it that can't be done. The phone or tablet and is a must do)
I'm sure I missed some points but these areas are by far the most common.
 
S

Shin-san

Distinguished
Nov 11, 2006
618
0
18,980
I bought a Phenom II X6 CPU. The spot on the Tomshardware.com recommendation chart hasn't budged much in a long time. There isn't much of a point for me to go out and buy a CPU, Motherboard, and RAM for that many games. Hopefully Crysis 3 will change that.

There isn't much of a reason to upgrade. Almost any dual-core PC with 2-4 gigs of RAM will run what a lot of people need to run in a household. This includes Microsoft Word, Outlook, a web browser, a music player, Youtube, TurboTax, and Skype. This is the extent of computer use for most people use computers for.

Tomshardware even says, for gaming, most of us don't need anything above a Core i5, and if you have a Core i5 from 2 years ago, there's no point in upgrading for video games. I had a Radeon 4870 and was pretty happy. I only upgraded to use more displays at the same time.
 
D

diddo

Distinguished
Mar 10, 2010
115
0
18,680
From Netapplications, Windows 8 market share 2,09% last week of december, DECREASED to 2,06 the second week of January!
The hugely hyped system that keep users from buying new PCs for the last year revealed itself as the hugest epic fail ever, with almost non existent user base which is already shrinking, ditching the whole industry.
Now MS is going to increase W8 price 10 fold, guess what will happen to PC market?
The crackdown is here, served by Microsoft/Windows8/Metro/Zunecrap/Bob 8 Squarepants, it is now useless to deny it.
Oh, well, MS probably thinks ARMRT will save them... bad news, surface RT has a market share comparable with ... Windows Me!
I'm, really sorry for all the people that lose jobs and moneys, but that is what happens when you give the biggest IT company to Bozo Ballmer and keep failing every single product for 10 years...
 
T

the magpie

Honorable
Dec 26, 2012
3
0
10,510
All this talk about a Post-PC era is silly. Sales are down because the PC has matured as a platform. It is now the best performing computational device out there. Therefore upgrade cycles are longer. It's as simple as that. For a more detailed explanation check out http://saysthemagpie.com/the-desktop-pc-today-death-of-a-legend/
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom