14 DAY TRIAL // Just like any other new Windows version, Windows 10 was expected to reignite PC sales and convince more customers to buy computers running this operating system, but it turns out that this isn't really the case.
A report by analyst firm IDC reveals that worldwide PC shipments reached 71 million in the third quarter of 2015, which represents a decline of 10.8 percent, even worse than the company's prediction of -9.2 percent.
It's interesting to note that this drop was experienced during Windows 10's early days on the market, which is a sign that Microsoft's new operating system failed to boost interest in new computers.
Why Windows 10 didn't help
IDC has an explanation that really makes sense:
“While Windows 10 has generally received favorable reviews and raised consumer interest in PCs, many users opted to upgrade existing PCs rather than purchase new hardware. In addition, the unusually short time between Windows RTM (release to manufacturing) and the official retail release hampered the ability of OEMs to launch certified new models, resulting in a limited selection of Windows 10 PCs (as well as related advertising) through much of the third quarter.”
At the same time, IDC says, most retailers were trying to clear out Windows 8 device inventories, so they were less interested in bringing new Windows 10 PCs in their stores.
Windows 10 is offered as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8.1 users, and comes with the same requirements as its predecessors, which means that it can run smoothly on old hardware too. As a result, it's hard to find a reason to buy a new computer since the old ones work really well with the new OS.
We contacted Microsoft to ask for a good reason why customers should opt for a new PC running Windows 10, and the company pointed to the features that aren't supported on the existing hardware and that require upgrades, including Windows Hello biometric authentication.