Report: The Wintel Era is Finally Declining
Intel and Microsoft may not have always played nice with each other over the last 25 years, but there is no doubt the alliance between the two has defined the PC era spanning over two decades.
As much as the two dominated our computing experience, the significance of both is "waning," says market research firm IHS.
If the computer market is defined as PC, smartphone and tablet, then IHS expects Microsoft's OS share to drop from 44-percent in 2011 to just 33-percent in 2016, and Intel's processor share to drop from 41-percent to 29-percent. But if forecast becomes reality and we assume that Intel's announcements to play a bigger role in smartphone and tablet markets (including neighboring segments such as the automotive and TV market) can now be considered the expanded PC market, this scenario may cause some headaches during Intel's board meetings.
In the end, Intel's business model as a chip maker is to sell more chips every year. We also know that Intel does not like to settle for second place, yet the largest part of the "computer market" may not be Intel-based, which could undermine the power and influence Intel has in the market today.
"Microsoft and Intel once marched shoulder to shoulder, dominating the PC market with their closely tied operating system and microprocessor technologies," said Craig Stice, senior principal analyst compute platforms at IHS. "In the PC segment, Wintel extracted the majority of the profits, controlled every move and compelled all other players to either comply or risk being forced out of the game. While still an overwhelming influence in their respective markets, the tables have turned for Microsoft and Intel."
IHS believes that Intel has captured only 6- to 8-percent of market share in the mobile handset processor revenue business, and this has been mainly due to its acquisition of Infineon's wireless business -- Microsoft currently has 2-percent of the mobile devices OS business. In a response to the threat, IHS said that Intel has gone "back to its bread and butter, the notebook, by making a complete overhaul of the system to make it ultrathin, ultraportable, and ultramobile" as well as leveraging Google's Android for its Atom SoCs in smartphones and tablets. Similarly, Microsoft is opening Windows to ARM processor makers.
"Wintel now is playing in a new computer market that is a composite of the PC, smartphone and media tablet segments," Stice said. "While this may be a non-traditional way of looking at the PC market, tradition has gone out the window. The smartphone influenced the tablet, the tablet influenced the PC, the PC wants to become more like a tablet and the tablet more like a PC. It’s a vicious circle in which both Intel and Microsoft must take part, but they are losing control of the game and how it’s played. The Wintel camp is not accustomed to following, but with both companies being excluded of the two fastest-growing markets, they are in catch-up mode."

Arm is the heavyweight champ of the mobile world, but Intel is not giving up without a fight. Not saying that anything is certain, but I expect a heated battle to start as Intel's new chips roll in.
what's the difference?
Intel will be there for long time. Anyone playing games or running compute intensive applications don't just consider performance/watt but they consider the raw performance regardless of power usage. Power consumption comes into play when there is comparison between similar performing processors. And I don't think ARM is near anywhere when it comes to raw performance.I think Intel will increase their market share in mobile segment with considerable amount in near future(medfield).
About Microsoft normal PC user wants the simple user interface and more functionality.Enthusiast PC users want more customization and control over the Hardware and software.Windows is good for both user types. Microsoft's software environment is good blend of available opensource and closed source software.
I think people are overlooking the features of Windows 8 while hating it's UI. One of the most important feature of W8 is boot time and shutdown time. It is also more resource friendly than Windows 7.And about UI how hard Microsoft tries to disable the start button and direct boot to desktop mode there will be hacks available within week.Windows 8 will be very good OS on smartphones. It's Success will be dependent on App developer. Any android user won't mind to switch to windows if majority of apps are available on windows 8
so don't care what people say 'Wintel' is going to remain here for long time
Intel will be there for long time. Anyone playing games or running compute intensive applications don't just consider performance/watt but they consider the raw performance regardless of power usage. Power consumption comes into play when there is comparison between similar performing processors. And I don't think ARM is near anywhere when it comes to raw performance.I think Intel will increase their market share in mobile segment with considerable amount in near future(medfield).
About Microsoft normal PC user wants the simple user interface and more functionality.Enthusiast PC users want more customization and control over the Hardware and software.Windows is good for both user types. Microsoft's software environment is good blend of available opensource and closed source software.
I think people are overlooking the features of Windows 8 while hating it's UI. One of the most important feature of W8 is boot time and shutdown time. It is also more resource friendly than Windows 7.And about UI how hard Microsoft tries to disable the start button and direct boot to desktop mode there will be hacks available within week.Windows 8 will be very good OS on smartphones. It's Success will be dependent on App developer. Any android user won't mind to switch to windows if majority of apps are available on windows 8
so don't care what people say 'Wintel' is going to remain here for long time
Intel will be there for long time. Anyone playing games or running compute intensive applications don't just consider performance/watt but they consider the raw performance regardless of power usage. Power consumption comes into play when there is comparison between similar performing processors. And I don't think ARM is near anywhere when it comes to raw performance.I think Intel will increase their market share in mobile segment with considerable amount in near future(medfield).
About Microsoft normal PC user wants the simple user interface and more functionality.Enthusiast PC users want more customization and control over the Hardware and software.Windows is good for both user types. Microsoft's software environment is good blend of available opensource and closed source software.
I think people are overlooking the features of Windows 8 while hating it's UI. One of the most important feature of W8 is boot time and shutdown time. It is also more resource friendly than Windows 7.And about UI how hard Microsoft tries to disable the start button and direct boot to desktop mode there will be hacks available within week.Windows 8 will be very good OS on smartphones. It's Success will be dependent on App developer. Any android user won't mind to switch to windows if majority of apps are available on windows 8
so don't care what people say 'Wintel' is going to remain here for long time
I'm unsure about M$ as they are in several large markets. Their OS is non-existant in mobile market share and Apple is increasing desktop share. Xbox is doing well against PlayStation but targets a different market than Nintendo (and Valve is working on something also). Office is facing increasing competition from OpenOffice.org and Google Docs but is not hurt much by Apple's desktop advances because of OfficeX. Their server products are fighting against cloud services (Azure isn't significant). They've shelved some things like Zune and Silverlight but these were relatively minor investments.
My guess is that Windows Phone is dead. It will be interesting to see how much money they sink into Nokia to try to keep it alive. Their OS and server products will gradually decline, some more than others. Office will decline a bit but some of that will be made up for by OfficeX and Office365. Hard to predict what will happen in the console market.
But I have to add that if this means less monopoly for Intel (and therefore allowing AMD to gain market share and resources to develop better chips and venture into new platforms), Im honestly wishing this predictions to come true. Having more competition would benefit us all, and that's a good aspect of Intel entering the ARM dominated area. Besides I would love to see a tablet version of an APU chip, or something similar to their Geode
Although, as you previously stated, the PC are is very settled and I find it hard to believe in changes on the short run. I am more excited about the tablet/handset area.
The thing is though Intel has the drive and resources to dominate. ARM does not. ARM relys on other copanies using their patents and designs. Those same companies mostly rely on a thrid party to FAB their chips as well. Intel does not.
I think this is wrong. Intel has the experience and funds to push into the mobile market.
Microsfot is going downhill in either platform, but Im sure is gonna be around for some time
Intel's (and AMD's) biggest asset and Achilles's heel is legacy-x86 compatibility. As long as Intel/AMD keeps using the kludgy x86 instruction set and structures, they will have to waste tons of R&D, transistor and power budget maintaining that legacy crap.
The PC is long overdue for a clean-slate make-over with a clean kludge-free instruction set and architecture.
The latter means "Microsoft-only environment".
This is not a bad thing. We are seeing the market replace a duopoly with a much wider era of choice. Linux is going to get a real shot at the desktop. Intel is going to be supporting Android. Microsoft is already supporting ARM. Apple will no longer be the only one offering their own custom hardware and software system. There is even a chance for some new entrance into the competition with Amazon forking Android. Neither Intel nor Microsoft are going anywhere, but both are facing the kind of failure that gave rise to Apple's reinvention of itself. Microsoft might actually shake off some of the deadweight in their corporate structure and begin to innovate. Intel already has a new core design team reporting directly to the chairman that is responsible for creating a viable competitor for ARM.