On Friday Jun Dong-soo, president of Samsung’s memory chip division, told reporters at the COEX InterContinental Hotel in Seoul that Windows 8 has failed to bolster demand for PCs, and that the industry will likely not rebound any time soon. Even more, he said that Microsoft's new Windows overhaul is really no better than Windows Vista based on current market performance.
"The global PC industry is steadily shrinking despite the launch of Windows 8," he told reporters. "I think the Windows 8 system is no better than the previous Windows Vista platform."
He goes even further to say that there will be no expected boost to PC sales thanks to Windows 8's failure, and that the PC industry itself will gradually be phased out. Naturally, this comment stems from a company that seemingly makes the bulk of its revenue from Android-laced smartphones and tablets. Still, the comments hurt.
''Microsoft’s rollout of its Windows Surface tablet is seeing lackluster demand," he said. "Meanwhile, previous vigorous pitches by Intel and Microsoft for thinner Ultrabooks simply failed and I believe that’s mostly because of the less-competitive Windows platform."
Double ouch. He then goes on to question why the prices of conventional memory chips are rising even though the PC market itself is declining. Currently U.S.-based Micron is the #1 supplier with a 51-percent share of the global market, followed by SK Hynix (31-percent) and Samsung (15-percent). He claimed that Samsung does not manipulate the chip prices, that the current situation is "surely unhealthy."
Jun's comments arrive after the International Data Corporation (IDC) said that PC shipments in 2013 are expected to decline 1.3-percent in 2013. The forecast is based on poor holiday sales, an "underwhelming" reception to Microsoft's new Windows 8 platform, and a continuing economic "malaise" that further crimped IT budgets in the second half of 2012.
"Although the PC industry had banked on Windows 8 and a more varied and less expensive offering of ultrathin notebooks to revive demand, efforts thus far have been disappointing," the firm said.
A lack of touchscreen components has contributed to a limited supply of touch-enabled Windows 8 models which in turn has hindered sales of the touch-based platform. Those that are on the market appear relatively expensive compared to other options.
