Despite a number of industry figures and PC manufacturers expressing their doubts regarding the operating system's ability to succeed, Microsoft has seen strong demand for Windows 8 touch systems.
"Touch machines are actually selling above expectations," said Bob O'Donnell, a program vice president at IDC. "Some vendors are actually facing shortages because touch panels are in limited supply. Vendors are saying they can't get as many touch-based machines as they would like to meet the demand that they're seeing."
Rhoda Alexander, an analyst at IHS iSuppli, agreed with O'Donnell's comments. "We've talked to a number of PC makers that are having trouble obtaining touch panels and some of the vendors I've talked to said they can't keep them on the shelf," she said.
Microsoft, meanwhile, has echoed the two statements from the aforementioned analysts. Tami Reller, chief marketing and financial officer for Windows, said last week that there are "not enough" touch devices available for consumers.
However, IDC's O'Donnell added that non-touch Windows 8 PCs aren't faring as well, as mirrored by NPD sales figures. "The non-touch machines are selling below expectations. If high-end machines are selling better than expected. Great. But that doesn't make up for low-end volume machines."
