There is no hiding from the fact that the PC market is going through rough times, as more and more consumers would rather purchase and use tablets and smartphones. For a company such as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) this is a big deal (learn more about its standing here). While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is sure to be impacted, Cupertino is in better position thanks to the dominance of its iPhone and iPad lineup.
Who is going to win out in the long run? Will Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) lead the surge or will Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) help keep smartphones and tablets relevant well into the future?
Digitimes recently took a closer look at this battle, touching on a recent study conducted by IDC. In short, the piece talks about how the popularity of smartphones and tablets across the MEA and Turkey are killing PC sales.
Here is more from Digitimes, giving a better idea of just how bad things are getting for the PC market:
“The MEA region’s PC market experienced another quarter of steep decline in the second quarter of 2013 as the proliferation of mobile technology continues unabated. According to preliminary results released by IDC, shipments of PCs into the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey slowed 18.3% on year during the second quarter of 2013 to total 4.4 million units. Desktops were the hardest hit, with shipments down 20% on year to 1.8 million units, while notebook shipments declined 17.1% over the same period to total 2.6 million units.”
There is no denying the fact that this is putting Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in a very bad position. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), however, doesn’t have nearly as much to worry about as this shift is working in the company’s favor.
Fouad Rafiq Charakla, a research manager for personal computing, systems, and infrastructure solutions at IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, added some more information pertaining to these companies:
“Intel and Microsoft have made keen efforts to revive the position of PCs against tablets, particularly in light of the latter adapting its operating system to a touchscreen interface. However, Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS still outperform Microsoft’s Windows 8 when it comes to the number of applications the respective operating systems offer, which has a direct negative impact on the user experience.”
This is something worth keeping an eye on. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) both have an interest in the progression of the PC market, albeit for different reasons.
How do you feel about the direction in which the PC market is headed? Is it doomed for good? Share your thoughts in the comment section below while learning more about where MSFT stands (this may shock you).
