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By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

Summary: Are PCs losing ground to handheld devices?

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

Is the PC on the way out? VMware's CEO Paul Maritz believes so.

"PCs are not the only animal in the zoo anymore" said Maritz during a speech at the annual VMworld conference yesterday in Las Vegas. And he sees the other animals as thinning down the PC herd dramatically as 'increasingly, users are holding other devices in their hands.'

He goes on:

What we're seeing in the cloud era is not just hundreds of millions but billions of new users and devices now coming into play. Three years ago over 95 percent of the devices connected to the Internet were personal computers. Three years from now that number will probably be less than 20 percent. More than 80 percent of the devices connected to the Internet will not be Windows-based personal computers.

Maritz, at one time an executive for Microsoft's desktop and server software platform division, sees HTML 5 as a catalyst for the PC's demise:

HTML5 promises to be very, very important, because it could be a genuinely capable cross-device way of writing applications.

Personally, I think that the reports of the PC's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Mobile devices are increasing in popularity, and web traffic from them as a result is increasing, but I don't see this having much of an effect on the overall PC ecosystem for some time to come.

Is the PC (and by extension, Microsoft) in trouble, or will the overall growth in the market for devices mean that PCs will still outnumber mobile devices?

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Topics: VMware, Browser, CXO, Hardware

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65 comments
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  • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

    That guy is just trying to scare people into using his VMWare cloud. I don't see the PC dropping anytime soon. Mobile phones are increasing, yes, but a lot of those will be powered by Microsoft Windows. The PC is here to stay in the business world. One thing Paul Maritz didn't address is how are all these devices going to connect to the cloud when IPv4 addresses have run out. He mentions of no plans for people to upgrade to IPv6, and that's not going to be widely deployed by 2014 so there goes his theory of billions of devices being connected. So many holes in his argument, its swiss cheese.
    LoverockDavidson_-24231404894599612871915491754222
    Reply Vote

    • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

      @LoverockDavidson_ IPv6 is definately needed soon.
      grayknight-22253692004129760887070084760051
      Reply Vote

    • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

      @LoverockDavidson_ <br><br>Yea Windows Phone is increasing marketshare :Rolleyes: It's stagnant or decreasing, depending who you ask.

      I direct you here:
      http://www.androidcentral.com/comscore-data-confirms-android-samsung-remain-kings-smartphone-market

      The #'s are from ComScore...

      Microsoft lost 1% marketshare in the past year to 5.7% of mobile users. And that's with Win Phone 7. WP7 is being rejected by consumers.
      itguy10
      Reply Vote

      • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

        @itguy10

        Provided that the person you ask is anti-Microsoft.
        Doctor Demento
        Reply Vote

      • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

        @itguy10 LOL! First of, WP7 has not lost market share you idiot. That 5.7% includes the now defunct Windows Mobile, an OS that is no longer developed or supported. It's market share is falling off the map. As for WP7, if you've kept up with things, it's market share has not fallen at all. It's remained stable.

        So take your irrational of Microsoft and FUD somewhere else. Nobody is buying it.
        jhammackHTH
        Reply Vote

      • Why do you continue to lie, itguy10?

        @itguy10
        From what I understand of humans, looking foolish is something that you try to avoid, yet you continue to pursue it as if it was a desirable label to wear.

        :|
        Tim Cook
        Reply Vote

  • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

    Just because 80% of devices connected to the internet will be mobile, doesn't mean that the number of pcs is decreasing. People buy mobile devices in addition to pcs and in fact probably will have more than one mobile device. PCs will still be used and needed by most people, though there will be more mobile devices than pcs.
    grayknight-22253692004129760887070084760051
    Reply Vote

    • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

      @grayknight

      +1

      The number of both content consumption devices, like tablets and smart phones, and content creation devices, like PCs, is growing.
      Your Non Advocate
      Reply Vote

    • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

      @grayknight: Very good point. Windows isn't competing with mobile phones (which is what this article logically must be referring to) though.
      bradavon
      Reply Vote

    • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

      @grayknight <br><br><i>People buy mobile devices in addition to pcs and in fact probably will have more than one mobile device.</i><br><br>There's also a large segment of consumers that don't need the full utility power of a PC, and are finding out a tablet like the iPad suites their needs just fine. We all know users who bought a full PC in the past for the basic purpose of writing/reading emails or browsing the web and viewing photos. <br><br>Last survey I've seen shows that 28% of iPad users are already using the devices as their primary computing device. That number will continue to rise as the iPad and other tablets become more and more capable. <br><br><a href="http://betanews.com/2011/04/08/admob-survey-shows-28-of-tablet-owners-use-device-as-primary-pc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://betanews.com/2011/04/08/admob-survey-shows-28-of-tablet-owners-use-device-as-primary-pc/</a>
      dave95.
      Reply Vote

      • For people who don't need the full utility of a PC

        @dave95. <br>On this one, I give Apple 100% credit for coming up with a brilliant solution to a "problem" (if you can call it a problem). While Apple has (almost) always made good high end PC hardware, they never wanted to compete in the sub $1,000 PC market where profit is poor. I don't blame them. Even their Mac Mini, while technically less than $1,000, comes close to $1,000 when you add up little things like, oh, a monitor.<br><br>The problem is: how do you convince someone who doesn't need the full utility power of a PC that they should spend $1,000+ to get away from that "horrible" Windows OS? There was a huge segment of the market that Apple simply couldn't attract. And the Apple fanboys would flood the boards with stupid comments about how everyone should switch to Mac without once thinking of the absurdity of telling someone who barely uses a computer that they should spend $1,000+ on one. I mean seriously, that is the dumbest suggestion ever.<br><br>So Apple could have started putting out cheap Macs with lower profit margins and started competing head to head against the Dells and the HPs. That would have been dumb, almost as dumb as those Apple fanboys on the boards. Instead, Apple did exactly what you stated: they designed a "computer" for people who didn't need the full utility of a PC (or Mac). You can't get away with a 40% profit margin when you are selling a $500 Mac to compete against a $500 PC but you sure can get a 40% profit margin when you are selling a $500 iPad (obviously). While I actually do need the full utility power of a PC, all the tasks you mentioned in your post are performed almost exclusively on my iPad or iPhone. I even got a bluetooth keyboard that makes it even more productive. While I still kind of want an MacBook Air to replace my MacBook Pro (because they are sexy) I simply can't justify it. Why spend money on a dying platform? There is no need.<br><br>Companies that are finding it impossible to compete against the iTunes / iPod / iPhone / iPad monopolies have to think the same way. They can't beat Apple in Apple's backyard just like Apple was never going to beat the PC makers in their backyards. It will take 20 years and for the next 20 years, we will be stuck with only Apple but I guess that is the bed we all made.
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

      • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

        @dave95. Yes but this not affecting PC sales ... You told it. "There's also a large segment of consumers that don't need the full utility power of a PC", So these consumer don't have PCs because they do not need it... Now they buy Tablet like iPad because this is what they need... So These people are in majority, new consumers That make tablet sales increase but not PC sales decrease...
        EricDeBerg
        Reply Vote

      • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

        @toddybottom: The horrible Windows OS... You mean, the horrible MacOS... I suppose... lol
        EricDeBerg
        Reply Vote

      • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

        @EricDeBerg

        The part you're missing is, many of those same consumers (28% +) currently making the iPad their primary computer are not buying another PC. They've decided this little iPad is really all they need to browse the web, check Facebook, post on twitter and other social apps, play the casual games, etc......
        dave95.
        Reply Vote

  • This is just typical VMWare BS. You have to be pretty darn stupid to

    believe anything that comes from VMWare. In 2014 more than 20% of the connected mobile devices will be running windows so the mobile/nonmobile numbers dont matter.
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote

  • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

    Most people don't usuakky hold a pc in their hands, kind of logical, my alienware is simply to big and heavy to hold in my hand. 3 years ago the percentage of internet connected devices was 95% according to the vmware guy, today that percentage has dropped a whopping 2%. Anyone with a bit of talent in algebra, knows that the chance that in the next three years that percentage is going to drop that hard is exactly zero, ie. Not going to happen. The cloud will not replace a desktop pc, not now and not within 5 years, the sheer lack on affordable bandwith isn't going to change any time soon, as we see in the mobile world.
    sjaak327
    Reply Vote

  • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

    One Word Windows 8. Nuff said!!
    jatbains
    Reply Vote

    • Uh....

      @jatbains "Windows 8" is 2 words...

      Is your prognostication better than your counting? ;-)
      fmcgowan
      Reply Vote

      • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

        @fmcgowan - well, to be fair, it's one word and a digit ;) If you stick them together, do they make one word - Windows8?
        bitcrazed
        Reply Vote

  • RE: By 2014, less than 20% of devices connected to the Internet will powered by Windows

    Like a deer caught in the headlights Microsoft has been blindsided by Apple and Google in the mobile computing market. And make no mistake the PC is in decline. Check the year over year 'increase' in desktop PCs. Laptops are the only marginally expanding market segment. Most people simply do not need an over powered box with its attendant spaghetti next of wiring to fill their needs.<br>Netbooks were the first attempt at personal computing appliances and while they had their 15 minutes in the sun they were too crappy to survive the onslaught of Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch, and finally iPad. Android and the wannabes are going to have a wake up call shortly as contracts run their course and iProduct is available on more and more carriers. The only reason for Android's halting success thus far has been Apple's own limitations on carriers. Peruse these hallowed pages and you'll find over 60% of Android users can't wait to get their hands on an iPhone.<br>Fan boy me all you like, Apple's juggernaught seems to have a far larger base propelling its success than just a few die hard Apple fans. We're talking serious volume here. As Android continues to play the role of streetwalker to every carrier with crapware and bloatware Apple's 'hated' (only to those of us who like to use soldering irons) fenced ecosystem looks more and more attractive to the average consumer.<br>Yes, Microsoft's days as a monopoly are about as over as J.P. Morgan's railroad monopoly, and for similar reasons. The market has shifted. And Microsoft is a day late and a billion or two dollars short.
    dheady@...
    Reply Vote
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