Worldwide PC sales tumble 14 per cent

Global PC sales fell 14 per cent in the first three months of the year, the worst decline since 1994, as the growing market for tablets and smartphones siphoned away shoppers' cash and Windows 8 failed to excite.

Figures show that 76.3 million PCs were sold in the first quarter, down 13.9 per cent from the same period last year. Analysts had expected to see a decline of just 7.7 per cent.

The fall comes despite an overall improvement in the economy and thelaunch of Microsoft's Windows 8 in October, which was expected to provide a boost to flagging PC sales, but received a mixed reception. The latest version of Microsoft's operating system attempted to bring elements of mobile devices such as touchscreens to the desktop, but put off customers with demands for "cumbersome and costly" new hardware, according to IDC.

David Daoud, the company's research director for personal computing, said the contraction was "both surprising and worrisome", and left the PC industry struggling to differentiate its products from tablets and smartphones.

"The industry is going through a critical crossroads, and strategic choices will have to be made as to how to compete with the proliferation of alternative devices and remain relevant to the consumer," he said.

IDC spokesman Bob O'Donnell said: "At this point, unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market.

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"While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market."

HP remained the world's largest PC seller, but also saw some of the worst declines in sales, with shipments falling 23.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year.