我終于明白平板電腦為何如此暢銷了。我在年底假期間送出了一臺平板電腦，但也收到了一臺平板電腦，從那時起，這臺平板電腦就一直與我形影不離了。然而，我最后發(fā)現(xiàn)自己仍然在PC上花費最多時間，也完成了最多的事情，而平板電腦充其量只能做為一種補充的角色。 在為兩臺平板電腦以及PC進行設定時，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不太喜歡觸控屏幕，而且也對Window 8感到傷腦筋。我大概花了比平常更多三、四倍的時間，才能在小尺寸的平板電腦觸控屏幕上輸入文字，而且還錯字連篇，有時甚至還必須重復好幾次觸壓平板上的命 令鍵才行。此外，我也沒法在PC上的Window 8上找到任何熟悉的選項，所以我的PC執(zhí)行效率也不高。因此，對于IDC發(fā)布全球PC在第四季的銷售量下滑，我一點也不覺得驚訝。 根據(jù)IDC的研究報告，2012年第四季的全球PC出貨量約8,980萬臺，較2012年同期下滑6.4%，比原先預估下滑4.4%的數(shù)字表現(xiàn)更差。分析師 歸納出貨量下滑的部份原因在于消費者期待市場上推出更新且功能更酷的計算機。但我并不認同這個看法──我在去年12月買的PC已經(jīng)搭載了更大的屏幕、更時尚 的外觀，重量也變得更輕巧了，但其價格約相當于一臺 iPad mini 。而且在為其進行安裝與客制化過程中，它復雜地幾乎讓我放棄了。 PC為何賣得不好？IDC的分析報告有詳細的說明： “盡管 Windows 8 操作系統(tǒng)在本季推出，象征著PC產(chǎn)業(yè)一個新階段的開始，但它所帶來的影響力并未快速提振日益下滑的PC需求；此外，面對競爭的設備以及持續(xù)的經(jīng)濟衰退，PC市場持續(xù)退居二線。因此，2012年第四季也出現(xiàn)了過去五年來在年底假期的銷售旺季首次見到衰退的情形?！? 本文授權編譯自EBN Online，版權所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 本文下一頁：選擇PC或是平板，并不一定非此即彼

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• 再見，PC主板！英特爾只能陪你到Haswell推出了
• 借平板電腦之勢，2013年處理器市場高歌猛進
• PC廠商向平板廠商“不恥下問”，欲重獲消費者青睞Gvzesmc

{pagination} “PC市場從2012年以來面對接二連三的挑戰(zhàn)，導致第四季業(yè)績低迷的結(jié)果，并未讓人感到太過于驚訝。IDC先前即已預測到2012年下半年可能出現(xiàn)的窘境。包括消費者以及PC供貨商與經(jīng)銷渠道的關注焦點也不斷地被平板電腦與智能手機持續(xù)成長的需求轉(zhuǎn)移。此外，對于在Windows PC上使用觸控或是在平板電腦上使用觸控的問題，也減緩了對于PC采購的商用支出?！? “雖然第三季的重點在于出清 Windows 7 的庫存，但初步研究顯示這并未明顯提升第四季的 Windows 8 設備銷售，”IDC資深研究分析師表示。此外，“供貨商均致力于推動以觸控為中心的PC，而忽略了其它可能帶來更穩(wěn)定、可靠且高效用戶體驗的更多功能特色。因此，當 Windows 8 發(fā)展得更成熟，加上其它相應變量如 Ultrabook 的價格下滑時，我們預期在2013年可望看到PC市場需求重現(xiàn)?！? 我認為選擇PC或是平板電腦，并不一定是一種非此即彼的決定。透過定價策略就能讓消費者擁有兩種裝置。平板電腦在很多方面仍然比不上PC的作業(yè)效率。我就是 一些在去年買了PC后打算再買平板電腦的消費族群。但平板電腦用戶多半將它用于娛樂與移動通信應用。因此還有一大群的PC用戶，他們并不想要買一臺看起來 或使用起來像平板電腦或智能手機的PC。 我認為，PC/平板電腦/智能手機市場正著眼于尚未準備好要買哪一種裝置的跨界融合用戶。但即使 Windows 8 變得再怎么簡單易用，我也不想要一款以觸控為中心的PC。我了解 Windows 打算成為智能手機、平板與PC的單一平臺，但它不能只顧著迎合觸控功能的發(fā)展趨勢。如果PC市場將希望寄托于使 Windows 8 市場成熟來刺激PC銷售，那么就像IDC說的，它在2013年仍面對著更具挑戰(zhàn)性的市場。 本文授權編譯自EBN Online，版權所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 編譯：Susan Hong 參考英文原文：Why PCs Aren't Selling，by Barbara Jorgensen, EBN Community Editor

相關閱讀：
• 再見，PC主板！英特爾只能陪你到Haswell推出了
• 借平板電腦之勢，2013年處理器市場高歌猛進
• PC廠商向平板廠商“不恥下問”，欲重獲消費者青睞Gvzesmc

{pagination} Why PCs Aren't Selling Barbara Jorgensen, EBN Community Editor I finally understand some the hype around tablet devices. I gave a tablet and received one during the holidays and I’ve been attached at the hip with mine ever since. However, hour for hour, I still spend more time at and do more with my PC and use the tablet as a supplement. Between setting up two tablets and one new PC in the past month, I’ve discovered I hate touchscreens and I’m still waiting for someone to tell me why Windows 8 is a good idea. It takes me three or four times as long to type anything onto tiny tablet touchscreens and typos run rampant. I sometimes have to tap commands two or three times on the tablets and I can’t find any familiar menus on Windows 8, so the PC is running with minimum efficiency at the moment. I’m not at all surprised that PC sales dropped in Q4. IDC reports worldwide PC shipments totaled 89.8 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, down 6.4 percent compared to the same quarter in 2011 and worse than the forecast decline of 4.4 percent. The analyst attributes the drop, in part, to unmet expectations of newer, cooler PCs and features. I disagree -- the PC I bought in December has a bigger screen, a sleeker look, and is more lightweight than anything I’ve owned in the past, and it cost the same as an iPad mini. Too bad I gave up in frustration from customizing it. (For a different perspective, see Year of the Phablets.) Here’s some additional analysis from IDC: Although the quarter marked the beginning of a new stage in the PC industry with the launch of Windows 8, its impact did not quickly change recently sluggish PC demand, and the PC market continued to take a back seat to competing devices and sustained economic woes. As a result, the fourth quarter of 2012 marked the first time in more than five years that the PC market has seen a year-on-year decline during the holiday season. The lackluster fourth quarter results were not entirely surprising given the spate of challenges the PC market faced over the course of 2012. IDC had expected the second half of 2012 to be difficult. Consumers as well as PC vendors and distribution channels continued to be diverted from PC sales by ongoing demand for tablets and smartphones. In addition, questions about the use of touch on Windows PCs vs. tablets slowed commercial spending on PCs. "Although the third quarter was focused on the clearing of Windows 7 inventory, preliminary research indicates the clearance did not significantly boost the uptake of Windows 8 systems in Q4," said Jay Chou, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. "Lost in the shuffle to promote a touch-centric PC, vendors have not forcefully stressed other features that promote a more secure, reliable and efficient user experience. As Windows 8 matures, and other corresponding variables such as Ultrabook pricing continue to drop, hopefully the PC market can see a reset in both messaging and demand in 2013." I don’t think the PC vs. tablet choice is an either/or decision. Pricing has enabled consumers to own both -- and then some. Tablets are still not as good as PCs for a lot of things (including writing). I’m certain some consumers that would have bought a PC last year opted for a tablet, but they are using the tablet for what it’s meant for: entertainment and mobile communications. There is still a huge base of PC users who don’t want their PCs to look and act like a smartphone or tablet. I think the PC/tablet/smartphone market is pushing a convergence users aren’t ready for. I don’t want a touch-centric PC and even if Windows 8 was easy to use, I’d still resist it as a touch-only interface. I understand Windows’s desire for a single platform for phones, tablets, and PCs, but it doesn’t have to cater only to touch. If the PC market is resting its hopes on the maturation of Windows 8 to spur future sales -- as IDC suggests -- then indeed it will be facing a tough market through 2013.