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Dell, which sells the XPS laptop range, was one of the most popular vendors but couldn't reverse the fall of PC sales. Mark Von Holden/AP Images

PC makers will likely want to forget all about 2015

Global PCs sales in 2015 fell below 300 million, the first time since 2008.

THE PC MARKET might still have a place alongside the smartphone but 2015 was a year to forget for manufacturers as a slide in sales continued.

According to the latest figures from the International Data Corporation (IDC), 71.9 million units were shipped globally in the last three months of 2015, a 10.6% drop from the same period in 2014 and the largest year-on-year decrease in the market since 2013.

To make things worse, the total number of PCs shipped during 2015 was 276.2 million, the first time sales were below 300 million since 2008.

There was one bright spot in an otherwise dour report. 2-in-1 devices – tablets that can act as a laptop when attached to a keyboard – are growing although the report says they have a small base to grow from in the first place.

The report showed optimism for the market in 2016. saying it expected the market to pick up as PC owners will likely upgrade to avoid facing performance or security issues.

Difficult times

Techbits Gadgets for Sale Despite the market decline, Apple's Mac and Macbook sales continued to grow in 2015. AP Photo / Eric Risberg AP Photo / Eric Risberg / Eric Risberg

The market has been on a decline in recent years as desktop PCs fall out of vogue and laptops and hybrid devices try to make up for lost ground.

One of the biggest (and obvious) reasons for this decline is how popular smartphones are. An easier to understand interface, growing screen sizes and portability means they’re easier to use, reducing the need for some people to invest in a PC.

Another factor that didn’t help matters was the launch of Windows 10. Instead of it requiring users to buy a new machine, many existing machines were eligible for the upgrade as it was free for Windows 7 and 8.1 users.

That meant many users could continue using their older machine but with new software – currently more than 200 million people are using Windows 10 according to Microsoft. Longer lifecycles for PCs and laptops also contributed to this problem.

In the case of Europe, vendors remained committed to clearing out older Windows 8 devices, and while the launch of Windows 10 devices over the Christmas period helped, it was not enough to reverse the trend.

As for manufacturers, Lenovo shipped the most PCs during 2015 with 57 million units. HP and Dell followed behind with 53.5 million units and 39 million units shipped respectively.

While those companies all saw a decline in units sold, Apple managed to continue growing, shipping 20.7 million units in the year compared to 19.5 million in 2014.

Read: This is how you can change default apps on Android >

Read: Europe says it’s OK for the boss to snoop on your private messages at work >

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22 Comments
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    Mute David Higgins
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    Oct 9th 2011, 9:32 AM

    Disobey the rules, don’t except our sympathy when the consequences arrive!

    67
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    Mute Mack O'Connell
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    Oct 9th 2011, 9:47 AM

    The Nazis were just following the "rules" also.

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    Mute James Quirke
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    Oct 9th 2011, 9:55 AM

    ever heard of a thing called civil disobedience at all?

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    Mute Ronald
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    Oct 9th 2011, 12:40 PM

    You say ‘civil disobedience’ as if it was the equivalent to peaceful protesting!

    Jeeez, some people seem to think that their self-righteousness justifies breaking the law!

    27
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    Mute Conor Murphy
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    Oct 9th 2011, 1:04 PM

    If I was working as a security guard for A MUSEUM and some self righteous twit held down my co-worker I’d get them off pretty sharply too.

    Now not saying that’s definitely what happened but they have no right to physically restrain a working member of the public.

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Oct 9th 2011, 10:10 AM

    They called medics caused they were peppered sprayed. Should be done for wasting their time.

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    Mute Noel Peare
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    Oct 9th 2011, 11:31 AM

    Have you ever seen the results of pepper spray? I worked in a nightclub where a girl was pepper sprayed. She was in agony afterwards. I found it hard to stay near her as the residue on her face was enough to cause my eyes and face to have the same symptoms. She was taken away by ambulance & I assure you it was necessary.

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Oct 9th 2011, 12:53 PM

    While never been pepper sprayed myself I have seen the effects of those who have numerous times(actually more than numerous) and ALL just had to wash out there eyes with water.

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    Mute joseph mcgee
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    Oct 10th 2011, 12:58 AM

    more than numerous? how many is more than numerous? is it, loike, a lot?
    do tell flanagan, how and where did u see the effects of those who’ve been pepper sprayed
    numerous times. sorry i mean more than numerous times
    CSI or some other show?

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    Mute steve white
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    Oct 9th 2011, 9:54 AM

    Conservative Spectator Magazine Brags of its Agent Provacateur’s Role in Provoking Attack on DC Museum http://t.co/Gsm8wqTK

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    Mute Niall Carson
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    Oct 9th 2011, 10:56 AM

    Sounds pretty damming

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    Mute Ronald
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    Oct 9th 2011, 12:43 PM

    They rushed and held down a security guard… A normal Average Joe doing his job… Not an SS Officer!

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    Mute willy pearse
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    Oct 9th 2011, 11:43 AM

    Heil Obama!

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    Mute Oscar Brophy
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    Oct 9th 2011, 12:11 PM

    bloddy yanks

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    Oct 9th 2011, 12:09 PM

    Amazing how they don’t object to war aircraft which carry a living pilot!
    They seem to have a superstitious fear of automation.

    Drones are just the start of the automation.
    Google Earth can tell me the difference in latitude and longitude between the front and the back of my car parked in my driveway.
    Within 20 years piloted warplanes will look as antiquated as the Wright Brothers plane in Kitty Hawk in 1903.

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    Mute Saffron Marriott
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    Oct 9th 2011, 11:26 AM

    I got chili in my eyes making a curry recently and it was truly awful – poor people

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