Windows 11 transition Archives

Winsage

November 27, 2025

Surprise surprise, people are still in no hurry to switch to Windows 11, Dell reveals

Dell's Q3 earnings call revealed a delay in the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, with COO Jeffrey Clarke stating that the upgrade is progressing slower than the previous shift to Windows 10. The adoption rate for Windows 11 is lagging behind Windows 10 by approximately 10 to 12 percentage points. Currently, around 1.5 billion PCs are installed, with about 500 million capable of running Windows 11 but not yet upgraded, and another 500 million requiring new hardware for the transition. Dell's server and networking segment reported .1 billion in revenue, a 37% year-over-year increase. Rising component prices may further complicate the transition to Windows 11.

Winsage

November 27, 2025

PC Sales Remain Flat Despite Windows 10 End of Life, Claims Dell

Microsoft's Windows 10 reached its end-of-life on October 14, leading to the introduction of Windows 11. Dell's COO, Jeffrey Clarke, indicated that the transition to Windows 11 is slower than expected, with a 10-12 point lag compared to the previous OS transition. Approximately 500 million PCs are unable to upgrade to Windows 11, and Microsoft has implemented Extended Security Updates (ESU) to support these devices temporarily. Dell noted that around 500 million additional PCs could transition to Windows 11 without hardware upgrades. Despite this, Dell reported record Q3 results of billion, primarily driven by AI servers and infrastructure rather than PC sales, which have shown mid-to-high single-digit growth in a flat overall market.

Winsage

November 26, 2025

Dell says PC sales flat despite slow Windows 11 transition

Dell's outlook for the upcoming year indicates steady PC sales, with COO Jeffrey Clarke noting challenges in completing the Windows 11 transition, lagging behind previous transitions by 10 to 12 percentage points, affecting around 500 million PCs. Despite this, Clarke expressed optimism for the PC market, predicting "roughly flat" sales after mid-to-high single-digit growth in the past year. Dell secured orders totaling .3 billion for AI servers and shipped products valued at .6 billion in the quarter ending October 31st, with server and networking revenue increasing by 37 percent year-over-year. There is growing interest in traditional servers, driven by the need for efficient configurations, but rising costs for RAM and NAND present challenges. Dell reported .6 billion in revenue for the latest quarter, an 11 percent year-over-year increase, and anticipates revenues of .5 billion in Q4 and .7 billion for FY 2026, with significant growth expected from server sales as many customers still use older server models.

Winsage

October 14, 2025

PC shipments rise nearly 10% in Q3 2025 ahead of Windows 10 end-of-support

Global PC shipments increased nearly 10% year-on-year in Q3 2025, totaling 75.8 million units, according to IDC, while Omdia reported 72 million units and a 6.8% growth. The transition to Windows 11, driven by the end of Windows 10 support on October 14, has prompted users to upgrade their hardware. However, many users still operate on Windows 10 or outdated hardware, with only 39% of PC channel partners reporting that most customers have upgraded. Japan and China are leading in growth due to large-scale refresh initiatives, while North America is experiencing subdued momentum due to economic uncertainty. Lenovo shipped 19.4 million units, HP 15 million, and Apple saw a 13.7% increase in shipments. The introduction of new chipsets is fueling competition in the high-performance market, leading to the emergence of the "AI PC" phase, which aims to integrate AI capabilities directly into devices.

Winsage

October 9, 2025

US PC shipments flat amid tariff shock and weak demand

The global PC market is experiencing a 9.4 percent increase in shipments during the third quarter of 2025, totaling 75.8 million units, driven by the upcoming end-of-life date for Windows 10 on October 14. The EMEA and Asia Pacific regions report a robust 14 percent growth, while the Americas see only a 1 percent increase due to tariff impacts and economic uncertainties. IDC's analysis indicates that PC shipments reflect systems dispatched from manufacturers, not direct consumer purchases, highlighting inventory challenges in the US. The first quarter of 2025 had a spike in shipments as manufacturers cleared stock before tariffs on Chinese imports. Despite cautious consumer spending, particularly on discretionary items, PC sales in the US have not drastically declined. IDC projects sustained demand for newer PCs as the deadline for Windows 11 approaches, with hundreds of millions of systems still on Windows 10. In terms of market share for Q3, Lenovo leads with over 25 percent, followed by HP with under 20 percent, Dell with approximately 13 percent, and Apple and Asus with 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

Winsage

October 9, 2025

Windows 11 tops AI as main driver for PC sales

The increase in personal computer sales with AI capabilities is primarily driven by the refresh of Windows 11, not a significant shift towards AI-focused hardware. The end of support for Windows 10 on October 14 is a key factor motivating hardware upgrades. Kieran Jessop from Omdia notes that while AI-enabled PCs are gaining traction, most consumers prioritize traditional performance metrics such as battery life and software compatibility. He predicts a modest growth rate of about 1.1% for global PC shipments over the next four years, with a continuing need for hardware refreshes as many users still operate on outdated systems. Approximately half of the global install base consists of devices over six years old that do not meet Windows 11 requirements, and rising costs for Extended Security Updates will likely push enterprises to invest in new devices.

Winsage

October 9, 2025

IDC: PC Sales Jumped 9.4 Percent in Q3

Global PC sales increased by 9.4 percent year-over-year, totaling 75.9 million units sold in the last quarter. The growth is attributed to the transition to Windows 11 and the need to replace aging devices. North America faces challenges due to US import tariffs and macroeconomic uncertainties, while demand for newer PCs is expected to continue into 2026. The EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions saw unit sales rise by approximately 14 percent, with Japan being a significant contributor. Lenovo is the largest PC manufacturer, selling 19.4 million units (17.3 percent increase), expanding its market share to 25.5 percent. HP sold 15 million units (10.7 percent increase) with a market share of 19.8 percent. Dell sold 10.1 million units (2.6 percent growth), with market share decreasing from 14.2 percent to 13.3 percent. Apple sold approximately 6.8 million units (13.7 percent increase), raising its market share to 9 percent. ASUS sold 5.9 million units (11.4 percent growth), maintaining a market share of 7.8 percent.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

Firm predicts wildly optimistic view of 2025 PC gaming, then an exodus

A firm has forecasted a 3.9 percent decline in consumer PC sales in the U.S. for 2025, resulting in approximately 25.284 million units sold, with a rebound of 5.4 percent expected in 2026, bringing sales to around 26.651 million units. IDC predicts flat sales in the U.S. but a 6.5 percent increase in the global PC market. Retail sales in August increased by 0.6 percent. The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 requires CPU upgrades for over 100 million gamers, leading to unique challenges. Intel's market share in PC graphics has reportedly dropped to nearly zero. JPR projects a 13 percent decrease in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years, with over 10 million people leaving the PC platform entirely, while some gamers are migrating to consoles and mobile devices for better value.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

Windows 11 migration could be the perfect time to get an AI PC

Recent research indicates a significant shift in the IT landscape as businesses transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, coinciding with the emergence of AI PCs. A study by Dell reveals that 80% of UK businesses are migrating to Windows 11, viewing it as a strategic opportunity to adopt AI-ready PCs. 71% of IT decision-makers believe this transition allows for upgrades to more powerful AI PCs. Nearly half of respondents recognize AI PCs for their advanced security features (47%) and enhanced productivity (44%), while 64% consider AI-capable hardware essential for future operations. Security breaches motivate 46% of IT leaders to refresh their PC fleets, surpassing the 42% updating due to Windows 10 end of support. Challenges include software compatibility (45%), hardware compatibility (34%), and potential operational disruptions (32%), with 20% of businesses yet to start their transition. Additionally, 62% of IT decision-makers prefer a Copilot+ PC over traditional models, driven by benefits like longer battery life and superior performance.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

SMEs need channel help moving off Windows 10

71% of IT decision-makers view the transition to Windows 11 as an opportunity to enhance PC infrastructure. 64% of UK decision-makers consider the ability to run AI applications as critical for their organizations. Currently, 20% of customers have not started transitioning from Windows 10, 25% have completed the migration, and 44% are working towards the October end-of-life support deadline. Small firms are particularly lagging in this transition. Analysts predict a global PC market growth of 5.8% in 2025, with total shipments expected to reach 272 million units, following a 9% growth in Q1 and a 7.4% year-on-year improvement in Q2.