The free upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users has a negative effect on the PC market, according to market research company IDC. The number of sold new PCs dropped with 12.5% in the first quarter of this year. A decline of 7.3% compared to the same period last year.
"The financial pressure on consumers across regions, and the availability of alternatives such as delaying a PC replacement by using a free Windows 10 upgrade or relying more on other devices continues to pressure consumer PC shipments", IDC writes.
The research company notes that while many enterprises are testing Windows 10 and will probably switch at the end of the year, the market for computers continues to decline. It expects that the entire PC market will continue to shrink next year as well. It will take until 2018 before the market stabilizes, according to IDC.
Windows 10 will no longer be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Window 8.1 users from the 29th of July this year, Microsoft has not stated it will extend the free upgrade offer.
