Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system is being launched in the market at a time when PC sales have dropped by 8 percent worldwide, according to industry research firm Gartner. The Polish market of personal computers is following the global trend, experts say.

Damian Godos, an analyst at IDC, told Rzeczpospolita that in Q3 personal computer sales in Poland declined by over 20 percent compared to the same period last year. At the same time, however, the sales of laptop computers shrank by just 1 percent.

The difficult economy is part of the reason for the slowing sales, but so is the rise in tablet sales. Some 500,000 customers bought tablets in Poland this year.

Producers of computers and tablets hope that Windows 8 will boost sales during the holiday season.

“The market is waiting for [Windows 8] impatiently, since both markets – computers and tablets – will adopt it. Even before the launch, some stores were offering hardware with the new operating system,” Mr Godos added.

Poland A.M.