Microsoft Windows chief Panos Panay tells Axios that the pandemic didn't just boost long-flagging computer sales, but also helped reinvigorate the PC as a critical tool for communication.: Sales of new computers have slowed significantly in recent months, but usage remains at record levels.: In making his case, Panay shared several statistics that he says outline the broader role Windows is playing for everyone from workers to families.
Windows still dominates the market for PC operating systems, but Apple has gained significant ground. Beyond grabbing a larger slice of the consumer market, Macs are now either standard or an option at many startups and a growing number of large companies, too.Gaming remains the key exceptionMicrosoft faces more competition there from dedicated consoles than it does from the likes of Google or Apple.
Although gaming activity overall has started to level off or drop from pandemic peaks, Panay said that time spent gaming on PCs remains at an all-time high, at a level set during the height of the pandemic.: While Apple and Google have a core group of customers who are all-in on their services, Panay says part of what makes Microsoft's PC operating system popular is it plays well with all of the major apps and services.
"Does somebody else have a leg up?" Panay said in an interview. "I don’t think they do on choice, and I think choice matters to all of us.": Panay, whose official title is chief product officer, rose to prominence at Microsoft by spearheading Surface, the company's high-end hardware line, from its inception.
Filling the "seam" between Windows hardware and software that arose historically because Microsoft controlled the software but a variety of manufacturers developed the machines.Giving Windows a line-up of high-end devices to compete directly with Apple.: Microsoft is expected to introduce a crop of new Surface hardware at an event Wednesday. Panay said there won't be a new Surface Duo for the holidays, but said that the company isn't abandoning its Android-based phone effort.
Meanwhile, Intel is rumored to be planning big layoffs because no one is buying PCs.