( CNN ) -- There 's a devastating narrative being told about the PC these days : It 's dying . It 's not a slow death either . Sales of traditional PCs are collapsing faster than anyone expected . And this is n't just some vague perception from the anti-Microsoft crowd . This is backed up with real data , most notably in the latest IDC report released this month that says PC sales are down 14 % year over year . The entire market appears to be imploding , and it does n't just apply to PCs running Windows . Even Apple 's Mac computer sales are basically flat year over year , yet its iPad business continues to grow . So what 's going on here ? Why are n't people buying regular laptops and desktops anymore ? There are a ton of theories floating around out there , but the consensus seems to be that PC makers still have n't figured out how to leverage the transition into mobile devices . Perhaps the biggest blame falls on Microsoft . It made a huge gamble with the introduction of Windows 8 , a radically different kind of operating system designed primarly for touchscreen devices . Windows 8 replaces your traditional desktop screen with a new touch-friendly start menu that has a lot of people confused . IDC 's report sums it up nicely : . `` While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8 , the radical changes to the UI , removal of the familiar Start button , and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices . Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market . '' It 's as if Microsoft is eating itself , trying to catch up with the mobile revolution while still packaging its new operating system in pricey hardware that 's clearly declining in popularity with consumers . And because Windows 8 tablets are full PCs with expensive components , people are moving to cheaper tablets like the iPad Mini or ones based on Google 's Android operating system . After all , why buy a brand new expensive computer that 's difficult to learn when you can get an easy-to-use tablet that can do most of the same stuff at a fraction of the price ? However , there is a small ray of hope for the Microsoft faithful . Microsoft is gearing up to release a new version of Windows later this year , codenamed Windows Blue . According to several reports , Blue will give users the option to replace the new start screen with a traditional desktop by default . If the reports are true , it would be a smart move , and one that could help ease the transition into modern mobile computing . The company is also toying around with the idea of making smaller , cheaper tablets that are much more popular with consumers . Microsoft recently issued a statement to its manufacturing partners that Windows 8 will now support smaller screens in the 7-inch range . Plus there are several reports that Microsoft will add such a tiny tablet to its Surface line of devices . You can expect to see a bunch of similar devices from other manufacturers later this year . Let 's be clear though . This game is n't over yet . Apple has n't won . Microsoft and Google have n't either . The personal computing industry has been turned on its head , and everyone is still noodling around with strategies on how to adapt . Even the way we define `` PC '' is changing , and we 're getting to the point where there 's almost no distinction between mobile and regular computing . The PC as we know it may be dying , but the PC as it will be is just getting started . Copyright © 2011 Business Insider .
A recent report showed PC sales down 14 % and Apple desktop sales flat . People increasingly are buying smaller , cheaper tablets and phones . Microsoft 's mobile - friendly Windows 8 has confused some users . But Microsoft is working on ` ` Blue , '' that 's reportedly more desktop friendly .