Munzir HakimiTable of Contents
PC Refresh Wave: A Suspenseful Surge
Introduction:
The anticipation is palpable. Dell and HP are sounding the alarm: a massive refresh of aging commercial PC estates is on the horizon. But why now, and what’s driving this sudden urgency?
Delayed Yet Inevitable
At the Citi 2024 Global TMT conference, Michael Dell revealed that the long-awaited PC upgrade cycle has been delayed but will be even more significant when it hits. With Windows 10 nearing its end-of-life, enterprises are scrambling to update their systems.
- “We’re almost within a one-year window of that,” said Dell.
- HP’s Enrique Lores echoed these sentiments at another conference, highlighting an aging installed base and the push from Windows 11 as key drivers for this refresh wave.
The AI Factor
Dell and Lores both agree: AI PCs will play a crucial role in this upgrade cycle. The allure of local AI capabilities is strong, promising lower latency and reduced costs compared to cloud-based solutions.
- “Every piece of software…is going to have an AI assistant,” stated Michael Dell.
- Lores predicts half of all shipments will be AI PCs within three years, with a significant price uplift across the category.
Skepticism Remains
Despite the hype, experts like Mary-Jo Foley and Bryan Ma remain cautious about immediate widespread adoption. The lack of compelling use cases for AI PCs could slow down their integration into business environments.
“AI PCs are a bit hyped up right now in the absence of key use cases,” noted Ma from IDC via email.
“I don’t think Copilot+ PCs will convince any/many to upgrade,” added Foley.
READ MORE: If every PC is going to be an AI PC…
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