Channel sales of personal computers equipped with Microsoft's new Vista operating system for business users, Vista Business, slowed in August 2007 accounting for 13 percent of unit PC sales through Europe's top IT distributors, according to IT market researchers Context. That's down from 17 percent in July 2007.

Meanwhile, unit sales of Windows XP Professional PCs, the operating system being replaced by Vista Business, dropped only four points to 27 percent in August compared to the previous month and remained at double Vista Business sales levels, reports Context.

According to a Context press statement, "The only flavour of Vista that is showing significant growth is Vista Home Premium. Ever since Vista's launch earlier in the year, the sales emphasis has been on consumer PCs with the Home Premium and Home Basic editions, with the corresponding disappearance of Windows XP Home and XP Media Center Edition."

In January 2007, prior to the Vista launch, Windows XP Home and Media Center equipped PCs sold by leading distributors in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands accounted for 29 percent of unit sales, while XP Professional was at 45 percent, notes Context. By May of this year, XP Home and Media Center PCs had dropped to 9 percent of distributor sales, with Vista Basic and Home Premium combined at 36 percent, and XP Professional at 28 percent. These levels remained relatively stable to July, reports Context.

Context believes that as Vista Business PC sales have not continued to grow as would have been expected since May 2007, XP professional remains the apparent business operating system of choice.

About this research

Data covers personal computer sales to August 2007 and includes distributor sales only.

Context tracks weekly sales to end-users of business and consumer technology products through Europe's key distributors, value-added resellers and retailers through its SalesWatch reports and services in Europe's top economies.

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