Microsoft's Windows 8 OS failed to provide a spark to PC sales during last year's fourth quarter, according to research by IDC released on Thursday From ComputerWorld:

Windows 8, the successor to the popular Windows 7, was released in late October, with PCs and tablets with the new OS shipping almost immediately after. But PC demand continued to be sluggish and the new OS failed to provide a spark, IDC said in a statement.

The problem was compounded by challenging economies and people holding back on spending to upgrade PCs, IDC said. The PC market also took a backseat to alternate computing devices like smartphones and tablets, which are being used increasingly for basic computing, Web browsing, video and email.

Windows 8 fails to lift the PC market in Q4