Intel suffers in PC market slump Annual profits fell 15 per cent to $11bn, on sales of $53.3bn, down 1.2 per cent. As well as an underdeveloped mobile computing business, investors also believe the firm's "Wintel" alliance with Microsoft is not as powerful as it once was. Windows 8, the latest version of the world's most popular computer operating system, which features a radically redesigned interface meant to take advantage of touch screens, has so far failed to spur sales of new PCs the way previous releases did. Intel has itself sought to reinvigorate the PC market by ploughing marketing dollars into "ultrabooks," its name for very thin, light laptops. They are up against cheaper and increasingly capable tablets, however. "They are definitely coming from behind and their market is moving away from them," said Patrick Wang, an analyst at Evercore Partners. They are trying to breathe some life into the PC market. Analysts were also concerned about Intel's plans to spend $13bn on new microchip production facilities even as the PC outlook is at best flat. Mr Otellini, who became joined Intel in 1974 and became chief executive over a decade ago, is due to step down in May. The search is on for a leader who can reshape the firm for the new world of mobile computing.