Posted on 11/19/2012 4:39:36 PM PST by tje
Initial sales of the Windows 8 operating system are said to be "well below" Microsoft's internal projections.
Citing a "trusted" source, Paul Thurott of Supersite for Windows said Windows 8 is off to a weak start, but Microsoft doesn't believe sales have been affected by the software itself. Instead, the thinking in Redmond, Wash., is said to be that PC makers have offered "lackluster" designs, along with limited availability.
That disappointment with Microsoft's PC partners is said to have further reaffirmed the company's strategy with the new Surface tablet, which is the first computer designed and manufactured by the company itself.
Thurott surmises that the initial disappointment of Windows 8 is related to a number of issues, including a slumping economy, confusing range of device types, and the touch-centric interface of Windows 8 Metro.
(Excerpt) Read more at appleinsider.com ...
Speaking of Macs, it's been many years since I've used one. Has the interface changed much, if at all?
True. Just went to Windows Phone last week. Pretty jazzy. Would never use it on a pc, though.
I am a “user” and a decade plus plus ago was a Windows 1.0 user. I even used to be a MS developer.
I have been with MS from then til Win 7 pro.
See my prior post. #15 or so.
I am NOT going to stay with the MS track any longer.
I didn’t leave MS, MS has left me.
“Windows 8 will go down as Microsoft’s biggest mistake of all time. Worse than the OS BOB.”
They were getting there with Windows 7 but then they just threw it all away.
Man, it’s like you’ve been reading my mind! You nailed it.
New Win8 boxes should come with a free downgrade to Win7!
They would sell better that way :-)
“That’s exactly it. That Metro UI is crap on a desktop, but makes sense on a tablet or a phone. I think if they gave desktop users the ability to blow off Metro, it’d be okay. “
Not exactly a smashing success on phones, either.
The AI article was based on this article: http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-8-sales-well-below-projections-plenty-blame-go-around
It’s a ‘Windows SuperSite’, whatever that is...
After getting used to the interface, I kinda like it. Don’t see a reason to upgrade it though. I really wish it was bundled with office though.
Ballmer is a jackass.
I have always been a Windows user, and before that a DOS user. Apple is too damned expensive, and actually more monopolistic than MS, since they refuse to let anyone else make the hardware.
I’m holding off on Windows 8, in hopes that they, or the computer makers who work with them, will come up with a usable system for laptops. I use a keyboard and mouse, and have NO DESIRE to use touchscreen. None.
Evidently there are added programs that can bring it back toward the old desktop, but I don’t know how much they slow down or complicate the operating system. So I’ll just wait until I hear that they have a decent desktop system in place and all the bugs ironed out, and hope that my Windows 7 doesn’t give up the ghost before that happens.
I understand that they want to be competitive with iPhone and other small touchscreen devices; but not at the expense of wrecking their computer business, I trust.
You make my point for me.
On a tablet - A MOBILE DEVICE - I want a mobile device OS.
iOS and Android are very well-suited for a range of mobile devices.
Win8 is a force-fit of an old idea onto a new form factor, and a new way of ‘computing’.
AND I have tried to use a new windows phone. Not going there. Not everyone is an aimless 22 year old. some of us have to work.
MS is the next RIM. Then next Wang. The next NDC.
Done. Put a fork in them. It’s only a matter of time now.
At least my upgrade to Win 8 only cost my $38.
It’s gone by 7 PM NEXT Saturday.
“I recommend a good stable Linux install for you. Ubuntu, maybe.”
hmm I’ll just stick with Win 7.
Paul Thurott of Supersite for Windows said... Microsoft doesn't believe sales have been affected by the software itself. Instead, the thinking in Redmond, Wash., is said to be that PC makers have offered "lackluster" designs...Sounds like an Obama voter.
Most people use Windows because it's cheaper and has more applications available. I know people whose only knowledge about Windows PC's is limited to the power button and the location of their favorite apps on the start menu. Their PC's don't crash. What I've found consistently is that people who experience crashes don't have a current subscription for anti-virus software and have been infected.
Macs crash less because the upgrade cycle involves buying a new computer and reinstalling everything. Windows lets you upgrade the OS on an existing computer while leaving the existing apps installed. While that's convenient, it leads to a lot of subtle incompatibilities that cause crashes.
Bambi’s fault. Straight up!
Windows 8?
John Dvorak, an long time industry analyst and commentator gave W8 a bad review.
I’m shopping for a new desktop PC.
I have a 4 yr old ZT Systems (via big box store Costco) desktop PC with Windows Vista. Vista was “ok” but not as good as Windows XP. So I upgraded to Windows 7 which is ok except Windows Explorer does not always find files that I actually do have.
So I contacted ZT Systems and asked if I could order a PC with W7. The ZT Systems sales rep said no, that all new PC’s came with W8. No option for W7, etc.
So they lost a sale because I went to Best Buy (W8 or nothing there). I tried a couple W8 desktops, one a touch screen and one not. I did not like W8.
I am a professional programmer and could figure W8 out and work with it, but using W8 was like wearing ill-fitting clothes. Not really satisfying, but rather a little annoying.
W8 makes Windows Vista seem good by comparison.
Instead we are going to have a custom desktop built with either XP or W7.
Windows 8 seems a good choice for a Tablet, but a poor choice for a desktop.
I think W8 is Microsoft’s idea of a “one size fits all” OS.
W8 sales are probably as good as they are because Microsoft is shoving W8 down everyone’s throat and denying a W7 option.
Getting mindshare on any new consumer product takes time. The original iphone took 5 quarters to sell 6.1m units. We're only midway through the 3rd quarter of the Nokia Lumia's introduction. As the consumer becomes more aware that a new generation of Windows phones has arrived, we'll see how it performs against Google and Apple.
I’ve tried Windows 8.
Avoid, avoid! It may be swell for tablets but on a laptop it’s annoying. You can’t find invisible icons...must rightclick and see what if anything happens...the classic start menu is gone and you need to dl “classic shell” or some other program to replace it — windows offers no option.
Bunch of colored squares you don’t need on the new “Start” and though you can weed them out (they’re apps), the start up screen is them, not your desktop. You can’t have desktop appear automatically on startup. Logging out is found when you click on your icon. You just want to escape and apparently there’s no single click for that!
The control panel is hard to find too, and if you search in the wrong place, it says it can’t find the darn thing.
You’ll be tearing down and building your computer experience for a long time, trying to get it as comprehensible as Windows 7.
Do yourself a favor and stick to 7.
Ironically, I received two solicitations for Windows 8 tonight. Someone must have gotten a kick in the butt to
sell the stuff.
Not sure “Apple Insider” is an objective reporter here but, from what I gather, Windows 8 is for people who want their computer to have the same template as their smart phones. I’d rather have my computer function like a computer so I’m happy to stick with 7 and happy that 8 isn’t taking off.
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