[TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed]

I smell BS.

[soycd]

The first command required for a PC with Windows 8 or Vista on it is “format c: /q”

[Yosemitest]

Really?
How does it compare to the rise in market share of Apple and iMac?

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

How many milli-seconds can you use it before the error message pops up and it locks up?

[Vaquero]

I just got a replacement laptop under warrantee.

slightly different computer with windows 8 instead of 7.

now if I had a touch screen in might come in handy, but I do not and I am waiting for my son to get the skinny on removing it...or changing it to bypass all the silly touch screen icon defaults.....

useless.

FYI I am NOT a computer nerd(though my kids are to a point)....I just want these things to work without jumping through hoops.

[smokingfrog]

You can download Win 8 for $40. If you have an older machine with Vista it’s probably worth doing the upgrade, as long as you have the memory and hardware that can handle it.

[Carriage Hill]

I won’t switch to Win-8; not even at gunpoint. I’ve got 3 Win-7 new install CDs, and 2 Win-7 upgrade CDs, for my home and former office HP units.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

[KarlInOhio]

How many of these licenses were from OEMs buying in bulk? Did Microsoft offer Dell, HP and other manufacturers a spectacular deal if they front loaded a year of licenses to the first month of the Windows 8 release in order to boost the sales numbers?

[WalterSkinner]

..if I can\could get security patches, I would use my XP Pro SP3 for 10 more years...

[ArGee]

Vista was more of a virus than an operating system. It made people nervous. So they were slow to move to Windows 7.

Windows 7 is actually pretty good, so maybe people are willing to trust Microsoft again. They seem to forget that every good OS from Microsoft is followed by a disaster, then MS corrects the mistakes.

I'm not trusting them any more. My next machine will likely run Android.

[isthisnickcool]

Windows 8 is the new pre-employment training system for McDonalds.

[CedarDave]

November 30 story on the "Telegraph" says different:

Headache for Microsoft as sales of Windows PCs fall

[Brookhaven]

There was very little reason to upgrade previous MS operating systems (heck, I'm still running XP on a couple of machines without problems).

Win-8 does give people a reason to upgrade, because it is part of Microsoft's "the same interface anywhere" strategy. Look at these three screen shots (Win-8, XBox, Windows-phone):

Anyone notice the similarities? You should, because they are exactly the same. Remember, the XBox (under the hood) is just a plain, old fashioned PC. Mine has recently been downloading a LOT of updates. I suspect the OS has been upgraded from the XP variant it used to use to a Win-8 variant.

MS now has 4 device families (PC, tablet, phone, and game console) running the same OS.

As a developer, I've been inundated with material from MS (to the point that it's becoming spamming) trying to get me to start writing apps for Win-8 (including offers for free training).

Microsoft's strategy seems to be "buy an app once, use it anywhere." Get an app for your phone, use it on your XBox (the kinect provides the "touchscreen"), your PC, or your tablet.

I'm not sure how this will work out, Microsoft's dominant position in game consoles gives them an advantage over their competition. The only question is: can they get their app store up to speed quickly enough to leverage their advantage?

[backwoods-engineer]

I don't care if it outsells ice water in hell. I will not buy it, and I will not support any computer in my extended family that has it. My son has a Mac - he knows he is on his own.

By 2015, we will probably be an all-Linux/Android household.

[dennisw]

Windows7 is great, have it on a few computers and doubt I’ll be “upgrading” to Windows8. But it looks like a hit for Microsoft on tablets and mobile devices, good luck to them I have no use Apple

[Kegger]

Steve Ballmer's Nightmare Is Coming True
By Jay Yarow | Business Insider

. . .

1. The iPad eats the consumer PC market.
2. Employees gradually switch away from using Windows PCs for work.
3. Windows 8 fails to stop the iPad.
4. Loyal developers start to leave the Microsoft platform.
5. Windows Phone gets no traction despite the Nokia deal and RIM's collapse.
6. Office loses relevance.
7. Microsoft's other business applications start to erode.
8. The platform business collapses.
9. The Xbox was never going to make up the slack, and Microsoft can no longer afford to keep investing in it.
10. Microsoft suffers a huge quarterly loss. Ballmer retires to play golf.

. . .

[faucetman]

I had no trouble with Vista, I liked it. Now Windows 8 SUCKS! I HATE it.

[Mount Athos]

Just install “classic shell” and windows 8 is fine.

Never have to deal with metro again, it boots up straight to desktop and gives you the classic start menu.