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Windows 8 Sales Below Projections

Posted by samzenpus on from the cold-cakes dept.

harrymcc writes "With early reports on Windows 8 sales indicating that the new operating system is off to a slow start, it's worth pondering what Microsoft could have done differently. Over at TIME.com, I considered several different scenarios, ranging from one in which it released a much more conventional Windows upgrade to one which would have been much like like the Windows 8 we got — except with the ability to boot directly into the desktop, complete with Start button."

7 of 663 comments (clear)

  1. microsoft looks to have fired to architect of win8 by Dan667 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    that is pretty telling of what they should have done differently.

  2. It wasn't time by Murdoch5 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We didn't need another OS. Windows 7 was still alive and well, by releasing Windows 8 they only confused / distracted the current user base. I can't even count how many people have asked me what is special about Windows 8, besides the horrible new desktop I honestly can't really saying anything. No one is ready to upgrade from 7 to 8, if they waited another year or two then the outcome would be different, they haven't given people the chance to want something new.

    1. Re:It wasn't time by localman57 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      We didn't need another OS. Windows 7 was still alive and well

      Microsoft knows this. In fact, I think they're counting on it.

      what is special about Windows 8, .

      What's special is that they're trying to unify (to the degree possible) their product across phones, tablets, and the PC.

      I think Microsoft learned an interesting lesson from the XP/Vista/7 cycle. Vista was fucked up, in a big big way. Did it cost them sales? Some, mostly from people who would have upgraded their software. But this is a small piece of the pie. Most OS sales are pre-installs. And, even with vista out, Microsoft kept selling XP licenses (later via downgrade rights).

      MS can't come out and say it, but I really don't think they give a shit if enthusiasts upgrade or not. Same with the enterprise market. You don't see Balmer out there throwing chairs, yelling "PLEASE! PLEASE DON"T BUY OUR WINDOWS 7 LICENSES!" As long as you're buying something of theirs, he's a happy chimp.

      They're pushing 8 out to people via new PC sales, primarily in the consumer market. But what they really needed, and delivered, was something that works decently from a UI perspective on a phone, and on a tablet. That's what's driving this. And eventually the PC will follow. Or, people will keep buying Windows 7 licenses for the next five years. MS gets paid either way.

    2. Re:It wasn't time by DigiShaman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If you're having to purchase a 3rd party hack to radically alter the UI of a brand-spankin-new OS right out of the box, something is fundamentally wrong with your decision making.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  3. Re:Idea by Kenja · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a developer, I feel the job of the OS is to launch applications and then get out of the way. This is something Windows 8 fails at.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  4. Re:Boot directly to desktop? by spire3661 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dont you get that the entire purpose of Metro is to force advertising into those tiles...

    --
    Good-bye
  5. You know its pretty bad by Billly+Gates · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... when even Windows-fan-boi site Neowin.net, the anti slashdot talks about how WIndows 8 is failing and what went wrong afterwards.

    Basically, Sinofsky made the decision to drop the start button in a meeting with Balmer saying it was a must if users were to get used to Metro. They must get immersed so Windows 8 phones can sell more etc.

    Here is a little business 101 lesson. Your customers decide which UI you use and how you design your product. Not the other way around! Every company that told customers this is what you will do and how you will like it do poorly or go under. No one listens to them and MBAs feel it is their job to convert customers and tell them what to do.

    They feel to acknowledge the customer can just walk out the door and take his or her business elsewhere.

    So they fired Sinsosky and that is a good thing. Sad, as he did a great job for Windows 7 but they did not do any QA or UI usability testing with METRO. Just get it out FAST!! and it was was rushed. Customers hate change and Windows 7 works just fine thank you very much.

    After numbers come it the problem will only get worse. Lets hope they do not something really stupid like get rid of the desktop entirely and just be a tablet company now. They lost focus on their core strengths which is another business 101 lesson you never do. They are not a consumer gadget entertainment company and they killed their number one product and money to get there. Wow! Balmer should be fired next too

    --
    http://saveie6.com/