Windows 8 sales ‘below internal projections’, source claims

Personally, I really like the new operating system. Of all OS’s out-and-about, MS has got the most unique and innovative one going. Certain figures in gaming – particularly Gabe Newell – have been getting all uppity about the fact there is now a Windows Store alongside The App Store (Apple) but that’s masking the truth: they don’t want competition in the likes of Microsoft AND Apple, as that might put a dent in their quarterly reports.

But there should be no beef about games being played on a Windows 8 machine. You can still do all the things you’re used to as Microsoft has quite clearly made backwards compatibility a top priority when using the new OS. Yes, the GUI (Metro) is an acquired taste and some might argue that the learning curve is a bit steep but once you’re comfortable with it, you’re flying around in no time.

In all honesty, I can’t knock an OS that allows me to play games and tweet at same time. That’s no exaggeration, by the way. Multi-tasking on Windows 8 is quite impressive.

@1 I think few people can argue with you there Great post. I don’t blame MS for closing off a corner of the market for themselves in these volatile times where content control and delivery is king. Can;t be easy up at the top trying to second guess such a malleable industry. I wouldn’t want their job.

It’s simple. Why windows is chosen? We have free Linux, Mac OS… BUT only windows is open, compatible with old windows stuff and has Start menu with it’s convenient navigation of program icons.
Now, Win 8 has no start menu, it’s openness in questionable and it’s not compatible with a lot of old windows stuff.
I will not use Win 8, that’s for sure. I’m still using XP – I normally play on PS3/Vita and have no reason to use even Win 7.

Despite being even cheaper than what I paid for Windows (~£25 vs ~£40-50) Microsoft haven’t really demonstrated any particular reason to bother upgrading.

Give us decent multi-display features and the ability to send audio from different sources to different audio devices and I’ll buy it right fucking now. A new start bar and some minor performance improvements aren’t really selling points for me.

Windows 9, coming 2014, now with Start Menu!

The lack of the start menu, how Aero glass was replaced by a theme that looks like Steams inbred cousin and how it tries to force metro down your throat even though it works like ass on a desktop machine is why its not selling. Of course they rather commit suicide than to admit that…

The only reason i have not uninstalled it is because of Ex7forW8 and that Windows 8 finally fixes the infuriatingly annoying HDMI overscan bug that plagued intel graphic adapters.

I think Win8 will take a while to take off, anyway.

People are probably waiting to get a touch screen device, before getting a copy.

@3 What u mean by “it’s not compatible with a lot of old windows stuff”?

You guys keep spreading false info. Anything you can install on Windows 7 you can on Windows 8.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this was true. The update seems too little for existing PC owners to get particularly excited about and the market-share on tablet is still small for the OS.

I’ve no doubt it’ll pick up but I think Win8 is going to have to rely on new PC purchases rather than people upgrading for quite a while. The metro UI while very nice on a tablet is more of a nuisance on PC too which is garnering the release a bit of negativity from the existing install base as well.

It’ll still be selling bucket loads of course, just smaller bucket loads than it might have had it been more focused on existing owners.

That tablet strategy biting them in the ass…who knew…

Why I always hated Windows? it’s simple: Start Menu, with it’s backwards design and idiotic way of navigating programs shortcuts. Amongst other annoyances ofc.

Now with Win8 I might change my mind, but only a little bit.

Still using Windows XP Professional here and I dont intend to upgrade anytime soon. My 360 provides all my gaming needs.

This is hardly surprising. I guess you’d have to a Microsoft executive to actually think it was a genius move.

I purchased Win 8 to go on my new SSD drive. I wasn’t planning on getting Win 8 but the offer on MS website – £25, was too good to turn down.

Takes some getting used to and removing all the shitty Bing crap and replacing it with google and you’re set.

I like it. Not problems with games or software working. Which is always an issue.

I have nothing against Win8, The Problem it has is Win7. Why should I change to Win8? I see no Reason, Win7 just doing fine as ever.

@15 Exactly, why would I need Windows 8?

Microsoft are floundering. They’ve pretty much sold Nokia down the river with Windows Phone, and this was supposed to be their “all things to all people” system, which made everything right again.

Unless the mobile platforms pull it back up though, they’ll be hard pressed to explain why this was a good idea.

Windows 7 is really good to upgrado to Windows 8.

Windows 8 is nothing special compared to Windows 7 to be honest. Windows 8 does not even have Direct X12.

So gamers have no reason to upgrade or casual users.

I think their logic was : windows 7 is great and everybody is using it , now lets experiment ?!
I really thought after 7 each new windows will be best option in every way…

I bought Windows 8 for developing Windows 8 apps, trying it out and testing our software before the customers started using it.

I have two major issues.

1. I don’t mind the new Metro UI and it’s options / extra menus. In fact I like the design and the concept. It’s just so unintuitive to access! I mean, who on earth would know that putting your cursor in the lower right bottom of the screen would open up a menu that let’s you access the start button and SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER? They could at least have but some better visual cue that indicated what was there. I’d also like a start button where it used to be, that opened the Metro UI, since there’s no logical way to access the Metro UI from the desktop.

2. Why the hell won’t they let me buy their software? Uppgrade? UPGRADE!? No I need a full version, so I can do a clean install. The website is ridiculously vague on the point of it being only an upgrade from a previous already installed version. You can even make a clean install USB-pen (thanks) and an ISO. BUT YOU CANNOT ACTIVATE THAT.
Seriously. I wrote the local Microsoft store, since they had a link, and they didn’t know anything. Then I called Microsoft, yes CALLED, since they have no mail support, after I had already purchased Windows 8 Pro (which by the way don’t mention it’s an upgrade-only version on the receipt), just to get a vague “I’m sorry but you have bought the upgrade only version, and I cannot tell you how to buy the full version. Contact your local retailer”.

So I wasted a small amount of money, that’s fine, but I get really angry and frustrated by their lack of communication, or rather cleverly crafted communication that tries to predict what the user wants instead of just making it clear.

You know that kind of insult to the user, claiming that you are clearly not intelligent enough to understand what we write, way. It’s the same with some of their new design ideas. It reeks of being carefully designed to make you not think, but ends up being frustrating, because there’s no good reason to prevent the user from doing something AND having a simple and intuitive interface, where all the advanced stuff is hidden away…

–
Sorry for the rant…
But I feel it’s a growing trend. Netflix does it, Apple does it, Facebook does it, HBO does it, Amazon does it – 1) Prevent me from buying stuff I want to pay for. 2) Trying to make magical AI predictions, ends up frustrating me by hiding close to all options.

@19 You have to buy the OEM version to do a clean install. Newegg sells them. I realize it’s too late now, but that’s how you get the clean install version. Note that it’s a different license. It’s referred to as the “System Builder’s Version” or Newegg just calls it Full-OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416552

Although interestingly, I notice that the T&C for it said that, basically, “If you’re buying this for yourself, you’re still subject to the T&C for the personal license” … Whatever the hell that means haha.

I’m not surprised it’s failing. Many desktops and laptops don’t even have touch screens which this OS seems to be designed for. Corporate customers are also up in arms about having to use touch screen functions to access menu’s etc. It may have been better if it were just for tablets but it isn’t. Even sales of Surface are as Steve Ballmer puts it ‘modest’, which is corporate speak for disastrous. If you want a picture of just how well Microsoft are doing lately I’ll put a link to an article below.
http://semiaccurate.com/2012/11/14/microsoft-has-failed/

@19 Oh, also, pro-tip … The new Windows 8 UI relies on hardware in a way that it hasn’t in the past. Don’t use the mouse to get to the Start Screen, hit the Start Key. Don’t use the mouse to get to the Settings bar, hit Windows+I.

But hell, don’t use the software to shut down at all. Hit the power button. I’m not kidding. On every machine from about … 10 years ago now, the power button does not just turn off the machine. It actually sends a signal to the OS to begin the shutdown process.

By default, it goes into some kind of crazy low power sleep mode. Your machine appears to power off, turns off all LEDs and fans, but when you hit the power button again, it flicks on in about 2 seconds with no POST.

So it’s not OFF off, but it’s off. Haven’t quite figured that one out yet, but damn if it doesn’t work great. It’s awesome to hit the power button on your machine and have it “boot up” instantly.

People still using mouse with their PCs? Wow.

@20 Thanks for the tip – it’s not really too late, well not in any other sense that I am already negatively biased towards it now.
But yeah, that’s the point really. Being so bad at communicating, that I gave up on finding the clean-install version…
1) I’ve been piecing together the last 5 PC’s I’ve had, so I have never had an OEM Windows, except for my laptops
2) Running Windows 8 in a VM, really isn’t that far-fetched. Do they expect me to do a clean Windows 7 install BEFORE I can install Windows 8? That’s intuitive…

@22 Yeah it’s amazing man! I had to google the thing you described, and apparently there’s these things called “shortcuts” which magically does something based on a key combination. This is quite a discovery!
Seriously though – I’m all for shortcuts and all; I’d even go out on a leg here, and say that I use quite a bit more shortcuts than the average user. But this is just a strange decision, forcing the user to rely on shortcuts you do not get presented or am able to look up.

Screw 8! No Start menu, no Aero and Metro doesn’t work on PCs. I’ll stick with 7. And as soon as Gabe and friends start doing something cool for Linux I’m switching to that. I never knew that Ubuntu is so easy to use.

This rumor is days old.

@24 It’s strange to hear this sass from someone who just wrote “since there’s no logical way to access the Metro UI from the desktop” when there is a dedicated hardware key with a giant icon on it for just that. A dedicated hardware key that has been there for approximately fifteen years.

I mean, it’s just, I would expect less sass, Mr Sassmouth.

This isn’t vista all over again is it?

I want Vista back so Ican get back to ROME: Total War!

@28 This happens almost on clockwork since Microsoft’s inception.

Bad OS.
Great OS.
Bad OS.
Great OS.

People saying that anything you can install in windows 7 installs in windows 8 is technically true… but it doesn’t mean it’ll work

With the whole steam hating it is because it’s a first step. The idea is that Metro will one day be the only form of the OS (maybe in 9) and the only way to be a metro tile UI is to be from windows store… which requires certification and vague, arbitrary rules. Basically, steam are rightly worried that one day MS wont just make it hard for them to compete, they’ll cut them off entirely.

This is not Vista. Vista was broken as F-bomb.

Windows 8 is Windows 7.5 with new UI and App store. It’s not bad, it’s not great or good or meh. It’s Okay.

There is no Direct X12 or something completely new that pushes PC hardware to it’s limits but at the same time it works and it’s not power hungry compared to Windows 7. Not all of the programs work correctly for now. It’s decent.

but I will stay on Windows 7 until Microsoft will release Direct X12 for something.

@7 Except touch screen devices use Windows RT, not proper Windows 8.

PC is not going the way of touch-screen monitors. That’s what tablets are for (hello to my Nexus 7).

They’ve put a tablet OS on desktop and it’s failing miserably.

Microsoft are a failure of a company. They pretty much own PC’s, yet have failed to capitalize on all of those users.

All they had to do was create an “MS App Store” application where people could upload any app they wanted. MS would’ve made billions by now doing this over the last 10 years. Now, when they eventually do it, it’s on lockdown and every app has to be certified. They’re idiots.

Great!! I hope it continues to be slow, as it might give MS a freaking clue that consumers like choices, and taking away the start menu and saying you cant have it was a bad idea. Seriously, I have Windows 8 as I have new PC and i got it for the $15 download, but I never use it. The machine is dual booted with Windows 8/Windows 7 and I always use Windows 7.

If they would have allowed the start menu as an option, I would have made that my primary OS, but since I don’t have a large touchscreen monitor, the lack of a start menu turns me off greatly.

@33:

There are loads of Win8 Pro tablets. Just look. At the ASUS TAICHI, for example. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/laptop/3407948/asus-taichi-ultrabook-hands-on-review/

You can also expect just about every new monitor made in 2013 to be touch, as well.

Like it or not, the future of the desktop is an all-in-one touch screen, anyway.

The OS itself isn’t the issue, IMO, it’s the direction that Microsoft’s headed. When you close the doors, it’ll be hard to get in. That’s the issue. Not the lack of start menu or adding metro. I’m very confident at its core Win 8 is not what Vista was, a train wreck when first it was out. Firstly, Microsoft released Win 8 for the market that wasn’t in need of a new OS, then they went to build up new policies, closing the platform. It’s not something they hoped to achieve with Win 8, but it was certainly the foundation, the shape of things to come. Honestly, I for one didn’t need a new OS, I was more than happy with 7.

Though Win 8 still can have a great competition in Smartphone/tablet market. Had a hands on a few Asus win 8 devices and they were impressive, although we were shown a faulty sample of Taichi. But the concept is great.

Windows 8 has sold poorly because of:

Unpopular design features,
More restrictive access to OS,
Stupid Microsoft Shop for apps,
The color scheme is just… hideous!,

It is not an upgrade, they should have kept the old start menu and task bar for desktop and pushed this Metro UI for tablets and mobile. Making a better experience for all. I have used W8 since RTM and beta’s in VM and its terrible for desktop use. Most desktop PC’s use mouse and keyboard not a touchscreen. Touchscreen works much better with tablets and smartphones. Microsoft missed out massively on this iteration of W8. They heard all the negative feedback from industry analysts and still they released a crappy OS with nothing new to offer other than an extremely poor UI redesign. They should of looked at the feedback and held back the release date to make vital changes to please their customers. Instead they ignored people’s views, ideas, and complaints and released the worst OS since Windows Millennium!!

#35 G1gahurtz said, ”
You can also expect just about every new monitor made in 2013 to be touch, as well.

Like it or not, the future of the desktop is an all-in-one touch screen, anyway.”

Can you please tell me where you purchase your crystal balls? I would like to buy a pair as well. Thank you.

I have no problem whatsoever believing that all of your brainpower could easily be expressed through your index finger. For me, however, its just not possible. Why don’t you go out and buy yourself a nice new tablet and you won’t have to be bothered anymore with such silly archaic input devices like keyboards and mice.

@ #38 Well said my friend. I like to express Microsofts attitude towards the traditional desktop user in Windows 8 by simply saying that, “they gave us all the middle finger.” And now were giving it back .!..

I am boycotting Windows 8. I didn’t install the consumer preview and may lightning strike me down if I ever go against my natural instincts and actually purchase and install Windows 8.

The least I can do is refrain from the Windows 8 catastrophe in protest until at the very least, the next version of Windows is released, which includes an interface that realizes that desktops and tablets are not equals.

^ You’re clearly some sort of PC newb, who doesn’t seem to understand that an all in one also uses a keyboard and mouse.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-mac-desktops/dell-xps-one-27-touch-1093908/review

Either that, or you’re just in some sort of geek inspired denial that people would actually want new and improved technology in the future.

Face it. It’s obvious that the desktop unit will almost certainly end up like the motor enthusiast’s classic car, unwanted by the vast majority, once all in one’s become a bit cheaper.

I don’t know why so many people are up in arms about W8, took me less than 5 mins to learn all the new features without any assistance & as for the Microsoft store debacle- the only real problem there is about it is that it’s required for the premium looking tiles in the start screen.

@40 G1GAHURTZ,

“^ You’re clearly some sort of PC newb, who doesn’t seem to understand that an all in one also uses a keyboard and mouse.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-mac-desktops/dell-xps-one-27-touch-1093908/review”

You seriously didn’t think I already knew that you could still use a keyboard and mouse with Windows 8? LOL. Gee, that was so nice of Microsoft to leave that “old” and “archaic” technology in alongside the “new” and “improved” touch-screen interface technology.

“Face it. It’s obvious that the desktop unit will almost certainly end up like the motor enthusiast’s classic car, unwanted by the vast majority, once all in one’s become a bit cheaper.”

LOL. The only thing that’s obvious is that you don’t use a desktop computer for anything but gaming and watching YouTube videos. If you did, you would have the common sense to realize that “touch” interfaces are good for nothing but the simplest of computer tasks and desktops will never be replaced. They are simply one of the most productive means of computing on planet earth. A keyboard and mouse combination are one of the most powerful user input device combinations on planet earth. A touch interface is simply an enhancement to these superior input devices. Anyone who thinks a “touch” interface is a “replacement” for them needs to get some therapy.

Please, if you don’t get help at Charter, get help somewhere.

P.S. You still haven’t told me where you purchase your crystal balls. I am dying to know.

@40 “Face it. It’s obvious that the desktop unit will almost certainly end up like the motor enthusiast’s classic car, unwanted by the vast majority, once all in one’s become a bit cheaper.”

And that’s why an OS that attempts to slot a touch UI on top of a dedicated PC platform basically ended up flopping.

Tablets are awesome. Mobile devices are cool. Laptops are convenient and useful. But claiming that the desktop is going the way of the dodo is pretty hilarious. PC gaming is absolutely gigantic.

http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Kris/complete.png

@42: Are you serious?

You seem to be having a conversation all by yourself.

Where did I ever say, or even come close to implying that touch screen controls would replace a m/kb?

Stop being so hypersensitive and paranoid.

Yes, a touch screen is an “enhancement” (See, unlike you, I can actually use quotation marks to quote what you actually said, rather than words that you never even typed.) to a m/kb. I never suggested anything different. It’s clear to anyone who’s ever used one on a daily basis, unlike some caveman type characature, such as you’re coming across as, who is petrified of change, that using all three types of input can speed up workflow by huge amounts.

For instance, I can own a Win8 Pro tablet, dock it at work on a full size monitor, with m/kb, then undock it, keep working on my commute home, with full touch screen controls, and even dock it again at home if I need to.

If you work in an office on a daily basis, I can almost guarantee you, without ever seeing your monitor, that your screen is covered in smudge marks and fingerprints. Why? Because people have been touching screens for years, without even being able to select/move things around, etc, but now they can.

Not only that, but there are literally millions upon millions of non-tech minded people who struggle to even use a mouse. Just watch a newb try and do something basic like put the cursor over a link, and see how long it takes them.

Here is a classic clip, that while obviously not real, is clearly based on real things that non-tech minded people do: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIFbCj5ndI

The future, if tech companies want to reach previously unattainable markets, is clearly on a touch screen device.

Now, I’m not saying that this means the death of the m/kb. Not by any means. But saying that touch screen technology is somehow bad is so illogical and irrational, that the only one around here who should be seeking professional help, is clearly you.

A combination of touch, m/kb, stylus, trackball, gamepad, motion control, etc, is what makes PCs so accessible.

You can still use Win8 with any of the above.

It’s not some sort of conspiracy to dumb the world down, such as you seem to be implying.

Stop being so afraid of progress.

@43:

You’ve clearly missed the point.

An all-in-one is a desktop PC without the case.

I’m specifically referring to form factor, here. Why would the mass market want a huge brick to try and hide, when they can have all of their PC innards inside the screen?

On top of that, you can play Minecraft, The Sims, WoW, etc, on just about any all-in-one, these days.

The only people who have something to worry about are the tiny, tiny minority of hardcore graphics whores.

@45 So a desktop without the box, basically?

Didn’t Apple do that with one of their Macs?

Yes.

Yes, they did. http://www.apple.com/uk/imac/

And?

@47 I’m saying, that’s still a desktop. People *want* a powerful machine in front of their desk / TV that can play the most recent games or run the most decent hardware.

Tablets and such are undeniably great for the casual consumer, but there’s an absolutely huge market of gamers, artists, designers, programmers, etc. that will always want (and *need*) a desktop.

@45 G1GAHURTZ,

You sound like a person who doesn’t really like dealing with pesky things that get in the way of your arguments like facts so you start throwing out lame arguments like, “What…you don’t love Windows 8 like I do? You must be a caveman who is afraid of change.” Seriously, this is the best you can do to convince me to go out and buy Windows 8? Child psychology? LOL.

Yes, you know me better than myself. The reason I won’t upgrade to Windows 8 over Windows 7, is that I am afraid of change. This flawed mentality is the reason so many people voted for Barrack Obama in his first run for Presidency. Spewing bullshit about racism instead of actually looking at what the man stands for. Tricked a lot of white people into voting for him. They had to prove they weren’t racist after all, right? Can’t have anyone thinking I am racist.

Can’t have anybody telling me I am afraid of change, can I? Well dammit then, Im off to buy Windows 8. It doesn’t matter at all that Windows 8 primary user input method was focused on “touch-screen” technology over the superior keyboard and mouse. I’ll show everybody I am not afraid of change dammit. Downloading Windows 8 NOW…….uh, NOT! LOL.

Lame…..

I’m a computer graphics artist by trade (but not currently by profession), and this is the PC that I use: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/laptops/368896/dell-xps-15z

I don’t need a big lump sitting somewhere, taking up space. Neither does any serious programmer.

The only people who ‘do’, are hardcore gamers, and that’s exactly where my classic car enthusiast analogy fits in.

The vast majority of PC users these days are Facebook users, and Tweeters. The hardcore are a tiny minority that wrongly consider themselves more important to PC sales than they actually are.

@49:

I’ve never tried to “convince” you to buy anything.

You need help.