One last comment, before I move on to the next forum to bash Windows 8.
Whether or not we like Windows 8, it's certainly divided the PC coummunity and Windows user base. What is that they say...divide and conquer?
Source: Windows 8 sales 'well below' expectations
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Tipster says sales of Microsoft's new operating system come up short, with blame placed on PC manufacturers.
Windows 8 is off to a slow start. That's according to a "trusted source at Microsoft" who told Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows that sales of the new operating system are "well below Microsoft's internal projections" and have even been spoken of as "disappointing."
This mystery source said Microsoft is placing the blame on PC makers, noting that the shortcomings are due to an "inability to deliver" on their behalf. Microsoft recently began competing with its partners by launching its proprietary Surface tablet line.
Microsoft has officially sold 4 million copies of Windows 8, with Surface sales described as "modest." Last week, longtime Microsoft executive and Windows president Steven Sinofsky left the company after 23 years.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
532 comments
How can you have a "trusted source" at Microsoft? That is a misnomer. PC sales are down because Joe Average is buying tablets for casual use, rather than PCs. It's got nothing to do with Microsoft, PC manufactures or Windows. Itb doesn't mean the death of the PC, just a decrease in its popularity as mobile devices take a portion of that market.
That said, Windows 8 isn't exactly helping matters right now...
1 Like I love how MS blames hardware manufacturers, not their shitty tablet-that-doesn't-work-on-a-desktop UI for the disappointing sales. Nope, it's not the crap Metro thing that people don't want, obviously the PC manufacturers (that have nothing to do with developing Windows) are to blame, because...
(crickets chirp)
You clearly don't understand the business if you think PC manufacturers have nothing to do with the success of an OS.
You clearly haven't used Windows 8, because your statements are ludicrous to anyone who has. It takes ONE CLICK to get from the Start Page (the Modern UI that replaced the functions of the Start Button) to the traditional desktop.
I advise anyone on the fence to upgrade while it is cheap. 8 takes a little getting used to, but is the fastest, safest Windows yet and just as easy (if not easier) to navigate once you get used to the Start Menu change.
I love windows 8 on a tablet and even when using a mouse, but using a touch pad on a laptop is awful. Its clunky and when doing gestures, it doesn't always respond as one would like. Still Windows 8 doesn't hold a torch to Windows 7 on a laptop. MS has some work to do with Blue coming out next year.
1 Like @stonefang oh god - more upgrades. steve ballmer is a total cars sales man and he should stick to selling those instead of tampering with operating systems.
i have a windows 7 desktop. and that is awesome. think might get a windows 8 laptop to replace the vista one i have at some point. i have windows phone 7 and that is awesome so i look forward to getting windows phone 8., i have to say 4 million might be below there expectations but it is a good figure. the people hating on the os i will just take with a pitch of salt because i know they have not really used windows 8 or are the type of people that want to put down anything microsoft.
People can talk all they want..... windows 8 has issues yeah but it is so much better then osx that it is not even funny. I use a macbook pro and windows 8 blows it out of the water.
Like comparing windows 8 and 7 is wow. It takes a bit getting used too but it is so much faster and overall better its not even funny. For a desktop you either go and learn linux or you go with windows 8. For laptops i always thought nothing could ever be better then osx but windows 8 is amazing.
Phones / tablets i have no idea i use a android but will have to see how windows 8 looks on a phone so can't comment on that. But for desktop / laptop windows 8 is amazing.
2 Like Glad to see this tanking. Microsoft has nobody to blame here but themselves and their own arrogance. Perhaps they shouldn't have forced a completely new UI down people's throats instead of giving us options like with Media Center / Windows Media Player.
I'm sorry, but no OS should have freaking ads (no matter how unobtrusive) shoved in your face when you go to use apps that came with the OS you just paid for. Not to mention that big brother MS can now delete any app you buy from the store for whatever reason. Hell, that last bit alone is enough to make me and many others avoid it like the plague.
1 Like It's hilarious you would think that W8 is selling like hot pockets with how much they've spent on advertising (probably more than they paid to develop this PoS) Regardless Ubuntu, Gnome, KDE, Apple, and Android/Google are all doing the same thing that M$ is trying to do in MUCH better ways than the W8 approach. Trying to unify, the phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and TV interfaces to match. Honestly have to say that I don't like this idea personally myself because I'd rather have specialized OS's for each device tailored specifically to the device, however I understand the purpose behind it.
But W8 is by far the worst incarnation of this attempt, by a long shot. Well hey Netflix works on Linux now, Lightworks is in Alpha for Linux, Openshot is a real alternative to Windows Movie Maker, GIMP can now do everything that Photoshop can do, the Unity 4.0 game engine is now on Linux, tons of Kickstarter games are being developed for Linux, WINE has been updated 50 times over in the last year, Steam's already out in Beta, and Blizzard already has in-house Linux clients for all there games just waiting for a release perhaps? It's a good time to be a Linux user. :]
It's a very good time for Linux users since Steam released it's beta version for Linux, and since Unity 3D game engine made it possible to export to Linux. Ubuntu is struggling a bit, which is a pity.
I'm interested in how GIMP can do everything Photoshop can do (not trolling, serious question) because last time I tried it about a month ago it was like banging rocks together to make fire compared to Photoshop's flamethrower.
1 Like This seems no different than any other OS upgrade. People will be afraid to try something new and spew out propaganda they "heard" on the net.
It reminds of the state farm commercial where the girl states:
-"They can't put anything on the Internet that isn't true."
-Guy asks, "Where'd you read that?"
-Girl says, "On the Internet",
and then goes off to meet her "french model" she met on the internet.
The OS works fine with keyboard and mouse and is even easier to manage from a power user and support stand point. Many new features under the hood that speed it up and make it more secure as well. I can even open up apps faster in Windows 8 from metro or the desktop taskbar. Yes, you heard it, the desktop is still there and very usable. And...get this...you can use your Windows 7 applications and drivers as 99% of them are compatible. You have a start screen instead of a start button. Live Tiles are a quick and easy way to get info and then off to the desktop to be productive or game. :)
I wonder how many people use smart phones and install apps...but then have a problem with it when you have a similar process done on a computer, a computer that still has a fully functional desktop.
Another difference is that it's a step towards deprecating the desktop, desktop apps and the desktop API, in favour of the new Metro, which is a closed and governed Microsoft store...
1 Like The difference is that things that work well with a touch interface don't necessarily work well with a mouse. I tried Win8 and could not stand it, went back to 7 (with the taskbar tweaked to function like Vista's instead of that pinning crap) and am a thousand times happier.
1 Like well maybe if MS didnt make the whole OS out of effin buttons, theyd get better sales. W8 is designed to be a tablet OS.
1 Like I think its great. starts up and shuts down in a flash compared to win7. navigating takes a little bit of getting used to, however.The start screen is just like your start button, it's just laid out completely differently. It's laid out for touch. Shame my lappy isn't a touchscreen. I dunno how anyone could think that it doesn't have as much support for games...if it runs on win7, it'll l run on win8. Anyway, people have hated MS for years now, why would they suddenly change their minds.what's that saying those young people use..'haters gonna hate'?
Well that's it then. It must be better because it starts up and shuts down faster. Where's the shut down button, by the way? I never hated MS, and couldn't undertsand why many people who did, until the release of Windows 8.
2 Like Good. I hope it flops worse than Vista. Maybe then Microsoft will wake the hell up and stop trying to strangle control of their OS away from developers and consumers.
People just don't like the new interface. There are lots of things about it many people just don't like or want despite how much some may praise it.
1 Like The first thing I did when I saw Steam for Linux Beta is applying and changing to Linux as fast I could. Steam pointed the feature of gaming and I am grateful that it did.
@Savoritias Steam being on Linux doesn't make more games open for Linux. Just like they moved onto Mac a few years back but there is still a very limited number of games there too. It will take a couple years before it can be used as a main source of gaming.
As far as gaming goes Windows is a must whether we like it or not.
Unity 3D have released version 4 of their exceptional game engine which now allows export to Linux. Making a game for Linux is easy - it's no more complicated than doing if for any other platform.
When released, Steam for Mac had 50 games. The number is now several 1000. It's increasing.
Anything that competes with Windows is healthy in my opinion, because it offers people a choice and choice keeps Microsoft in check.
@Toysoldier34 @Savoritias EA has already told that Origin will move to Linux. Valve will move too and leave from feature windows versions. Blizzard and Activision are about to do the same. At last are starting to lose computers. Now it is in the hand of people what they will choose.
@Savoritias I have nothing against Linux, but despite the services being there that doesn't make more games. Steam and Origin can be on there but it won't mean much until they add much more to the library. Currently is is mostly a handful of indie titles and not many big titles, even on Mac.
I don't get it. Why should PC makers promote one OS over another, besides whatever is popular with customers and helps them to sell more PCs?
Oh, yeah! Start your gloating, Windows 8 haters, this is your lucky day :P. I don't like what I've heard about Windows 8, but I don't care what happens to it. I bought a computer 1 ½ years ago that has Windows 7 and enough juice to run 2 year old games. That plus my backlog of games (hello 2004!) I'm sure I won't want to upgrade until Windows 9 has been released.
For anyone out there using Windows 8 you can use Start8 (By Stardock) to restore the original start menu, just an FYI to those who like me are too adjusted to the start menu to make such a radical adjustment.
As a developer I don't see the closed side of Windows 8, I am actually glad they introduced a store, now I have a secure trusted place to sell the desktop software I develop. I am not crazy about the new Metro UI, however I will admit that it has grown on me and I do like the fact that the profile/app settings are synced between both my desktop and laptop. As for all the comments about it being bad for gaming, I do not see that either, my steam account and all 100+ games that I have on it all work without any issues and most have better performance now than before.
In all honesty though unless you are looking for an ever so slight performance boost or you are a developer looking to sell some desktop software on the new market place you really have no reason to upgrade any time soon.
Re: Start menu.... In other words, do a lot of faffing around just to get Windows 8 almost functioning as good as Windows 7...lol.
Closed and governed app store is ok, but what if that beomes the only way of installing software in future versions? We don't want to lose the desktop API now do we?
3 Like @hirosaki01 The closed side of Windows is with their store and the terms and conditions....there is already a closed version from Windows 8 and looks like that is the plan...after reading their terms and conditions it feels like loosing our customer rights, they are even able to delete apps from your hard drive if they are against their policy.
2 Like Windows 8 is alright.
Windows 7 is great.
Expecting your install base to migrate to something when you've given them zero functional reason to do so is the issue.
I mean seriously, I have no idea why I'd migrate to 8. None, and I've looked into it a bit. There's just no upside at all.
@Richardthe3rd If your saying Windows 8 is alright but still have judgemental thoughts about it thats going against your statement. Which means you probably haven't tested the operating system out and gave it the time of day. Try to understand the plus sides with the apps and the performance that Windows 8 offers you.
1 Like I don't know, maybe it's because the interface is just plain horrible for PC users...
Seriously, I hear you can't even have multiple windows open! (thus, it should be renamed "Window")
I stumbled upon a pretty in depth look at it and its horrible UI here: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/windows-8.html
2 Like @LoganDaDestroya You can have multiple Windows open just not in the metro interface. There isn't much you can complain about until you try it yourself and i do definitely say you should check it out.
You can't have mulitple applications running in different Windows, like you can in Windows 7, because when running an app they go full screen.
@Jason210 I'm not talking about the apps and even if I were being fullscreen doesn't mean you can't multitask. If you have more the one app open you can either have it on the left or right side of the screen. Or if you really need to use the other app leave it open swipe to the left and open it. Most people who will be making better use of the Multitasking are people who will be using the desktop. It is what I use and still prefer to use and Windows 8 makes things faster and more enjoyable.
@DCeric @LoganDaDestroya i don't understand why most people here are complaining about how bad it looks / is without even trying it first.
Try it out at a store somewhere and spend some time with it and see for yourself its not that bad before you make judgements.
2 Like No start button, no desktop, impossible to administer, horrible enterprise support, and a giant clusterfuck of an interface = an OS no one wants. It seams that MS pushed this one out the door to have something to sell when Windows 7 was working just fine. just like Windows ME and Vista.
1 Like @dragonsama There is a desktop your speculating to much I would suggest trying the operating system about before making false lies about it.
1 Like @dragonsama You obviously haven't used it at all. Not only is there a desktop, but you spend MOST of your time there. The start button has been amplified into a massive, useful interface that with some customization, works much better than the original.
9 Like Windows 8 is a complete failure because of it's ugly, confusing, mouse unfriendly interface and for its "app store" pushing towards a more closed platform. They're deluded if they think it's anyones fault but their own.
Also Start Button.
Installed windows 8 in 10 mins and uninstalled in 2 mins (format) .I like windows 8 but it will be useful when i have tablet or touchscreen.
8 Like You know why we've used mice and keyboards for so god damn long?BECAUSE THEY WORK REALLY ****ING WELL.
/nerdrage
Sorry about that.
@Falru I like this statement you know why cause you can still use a mouse and keyboard with Windows 8 there is no difference between having a touchpad or using it on a PC.
@Falru When MS first delivered Windows 1 they got stung by 'critics' complaining that mice were a waste of time and that no-one will adopt it....
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/18/creating-the-windows-8-user-experience.aspx
?Mice are nice ideas, but of dubious value for business users? (George Vinall, PC Week, April 24, 1984)
?There is no evidence that people want to use these things.? (John C. Dvorak, San Francisco Examiner, February 19, 1984)?I was having lots of fun, but in the back of my corporate mind, I couldn't help but think about productivity.? (George Vinall, PC Week, April 24, 1984)
?Does the mouse make the computer more accessible, more friendly, to certain target audiences such as executives? The answer is no.? (Computerworld, October 31, 1983)
?There is no possibility that this device will feel more comfortable to the executive than the keyboard. Because of its ?rollability,? the mouse has the aura of a gimmick?? (Computerworld, October 31, 1983)
?The mouse and its friends are merely diversions in this process. What sounds revolutionary does not necessarily help anyone with anything, and therein lies the true test of commercial longevity.? (David A. Kay, Datamation, October 1983)
Look where we are now...
The mouse offered and continues to offer an advantage over the keyboard in certain applications, but it never replaced the keyboard. I'm sure the same will be true of the touch feature and touch screens. They are useful in certain applications, but so are the mouse and keyboard...
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