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Windows 8 passes 200 million license sales

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GK86

Homeland Security Fail
Link.

Microsoft has been rather quiet about its risky Windows 8 bet. The company passed 100 million license sales of Windows 8 after around six months, but a year on the market came and went without any real update on its progress. "We’ve surpassed 200 million licenses now on Windows 8, which is pretty stunning," says Microsoft’s Tami Reller, speaking at a Goldman Sachs technology conference today. After a year of Windows 7 sales Microsoft was celebrating more than 240 million licenses, so it’s clear Windows 8 is moving slower than its predecessor.

Part of the slowdown is related to the general PC market, but Microsoft’s tablets haven’t caught on as well as the company might have hoped. Tablet- and touch-optimized apps are few and far between, but Reller says it’s one of Microsoft’s top priorities. "The number one priority of our developer team is to really get those apps populated," explains Reller. "We’ve had some good success, but more to do."

Microsoft is also reacting to growing concerns over Windows 8 and its use on traditional desktop PCs. "We’re being very thoughtful about what’s going well, what’s not going well and how do we change that," says Reller. Microsoft isn’t ready to talk Windows 8.1 Update 1, but recent leaks have shown that the company is focusing on reducing the operating system’s disk usage, and adjusting its UI for mouse and keyboard users. "We will make material movement on just the footprint of the OS and what that can mean on how we can run on smaller devices," says Reller, referring to Microsoft’s future Windows plans. Microsoft is expected to ship its next Windows 8.1 update in April, as it continues to strike a balance for its millions of users.
 

captive

Joe Six-Pack: posting for the common man
Link.



For once, can we keep the Win 8 hate out of the thread? It becomes tiresome.

yea, good luck with that.


We use Windows 8/8.1 where I am at now, its not bad. It's definitely quicker and uses less resources than 7.
 

ymmv

Banned
It comes on 98% of the PC's out there, so these numbers really never mean much of anything....

Especially when most businesses buy Windows 8 licenses and then install Windows 7 on all PCs when they're migrating from XP.
 

StudioTan

Hold on, friend! I'd love to share with you some swell news about the Windows 8 Metro UI! Wait, where are you going?
Especially when most businesses buy Windows 8 licenses and then install Windows 7 on all PCs when they're migrating from XP.

Most businesses do that? I'd love to see the data to support that claim.
 

Gannd

Banned
Here is a crazy thought, how about the topic at hand?

what is the point of the topic at hand? That Windows 8 is seeing a much lower adoption rate than Windows 7? That consumers and enterprise were excited by Windows 7 and are not excited by Windows 8?
 
What else is there to talk about in a thread like this?

"Congratulations, Microsoft!"x89023689023

Maybe about how these numbers will affect the future iterations of the OS and if the functionality and UI changes are wholy to blame for the decrease in licenses, but maybe that will be far too offtopic

Back on topic "Microshit 8 sucks balls, no start menu? LOLOLOL"
 

captive

Joe Six-Pack: posting for the common man
Most businesses do that? I'd love to see the data to support that claim.

I dont think you're going to find data, but it is accurate from my anecdotal experience.

When vista was out, the company I was at we would reimage them to XP. We didnt migrate to 7 until 2011.

December 2013, I turned down a job at a consulting company who had just won a giant contract from a major oil and gas company to do their migration from XP to windows 7.

I think the only reason companies are finally migrating to Windows 7 now is because Microsoft is like: no really, we mean it this time, we're REALLY cutting support for XP, this time.
 

GK86

Homeland Security Fail
what is the point of the topic at hand? That Windows 8 is seeing a much lower adoption rate than Windows 7? That consumers and enterprise were excited by Windows 7 and are not excited by Windows 8?

All better topics then having posters just post "Win 8 suck!", "I would never upgrade to that POS OS", "It is stupid I have to buy a start menu." etc. That is what I was referring too.
 

StudioTan

Hold on, friend! I'd love to share with you some swell news about the Windows 8 Metro UI! Wait, where are you going?
I dont think you're going to find data, but it is accurate from my anecdotal experience.

When vista was out, the company I was at we would reimage them to XP. We didnt migrate to 7 until 2011.

December 2013, I turned down a job at a consulting company who had just won a giant contract from a major oil and gas company to do their migration from XP to windows 7.

I think the only reason companies are finally migrating to Windows 7 now is because Microsoft is like: no really, we mean it this time, we're REALLY cutting support for XP, this time.

So they bought Windows 8 and installed 7?
 

Windu

never heard about the cat, apparently
here is what has leaked so far about the next update for windows, should hit sometime this spring:


  • Title Bar for Metro apps when moving mouse to top. Minimize/Close in top right, right click menu in top left with close/minimize and snap/split options.
  • Pin metro apps to the taskbar, shows preview window, media controls, jumplists like desktop apps.
  • View currently running metro apps on the taskbar
  • Mouse down to the bottom when in a metro app and the taskbar will appear.
  • Search and Power button on Start Screen near profile image.
  • Mouse right click menus in metro bring up classic right click type menu instead of bar at the top/bottom. touch still the same.
  • Desktop Control Panel link in Metro Settings
  • Disk space utility for metro apps in metro settings (Apps, Media and Files, Recycle Bin)
  • "(#) new apps installed" notification on start screen near the arrow icon in the bottom left. Clicking it will apparently sort the apps screen by recently installed apps.
  • Show more apps option on app screen for large displays.
  • Apps Screen updated to make it like Windows Phone, click on a letter and it will bring up that view of all the letters and sub-sections.
  • Skydrive system tray icon is back (skydrive re-named to onedrive)
I believe it does. I might be going crazy, but I remember there was data breaking down the tablet installs.
oh, well it won't be that big of a number. And i think these numbers usually don't count volume license customers too. /shrug. I think the last i saw as far as the actual usage share goes it was something like 10% of the PC market. Windows 8.x that is.
 

ymmv

Banned
Most businesses do that? I'd love to see the data to support that claim.

Anecodatal evidence: this is how we've always done it at work. All our HP desktop PCs used to come with Vista or Windows 7 preloaded, the IT department put XP on it since that was the company standard. Nowadays new HP desktops come with Windows 8 and we put Windows 7 SP1 on those.

I bet this is very, very common.
 

captive

Joe Six-Pack: posting for the common man
So they bought Windows 8 and installed 7?

It doesnt really work that way. The majority of companies (every company I have been at) has a MS Enterprise Agreement and Volume Licenses, which entitles you to pretty much all MS products, at least as a trial.

When we buy bulk computers from Dell or HP, with an OEM OS license, but these licenses never get activated because the company will use, or should be using their license keys from the Volume License center.

I have yet to work at a company that didnt re-image the computers with whatever image they had. Even if it had XP on it already, they put XP on it.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
Link.

For once, can we keep the Win 8 hate out of the thread? It becomes tiresome.

You started a thread about Windows 8 sales. Presumably the point of the thread is to discuss Windows 8 sales, which means discussing Windows 8's level of success.

That will lead to a discussion about OEM trends in Windows 8 adoption. OEMs are shy on Windows 8 for three reasons. One is that they are getting poor feedback from users. One is that the expected uptick in touch laptop sales has not materialized. One is that OEMs are suffering from thin profit margins and commoditization and Windows' license fee keeps prices up, which is causing OEMs to focus attention away from laptops and to tablets and mobile. It's also why you hear so much about Chromebooks despite no real consumer demand--the absence of an OS licensing fee is allowing prices to come down below the previous minimum price.

The second thing this will lead to a discussion about is direct-to-consumer sales. Presumably these direct-to-consumer sales reflect consumer's perceived valuation of Windows 8. In other words, whether or not consumers like the product. If one assumes that consumers like the product, it would be natural to explore why. If one assumes that consumers do not like the product, it would be natural to explore why not.

So tell me--what is the purpose of the thread if "Win 8 hate" isn't allowed? Clearly you must recognize that broader consumer perception of Windows 8, whether fair or not, affects and impacts sales and reception. I agree that people should enter a discussion thread just to say "lol this fucken sucks ownt" or whatever, as with any other thread. But part of discussing a product that is not performing to expectations is reflecting on why, and with Windows 8 there's a pretty strong narrative that I don't think it makes sense to ignore.
 

params7

Banned
Organizations will stick with Win 7 until Win 9. Win8 will be at best adopted by home users, simply because MS does not retail Win 7 any longer.

Win 8 isn't bad, now with the start menu. That metro interface should be hidden far behind though, I want to see a way to completely disable it.
 

JaggedSac

Member
It doesnt really work that way. The majority of companies (every company I have been at) has a MS Enterprise Agreement and Volume Licenses, which entitles you to pretty much all MS products, at least as a trial.

When we buy bulk computers from Dell or HP, with an OEM OS license, but these licenses never get activated because the company will use, or should be using their license keys from the Volume License center.

I have yet to work at a company that didnt re-image the computers with whatever image they had. Even if it had XP on it already, they put XP on it.

You buy bulk computers that have OS licenses? So MS is getting double dipped?
 

Jb

Member
I specifically asked if I could get 7 on my new laptop but for now I've had to endure 8 and holy shit, what the fuck were they thinking. I mean I know what they were thinking, but I sure am glad they've taken such a beating for how unintuitive and ugly it is.
 

GK86

Homeland Security Fail
You started a thread about Windows 8 sales. Presumably the point of the thread is to discuss Windows 8 sales, which means discussing Windows 8's level of success.

That will lead to a discussion about OEM trends in Windows 8 adoption. OEMs are shy on Windows 8 for three reasons. One is that they are getting poor feedback from users. One is that the expected uptick in touch laptop sales has not materialized. One is that OEMs are suffering from thin profit margins and commoditization and Windows' license fee keeps prices up, which is causing OEMs to focus attention away from laptops and to tablets and mobile. It's also why you hear so much about Chromebooks despite no real consumer demand--the absence of an OS licensing fee is allowing prices to come down below the previous minimum price.

The second thing this will lead to a discussion about is direct-to-consumer sales. Presumably these direct-to-consumer sales reflect consumer's perceived valuation of Windows 8. In other words, whether or not consumers like the product. If one assumes that consumers like the product, it would be natural to explore why. If one assumes that consumers do not like the product, it would be natural to explore why not.

So tell me--what is the purpose of the thread if "Win 8 hate" isn't allowed? Clearly you must recognize that broader consumer perception of Windows 8, whether fair or not, affects and impacts sales and reception. I agree that people should enter a discussion thread just to say "lol this fucken sucks ownt" or whatever, as with any other thread. But part of discussing a product that is not performing to expectations is reflecting on why, and with Windows 8 there's a pretty strong narrative that I don't think it makes sense to ignore.

Come on man, this is what I was getting it.
 

captive

Joe Six-Pack: posting for the common man
You buy bulk computers that have OS licenses? So MS is getting double dipped?

I dont do purhasing anymore, but when we did XP machines they would always come with a stupid disc and CD key, we never used them. So maybe they've changed it with 7 or 8. Trying to keep up with licensing and MS is almost a full time job by itself.
 

ymmv

Banned
It doesnt really work that way. The majority of companies (every company I have been at) has a MS Enterprise Agreement and Volume Licenses, which entitles you to pretty much all MS products, at least as a trial.

When we buy bulk computers from Dell or HP, with an OEM OS license, but these licenses never get activated because the company will use, or should be using their license keys from the Volume License center.

Yep. This is how we do it too.
 

ymmv

Banned
I dont do purhasing anymore, but when we did XP machines they would always come with a stupid disc and CD key, we never used them. So maybe they've changed it with 7 or 8. Trying to keep up with licensing and MS is almost a full time job by itself.

It was even worse before Windows came on CDs. We used to get tons of useless 3.5" disks with every PC.
 

Hip Hop

Member
Love it. Bought a key myself after building my gaming PC.

Couldn't go back to Windows 7 at all when I installed it again.

Desktop by the way and metro works great. So much easier/faster to use than 7 for me after getting used to it.
 

tbm24

Member
It doesnt really work that way. The majority of companies (every company I have been at) has a MS Enterprise Agreement and Volume Licenses, which entitles you to pretty much all MS products, at least as a trial.

When we buy bulk computers from Dell or HP, with an OEM OS license, but these licenses never get activated because the company will use, or should be using their license keys from the Volume License center.

I have yet to work at a company that didnt re-image the computers with whatever image they had. Even if it had XP on it already, they put XP on it.

That and the fact that, and I'm not sure if every company does this but I know all the ones I've worked at, including a university, have their images set up with all the essentials the computers need. Cuts out a bunch of time from having to manually install a bunch of programs on each individual computer. Just pop it out the box and network boot it.
 

Windu

never heard about the cat, apparently
That and the fact that, and I'm not sure if every company does this but I know all the ones I've worked at, including a university, have their images set up with all the essentials the computers need. Cuts out a bunch of time from having to manually install a bunch of programs on each individual computer. Just pop it out the box and network boot it.
yep that is what we do at my workplace. have a windows 7 image on the network and just get it from there.
 

2San

Member
My favorite OS of all time. I can't even begin to understand the hate.
Well of a friend of mine needed help to setup his new windows 8.1 laptop. The OS has some good idea's, but it's designed by idiots imo. You have for example skype that somehow directly connects with the windows account you logged and you can only change accounts if you change user on the OS level. The only way to sidetrack this, is by having on a local account. Setting up a local account was unwieldy as fuck. I had to look up a tutorial on how to do that. It's pretty unclear on how to get a local account on initial setup. Since skype is an app the damn thing is always full screen.

Then you have the other problem of options being in the control panel, but another set of options being hidden in the charm bar.

Also for some reason when you start up a browser in desktop mode it's different from the start menu since that's the broweser "app". So you have programs and apps, but you can have the same program as desktop program or as app. Or even worse a program only as app. It's a damn Frankenstein hack job.

It baffles me when someone says they don't understand the hate, I mean have you used it?

If you want a snappy OS just get windows 7 with a SSD.

Some positives: It is indeed significantly more snappy than windows 7 on a standard hdd. Formating is made really easy, so anyone can do it (it's not a real reformat, but it works well enough to make a full formate obsolete).
 

GK86

Homeland Security Fail
My favorite OS of all time. I can't even begin to understand the hate.

I like the OS, but I can understand the hate. Especially when it comes to finding the menus for the options/settings you are looking for. They did a better job with that in the 8.1 upgrade though.
 

Yoda

Member
As most have pointed out it is probably skewed from new machine sales. I imagine they are in full force trying to get 9 out as soon as possible.
 
I'm actually going to go ahead and claim that I liked the jump from Windows 8 from 7 than I did the jump from Vista to 7.

Vista to 7 was barely a change at all. Having used Vista for the last year leading up to 7, I found it hilarious that people were throwing parades that 7 was so amazing, because other than a few additions like Jump Lists Vista and 7 were virtually identical at that time. It was pretty much a marketing rebrand.

7 to 8 was huge. After a couple of changes to the default settings the experience was far smoother. It's got some really neat things, specifically the Task Manager has been completely overhauled and is WAY more informative in what your system is doing. Somme of the visualization is great too, like graphing the speed at which your system transfers files between drives/USB thumb drives, etc.

On a technical level it's also really impressive. The optimizations are unbelievable, especially when you pair it with an SSD. Considering how old the Windows OS is, I'm amazed they were able to optimize it this well. And they seem to have finally got rid of the "Windows + Time = sludgy as shit" problem. I haven't had to reinstall the Windows partition in my computer since I installed Windows 8. The bootup is blazing fast and I still haven't even upgraded to an SSD on my main machine. It jumps between traditional windows and the elaborate Metro stuff through snapping and shit blazingly fast. It must've been a bitch to code, but it works like a dream.

And some of the metro stuff is amazing. On my surface I don't use anything other than Metro IE, even when I'm operating in "desktop mode" (hook up a USB hub, mouse+keyboard+hook up to a 1080p display). It's by far, the best tablet internet browser. It spanks any browser on a mobile device, even chrome on iPad.

So yeah, I'm seriously impressed with W8, especially after 8.1. Anyone claiming it's "bad" in any way has no fucking clue what they're talking about.
 

Azih

Member
16% less ain't bad considering the traditional desktop/laptop is facing increased competition from tablet/phones.

Not surprised that MS is making a heavy push on tablets for 2014. I just bought an Asus T100TA transformer and I'm... very very happy with it in the day that I've used it.

The app situation is DIRE though, it's hilarious that the Skype Metro app is as bad as it is.

The real fight between Microsoft and Google is over which one can get consumers trapped in their respective cloud services. For me personally MS managed to get their One Drive hooks in me before Google could do the same with Google Drive
 

terrisus

Member
To be fair to Microsoft, considering the hype around Windows 7 when it came out - after everyone hating Vista and chomping at the bit to upgrade - reaching 200 million Windows 8 licenses when Windows 7 only had 40 million more during that time is pretty impressive.


ClassicShell is the only way I can stand using Windows 8. The default has such a horrible layout and options.
 

dalVlatko

Member
I didn't understand the hate for it until my dad got a windows 8 laptop and I had to help set it up for him.

It just makes no sense the way they set up full screen apps vs desktop.

If they treated the metro apps as a desktop program instead of treating the desktop as a metro app I'm sure there would have been far less complaints.
 

terrisus

Member
The bootup is blazing fast and I still haven't even upgraded to an SSD on my main machine.

People keep saying this, but, I'm sorry, it's simply not true.

Having had to go from a Windows 7 machine with a SSD boot drive to a Windows 8 machine with a traditional hard drive for boot has been downright painful. I simply can't stand it - not only in startup itself, but from the desktop loading to actually being able to do anything. It's horrible.

Sure, it may be faster than Windows 7 on a regular HD. But, people comparing it to using a SSD in any way, shape or form is just absurd.
 
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