Windows 8 inches up in desktop OS market

Windows 8 is slowly scratching its way up the OS food chain.
Microsoft's latest version of Windows took home 3.8 percent of all traffic captured by Web tracker Net Applications in April. That proved a small gain from its 3.2 percent share in March.
Starting with a 1.09 percent share in November, Windows 8 sliced out a 1.72 percent share in December. A 2.26 percent share in January helped it sneak past Mac OS X 10.8 to grab fourth place among all desktop operating systems. And February saw another small gain to 2.7 percent.
The stats also looked at both traditional PCs and touch-screen computers. Of the 3.8 percent share earned last month, Windows 8 touch-screen PCs accounted for 0.02 percent. Windows RT touch-screen computers were unable to register any blip at all on Net Applications' radar.

Windows 8 inches up in desktop OS market | Microsoft - CNET News


At this rate Windows 8 will be lucky to have 8% in the next 6 months.

 

[Coke Robot]

From what I've seen in past releases, it actually takes many months before people realize the benefits of the latest version. The year I saw the most vista/xp upgrades to 7 was actually in fall of 2010. I'm still expecting the very same thing to occur this fall. As the recent holidays saw some PCs with 8, and as well as people checking out the newer touch PCs with Windows 8 in store for a while, they will make their purchases later on. When the fall 2013 school season starts, there will be MORE touch and tablet PCs with Windows 8.1 and less expensive than they were last year.

And in turn, some people will be more likely to upgrade to Windows 8 on their older or current PCs once they realize the benefits of 8.

But then again, it seems like every Windows release takes a while for it to pick up momentum. Windows isn't like android or ios or some other rapidly picked up platform. On ios, you don't have 200-500+ gigs of user data to mitigate over, or reinstall several hundred dollars worth of software either.

 

[Ray8]

What is the actual point of RT? I've never fathomed that, given Windows 8 has the same functionality.

If Microsoft had wanted a leaner OS to extend battery life, simplify things or the like, why not design Windows 8 as a dual-mode OS and be able to switch between the two for when you want to work hard and when you want to play lean. I believe that one manufacturer actually offers a laptop that runs both Windows and Android for that very purpose.

So someone would have to go buy a 700 dollar x86 Windows 8 tablet PC just to check their email and internet browsing? Windows RT is better suited for that and less expensive currently. Problem is though, OEMs decided to make their RT tablets to be at least 600 dollars, hence why there wasn't a strong reason to go RT over full blown 8.

It seems 8.1 will change that though, with smaller 8 inch tablets with RT will be more effective in that arena.

That's not what I said.

My first point is that I don't understand the point of RT; but if it serves a purpose, fine.

My second point was the effective amalgamation of RT and 8, both visually and functionally, to a great extent seems meaningless and clearly confuses people (Google images of Windows 8 and RT and see if you can spot the difference). The point that I was trying to make was that in Windows 8, it would have been better to separate the 8 and RT visual and functional aspects, and provide the ability to toggle between the two, a desktop and whatever RT provides.

 

[Ray8]

Mr Robot - I've been using the final version of Windows 8 since Oct 2012. What are those mysterious benefits that you speak of?

 

[Coke Robot]

What is the actual point of RT? I've never fathomed that, given Windows 8 has the same functionality.

If Microsoft had wanted a leaner OS to extend battery life, simplify things or the like, why not design Windows 8 as a dual-mode OS and be able to switch between the two for when you want to work hard and when you want to play lean. I believe that one manufacturer actually offers a laptop that runs both Windows and Android for that very purpose.

So someone would have to go buy a 700 dollar x86 Windows 8 tablet PC just to check their email and internet browsing? Windows RT is better suited for that and less expensive currently. Problem is though, OEMs decided to make their RT tablets to be at least 600 dollars, hence why there wasn't a strong reason to go RT over full blown 8.

It seems 8.1 will change that though, with smaller 8 inch tablets with RT will be more effective in that arena.

That's not what I said.

My first point is that I don't understand the point of RT; but if it serves a purpose, fine.

My second point was the effective amalgamation of RT and 8, both visually and functionally, to a great extent seems meaningless and clearly confuses people (Google images of Windows 8 and RT and see if you can spot the difference). The point that I was trying to make was that in Windows 8, it would have been better to separate the 8 and RT visual and functional aspects, and provide the ability to toggle between the two, a desktop and whatever RT provides.

I know that's not what you said, but the point I'm making here is that you would be insinuating by your post that I or someone else would need to spend a lot for an x86 based tablet over RT for simple internet browsing.

I've interacted rather deeply with Windows RT and obviously 8, there aren't many differences other than feature set and capabilities. Should there be? On Windows RT, you will never need to be on the Desktop other than Office and File Explorer. The purpose of Windows RT isn't for the Desktop, it's for WinRT apps.

 

[Coke Robot]

Mr Robot - I've been using the final version of Windows 8 since Oct 2012. What are those mysterious benefits that you speak of?

Mr. Ray8, I clearly understand this is difficult for you to comprehend, but Windows 8 has been available for testing and daily using since September 2011. I've been using every version as my main OS, so this means I've used the Developer Preview as my main OS for that time until the Consumer Preview, which I've used as a main OS until the Release Preview, and then I used the Enterprise RTm trial as my main OS until I finally mitigated over to a new terabyte hard drive recently with Windows 8 Pro.

These benefits are obviously ones you don't care for, and I have no time to spend with you trying to state the facts of the pros of Windows 8.

 

[Ray8]

You're stating the bleeding obvious about RT, but I'm talking about something entirely different about 8. And what are those benefits?

 

[Coke Robot]

You're stating the bleeding obvious about RT, but I'm talking about something entirely different about 8.

Can you be more specific other than being vague as usual?

 

[sashlon]

As someone who actually owns an RT device, I'm going to point out, again, that its a very good mobile OS.

However, I so agree that Microsoft unnecessarily made their lives difficult by creating a separate OS that LOOKS the same. That was a mistake. There should have been more differentiation between 8 and RT. I think that the desktop is the problem. I almost never go there on my Surface. I think they should have developed Metro versions of the Office applications, File Explorer and Libraries and just dropped the desktop from RT completely.

That aside, I have found that the Surface RT more than holds its own against the competition.

 

[Ray8]

You're stating the bleeding obvious about RT, but I'm talking about something entirely different about 8.

Can you be more specific other than being vague as usual?

I was under the impression that English was your native language, but I'm now not so sure. I've twice now attempted to explain my view as to how Windows 8 would have better served people if the desktop and apps environment were separated. I know that would remove your beloved start screen, but so be it, it would clearly separate the two environments.

And you have time to repeatedly ask me to explain myself, but no time to answer a simple question? What are the benefits of Windows 8?

 

[Coke Robot]

As someone who actually owns an RT device, I'm going to point out, again, that its a very good mobile OS.

However, I so agree that Microsoft unnecessarily made their lives difficult by creating a separate OS that LOOKS the same. That was a mistake. There should have been more differentiation between 8 and RT. I think that the desktop is the problem. I almost never go there on my Surface. I think they should have developed Metro versions of the Office applications, File Explorer and Libraries and just dropped the desktop from RT completely.

That aside, I have found that the Surface RT more than holds its own against the competition.

Which oddly enough, that's what they're changing with Windows 8.1. They're cutting out the last Desktop UI bits that are needed in RT, other than Office which I would imagine slowly but surely that will be gone soon to be in the WinRT form.

Or just unpin the Desktop?...

 

[sashlon]

As someone who actually owns an RT device, I'm going to point out, again, that its a very good mobile OS.

However, I so agree that Microsoft unnecessarily made their lives difficult by creating a separate OS that LOOKS the same. That was a mistake. There should have been more differentiation between 8 and RT. I think that the desktop is the problem. I almost never go there on my Surface. I think they should have developed Metro versions of the Office applications, File Explorer and Libraries and just dropped the desktop from RT completely.

That aside, I have found that the Surface RT more than holds its own against the competition.

Which oddly enough, that's what they're changing with Windows 8.1. They're cutting out the last Desktop UI bits that are needed in RT, other than Office which I would imagine slowly but surely that will be gone soon to be in the WinRT form.

Or just unpin the Desktop?...

Yeah 8.1 looks very nice.

Its weird, I almost never go there but for some reason I haven't been able to bring myself to unpin that desktop. I probably should

 

[Coke Robot]

You're stating the bleeding obvious about RT, but I'm talking about something entirely different about 8.

Can you be more specific other than being vague as usual?

I was under the impression that English was your native language, but I'm now not so sure. I've twice now attempted to explain my view as to how Windows 8 would have better served people if the desktop and apps environment were separated. I know that would remove your beloved start screen, but so be it, it would clearly separate the two environments.

And you have time to repeatedly ask me to explain myself, but no time to answer a simple question? What are the benefits of Windows 8?

I really don't care to explain the benefits of Windows 8 as that is CLEARLY a HUGE vehement waste of my time and effort. I'm not going to discuss something with Windows 8 with you as you are obviously a H8er and paid by google or someone for you to be here ALL the time just to be negative. Maybe being negative is just your person, but oh well. I have no time for you or your negativity and your egging on about these times are quite frankly, annoying.

 

[Ray8]

I really don't care to explain the benefits of Windows 8 as that is CLEARLY a HUGE vehement waste of my time and effort. I'm not going to discuss something with Windows 8 with you as you are obviously a H8er and paid by google or someone for you to be here ALL the time just to be negative. Maybe being negative is just your person, but oh well. I have no time for you or your negativity and your egging on about these times are quite frankly, annoying.

That's a clear indication that the so-called 'benefits' that you speak of are nothing but empty rhetoric. I've noticed that others have picked up on this in numerous previous post, contradictions as well. You 'talk the talk' but when it comes to 'walking the walk', everything goes wobbly.

 

[sashlon]

I have to agree with Coke. Why continue the discussion when you're clearly just itching to seize any opportunity to bash the platform? I don't think I've ever seen a positive post about 8 from you, and I've read these Forums every day for 6 months. No one should be blind to the failings of their OS of choice, they all have failings, but you have to offer something other than vitriol to retain credibility.

 

[Lee]

Hi Coke, and sashlon,

Take a little advice; Ray is now attempting to do to you two like he did to Bill. Don't play his game. Like the two of you I have read everything he has posted to date, and though I would be one of the first to say he is very good at what he does, and that is to attempt to bring you into his world then pick you apart piece, by piece, just don't get caught in his web. . .JAFO. . .what can I say.

 

[sashlon]

Hi Coke, and sashlon,

Take a little advice; Ray is now attempting to do to you two like he did to Bill. Don't play his game. Like the two of you I have read everything he has posted to date, and though I would be one of the first to say he is very good at what he does, and that is to attempt to bring you into his world then pick you apart piece, by piece, just don't get caught in his web. . .JAFO. . .what can I say.

Yeah I kind of tweaked to that today. I took the bait and bit down hard. I'm just going to ignore him now. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ray8]

I have to agree with Coke. Why continue the discussion when you're clearly just itching to seize any opportunity to bash the platform? I don't think I've ever seen a positive post about 8 from you, and I've read these Forums every day for 6 months. No one should be blind to the failings of their OS of choice, they all have failings, but you have to offer something other than vitriol to retain credibility.

This forum is for information, helping people out and commenting/critiquing about Windows 8. If you've been observant, I've done all three. My sole criticisms about Windows 8 have been about the user interface.

Firstly, the seeming abandonment of the familiar desktop environment such as the removal of the start button for no tangible reason (which many people are unhappy about) and, secondly, the utter inflexibility of the apps (which Stardock has partly remedied, but is only about 50% effective because of Windows 8 design issues that are beyond their control).

Several on this forum feel the way that you and Mr Robot do about my comments, but that usually boils down to the fact that you have no valid arguments with which to shoot me down. So all you can do is call me a Windows 8 hater, call for my removal, or equally childish responses.

My retort to such comments is; don't reply, don't dig yourself in deeper, or eat some concrete and harden up.

 

[Ray8]

Hi Coke, and sashlon,

Take a little advice; Ray is now attempting to do to you two like he did to Bill. Don't play his game. Like the two of you I have read everything he has posted to date, and though I would be one of the first to say he is very good at what he does, and that is to attempt to bring you into his world then pick you apart piece, by piece, just don't get caught in his web. . .JAFO. . .what can I say.

Really? I got BillWindows banned, I have that much power? I'd been away bush for four days and when I got back, discovered that he was banned. That's amazing, even when I'm not here, I project such influence! I'm going to have to temper myself and watch out for the weak.

Whatever happened to the days when one was responsible for one's own actions? I guess like in Australia, as everywhere else, when someone does something wrong, it's always someone else's fault. They are the victims of society, someone led them astray, the government didn't do enough, it has nothing to do with the individual and their actions.

 

[sashlon]

Hi Coke, and sashlon,

Take a little advice; Ray is now attempting to do to you two like he did to Bill. Don't play his game. Like the two of you I have read everything he has posted to date, and though I would be one of the first to say he is very good at what he does, and that is to attempt to bring you into his world then pick you apart piece, by piece, just don't get caught in his web. . .JAFO. . .what can I say.

Really? I got BillWindows banned, I have that much power? I'd been away bush for four days and when I got back, discovered that he was banned. That's amazing, even when I'm not here, I project such influence! I'm going to have to temper myself and watch out for the weak.

Whatever happened to the days when one was responsible for one's own actions? I guess like in Australia, as everywhere else, when someone does something wrong, it's always someone else's fault. They are the victims of society, someone led them astray, the government didn't do enough, it has nothing to do with the individual and their actions.

You really are full of vitriol aren't you. Anyway, I'm not going to let your stuff get to me again. I think you're a troll and I'm done with you.

 

[Ray8]

You really are full of vitriol aren't you. Anyway, I'm not going to let your stuff get to me again. I think you're a troll and I'm done with you.

Facts always annoy those who have pure faith in materials things (or Gaia for that matter) and they usually lack perspective and, most importantly, humour.