Half a billion people to use Windows 8 next year -- Ballmer

Analysts expect Windows 8 to flop and PC sales to suffer, but Microsoft's chief executive thinks sales will reach at least 500 million by the end of 2013.

Read more at:
Half a billion people to use Windows 8 next year -- Ballmer | Business Tech - CNET News


UPDATE:
No, half a billion people won't be using Windows 8 next year

 

[Calico]

500 mil customers must've sounded very exciting for Microsoft.. but when is Microsoft gonna release the beta version of windows 8? the world is waiting for the beta version.. there was over 500,000 downloads of win DP by the first 12 hours of its release.. so hw much is it gonna be when its beta comes out?

The beta was released on February 29th, it's called the Customer preview. The next release, slated for June 1st, will be the Release preview (formally Release candidate).

 

[alphanumeric]

It sounds like an unrealistic number to me. Very optimistic to say the least. You'll get some new PC sales with 8 pre-installed but 500 million? I don't think so Tim. And I don't think there will be a whole lot of people wanting to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Not like you saw when 7 was released anyway. It seems to me that the tech enthusiasts aren't warming up to Windows 8 like they did with Windows 7. It's one thing to install a free preview, but its going to be a totally different story when you have to part with some money to keep running it. And the average Joe isn't going to upgrade until they purchase a new PC. I love Windows 7 and would gladly purchase another copy for any new build. The way things are now you would be hard pressed to get me to pony up for Windows 8 unless it was considerably cheaper than Windows 7. Even then I'm not sure I'd buy into it.

 

[legacy7955]

If anything the closer we get to the end sale of Windows 7 and the start of Windows 8, I predict there will be a RUN on the sales of Windows 7.

If things basically stay as they are with the detestable Metro UI as the default at every boot up of Windows 8 I will stay with Windows 7, and then over the next several years move to Linux.

BTW, Ballmer should have been sent packing years ago. The fact that during a major meeting last year many MS employees walked out should tell you about the state of the company.

 

[GMan]

The fact that during a major meeting last year many MS employees walked out should tell you about the state of the company.

Interesting. Know of any place to read about it at all?

Edit: I read a little here and there just now. Seems that the employees are disheartened by Metro and making desktop 2nd class citizen as much as many of us are.

 

[Brink]

No, half a billion people won't be using Windows 8 next year

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's words were misconstrued earlier this week when a report claimed he said there would be 500 million Windows 8 users next year.

Read more at:
No, half a billion people won't be using Windows 8 next year | Windows 8 - CNET Reviews

 

[Vince53]

Good research, Brink.

No, Steve Balmer never said that there would be half a billion Windows 8 users next year.

 

[echrada]

And now this

Microsoft corrects itself: 'We expect fewer people to use Windows 8'