Microsoft Says You’re Getting Used to Windows 8

Microsoft Has Been Watching, and It Says You’re Getting Used to Windows 8

Despite some of the more scathing reviews of Windows 8, ordinary users are getting along with it just fine, according to Julie Larson-Green, the Microsoft executive who leads Windows product development. Data collected automatically from some Windows users, she says, show they are adjusting to some of the new operating system’s controversial features without problems.

“So far we’re seeing very encouraging things,” Larson-Green says of the large volume of data that Microsoft receives every day from people using Windows 8 who have chosen to join the company’s “customer experience improvement program.” All users are invited to enroll in that program when they first log into the new operating system. If they do so, anonymized information about how they are using the operating system is sent to Microsoft. Referring to complaints from some quarters, Larson-Green says: “Even with the rumblings, we feel confident that it’s a moment in time more than an actual problem.”

Source

A Guy

 

[labeeman]

that's the thing, give people enough time and information on the start screen and they end up liking it, just like your dad tw33k.

Labeeman there is a simple reason for the user disparity...windows 7 is simply that good an os that many won't upgrade when they don't need to, given that those that went to 7 were coming from either xp(dated) or vista(a bad reputation) windows 8 doesn't offer as a big an improvment over 7 for those users to change.

not to mention that windows 7 will be getting the direct x 11.1 update there is even less reason to upgrade for some users that would have needed that or wanted it.

now tell me again why the sales figures mean something?

your logic is people aren't buying this years model of car because it's not as good as last years model, when in actual fact there is little reason for them to change.

edit: i'm currently using both, i have both windows 8 pro installed and windows 7 pro, i mostly use 7 while i wait for windows 8 updates to stabilse some minor aspects that aren't working right on my system.

Microsoft is bragging about there sales figure but the usage rates are not sowing up on the internet to support that claim.
I also run windows 7 on my desktop and windows 8 on my laptop and will be waiting for the changes to see what transpires.

 

[A Guy]

I believe the sales figures initially are driven by the low upgrade specials. I suspect some even bought it because it was cheap, and have yet to even try it. A Guy

 

[HippsieGypsie]

A public stock-traded corporation such as Microsoft (M.S.F.T) cannot lie about such figures, otherwise they would be in deep doodoo. The figures they state are, in fact, true. As of November 28, 40 million copies have been sold. I suspect it is much higher now. The figures also show that it is outpacing Windows 7 in a time frame aspect.

I agree with Bill. A lot of people may have purchased it while the deal is yet on, although the low upgrade price lasts through January. Perhaps they're thinking they won't take the time to install due to their busyness of the Holidays. Some may also be sitting on it until further updates so as to work out the bugs. Some members here who don't care for it stated they'll buy a copy just to have it.

 

[bobfrost]

At first the new Start menu had me scratching my head, but I started to sort it out. Now I have installed Classic Shell, and am back to booting to my Win7 desktop and programs, etc, but with the Win8 goodness underneath. Yesterday I even found the 8GadgetPack and have my gadgets back on the desktop. Can't do without the Upcoming Birthdays gadget; might forget the wife's without it!

So I am now completely happy with Win8. It's installed on two different desktops and one laptop, all as upgrades of Win7 installations (yes I know you shouldn't do that) but with Win8 it just works!

Bob Frost

 

[gazz9496]

I heard today a UK bank will be purchasing windows 8 pro tablets for staff, that was from a senior member of that bank so apparently sales aren't even going to be slowing down.

as i've said in other posts windows 8 pro and the tablets it will be running on will be very attractive to the commercial markets far more so than the consumer market, the sheer power and flexibility offered by a full desktop o/s with all it's native networking abilities make it an ideal choice.

the thing is, the classic shell is a handy little app, it is good i'm not going to take anything away from it, but over time more will become accustom to the start screen in windows 8 and not need or want any addons to get that start menu back.

 

[azasadny]

I remember people complaining every time M$ releases a new version of Windows, from Windows 1, (remember MSDOS Executive?)Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and now Windows 8.... Like clockwork... People screamed when MSDOS 6 was replaced and every time people get used to the new OS, then scream when it's replaced in a few years... Nobody is forcing you to upgrade...

 

[pparks1]

I was fine going from 95 to 98 to 2k, to XP and then to 7. The only releases I have not liked are Vista and 8. I completely missed ME, except for support at error and it was really not much of a problem.

 

[SIW2]

MS did claim 40m had been sold.

What does it mean?

Does it mean 40m people have bought, installed and are using - or does it mean those are sales to wholesalers - who will try and shift them over the next two or three months - or does it mean something else entirely.

Seems strange there are claims it is outselling win7.

I don't know a single person who has bought a copy ( apart from me ).

I also don't know a single person who has bought a win 8 device.

 

[gazz9496]

MS did claim 40m had been sold.

What does it mean?

Does it mean 40m people have bought, installed and are using - or does it mean those are sales to wholesalers - who will try and shift them over the next two or three months - or does it mean something else entirely.

Seems strange there are claims it is outselling win7.

I don't know a single person who has bought a copy ( apart from me ).

I also don't know a single person who has bought a win 8 device.

sales listings like that are activated licences by users, wholesalers/shops aren't included those are actual sales....that would be fraud if they gave a false report like that as it would be classed as market manipulation.

nearly a month has passed since that was released it could be well over 100 million this month for all i know...or 50 million.

 

[SIW2]

What makes you think that means licenses activated by users?

In what sense would it be fraud.

If MS have sold them - they can call it a sale.

Even if they were sales to wholesalers stocking up for the next few months. MS might even have included the deals they have done to supply European schools with devices at a very low price. The deal is done - it doesn't matter if they won't be delivered for a long while - it doesn't matter if they make no profit - MS can still call it a sale.

We have no way of knowing what that actually means.

One thing you can be sure of is that MS are going to make it sound as good as possible.

 

[pparks1]

Friend of mine bought a Windows 8 machine, with the intention of installing Linux on it (he is an android programmer). Took him nearly 20 hours to get around the stupid Secure Boot functionality. He was livid.

 

[SIW2]

I thought it was supposed to be simple to turn it off.

Obviously not.

 

[labeeman]

I thought it was supposed to be simple to turn it off.

Obviously not.

Depends on the OEM, Lenovo makes it easy.

Also Consumer Reports does not like Windows 8 and suggest that you buy Windows 7

Consumer Reports makes case for Windows 7 PCs - Computerworld

 

[mart4494]

MS did claim 40m had been sold.

What does it mean?

Does it mean 40m people have bought, installed and are using - or does it mean those are sales to wholesalers - who will try and shift them over the next two or three months - or does it mean something else entirely.

Seems strange there are claims it is outselling win7.

I don't know a single person who has bought a copy ( apart from me ).

I also don't know a single person who has bought a win 8 device.

sales listings like that are activated licences by users, wholesalers/shops aren't included those are actual sales....that would be fraud if they gave a false report like that as it would be classed as market manipulation.

nearly a month has passed since that was released it could be well over 100 million this month for all i know...or 50 million.

Market manipulation has been going on since time began. Even the motor manufacturers are at it, month in month out with their pre-registered vehicles so they can claim sales and bump up their market share. Technically the cars have been sold but not as we understand it. For all I know many of those 40m are internal sales from one MS dept to another for the Surface - who knows - only time will tell. Maybe they are just promises for the future. Boeing and Airbus claim every year to have received orders for X number of aircraft but only seem to end up delivering Y number. Many of the orders are never fulfilled.

Once the true figures come in from the web stats as to who is using what to browse the web then maybe things will start to make more sense.

 

[mart4494]

I thought it was supposed to be simple to turn it off.

Obviously not.

All about control

 

[jimbo45]

What makes you think that means licenses activated by users?

In what sense would it be fraud.

If MS have sold them - they can call it a sale.

Even if they were sales to wholesalers stocking up for the next few months. MS might even have included the deals they have done to supply European schools with devices at a very low price. The deal is done - it doesn't matter if they won't be delivered for a long while - it doesn't matter if they make no profit - MS can still call it a sale.

We have no way of knowing what that actually means.

One thing you can be sure of is that MS are going to make it sound as good as possible.

Hi there

Agreed

You can BUY a product and NEVER EVER use it. As far as the seller is concerned it's a SALE whether you use it or toss it in the trashcan.

I've "Downgraded" 3 computers to W7 -- but that doesn't mean those 3 copies of W8 which are destined for a one way trip to the trashcan don't count as 3 sales -- they DO.

BTW the computers came with Windows 8 and all the OEM bloatware and crapware --- if I were installing W8 on my own machine and needed retail rather than TechNet - I'd get the PRO version and remove the OEM version.

W8 *may* be OK for Ms -- Ms doesn't worry about NEXT week or even Q1 2013. Unlike a lot of US corporations it thinks reasonably long term which is why its stock price has been relatively stable for years and still pays a dividend -- (If you play the markets actually selling CALL and PUT Weekly options on very stable shares like MSFT is better than Buy and Hold -- Ideal share for this purpose -- that however is a different topic as this isn't a market traders Forum !!).

I still think though the menuing system with those tiles doesn't work for some desktop users - especially when multi-monitors are used - and where you need loads of concurrent windows open when running complex apps like Visual Studio, photoshop, etc.

However time will tell.

People who basically are using their computers rather like a tablet find W8 fine -- no prob with that -- W8 is essential an OS for MOBILE devices with a touchscreen - not a classic desktop. That said more and more people tend to use computers like mobile devices these days anyway. Ms isn't as stupid as a lot of people seem to think.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Wenda]

I feel quite used to my release preview and now it feels strange if I go onto a Windows 7 machine. But I always have the thingy that Microsoft uses to gather user stats turned off. Im looking forward to getting windows 8 pro next week hopefully. I already have the media center key to upgrade it. So I can start the new year with my new opreating system

 

[Der Snoober]

I used to consider myself a Windows 8 sceptic person because all the usuall critics ==> I'm a power user; can't work without a startmenu; don't have a touch screen etc. ....Until the release date came. I raced home from work, bought myself an upgrade copy and actually started using Windows 8.

Now I can honestly say that I LOVE Windows 8!!! I think it is the next evolutionary step in the Windows OS lifetime. It even made me buy the new Windows Phone .

Loving every minute I spend in front of my computer!

 

[netguysc]

I upgraded my household of eight people family room computer to Windows 8.
I really got tired of my constantly having to explain, hand hold and figure out issues, even after purchasing the Start8 program. Stayed on 8 about a month until I finally threw in the towel and went back to the comfort of windows 7.
I'll probably go back one day, but not today.

 

[mcnulty]

I'll just ignore Windows 8 for as long as I can. It's not Windows 8 that worries me though, skipping a Windows version is no big deal. I'm more worried about their intentions for the next Windows.