Computerworld - Analysts remain skeptical that Microsoft's relaunch of Windows 8 and the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 will translate into increased PC and tablet sales in the second half of the year.
"[Windows 8.1] is unlikely to have a major impact [on] purchasing decisions made by mainstream consumers," said Sameer Singh, an analyst who writes on the Tech-Thoughts blog, after Microsoft revealed a public preview of the free upgrade June 26 at the company's BUILD developers conference.
"Windows 8.1 should have no impact on the attractiveness of tablets based on the platform," wrote Singh. "While it does offer some improvements, tablet purchases are based on two primary factors: application availability and price."
In neither instance does Windows 8.1 change the dynamics, Singh argued, since smaller Windows tablets will be priced substantially higher than Android-based devices, and the Windows Store, Microsoft's app e-market, continues to lag behind stores backed by rivals Apple and Google.
Skeptics don't get that new-time Windows 8.1 religion - ComputerworldInstead, Moorhead is banking on the hardware makers, dubbed OEMs for "original equipment manufacturers," to come up with new designs based on new AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm processors. "Think of the irony for a second; hardware helping save software," Moorhead said. "Sad, but true."