Four months in, Windows 8 needs help

After four months of tepid Windows 8 PC sales, maybe it's time for Microsoft to make a few changes.

During a conversation I had this week with IDC analyst Bob O'Donnell, he volunteered the following statement, which sounded strangely like my experience.

There were certain decisions that Microsoft made that were in retrospect flawed. Notably not allowing people to boot into desktop mode and taking away the start button. Those two things have come up consistently. We've done some research and people miss that.


And there are a lot of people that as soon as they boot into Windows 8, they go to desktop mode and do most their work there and occasionally back to Metro. But the point being they're much more comfortable with desktop mode.

Source

A Guy

 

[whs]

but if YOU like Windows 8 and your family members didn't then "try brushing up on your teaching skills". !!!

Jimbo, I don't like nor dislike Windows 8 - I just ignore it. And the guys from my family that bought PCs with Win7 are geeks themselves - one has a bachelors degree in computer sciences.

 

[labeeman]

Lets Hope the help is not too late.

The Windows Blue Saga: Updated Metro Apps, a New Chance for Windows 8 and More - Softpedia

 

[labeeman]

This may not happen if they do not help 8.

Windows 9 Is Coming: Full Version of IE11, Improved Touch Support - Softpedia

 

[mdmd]

Lets Hope the help is not too late.

This may not happen if they do not help 8.

Don't expect a return to 2009.
Don't expect options to bypass the start screen or a return to the orb. (you get that with 3rd party)
The Microsoft Store and app development will be their bread and butter.
Expect discounts on consumer Operating Systems because their profits will be made from other sources.

 

[whs]

Lets Hope the help is not too late.

This may not happen if they do not help 8.

Don't expect a return to 2009.
Don't expect options to bypass the start screen or a return to the orb. (you get that with 3rd party)
The Microsoft Store and app development will be their bread and butter.
Expect discounts on consumer Operating Systems because their profits will be made from other sources.

But if the base erodes, the income from those 'other sources' will erode too.

 

[mick823]

I am running Win 8 on a Gateway Mini and I can tell you that it is noticeably faster than Windows 7 on a low end machine. The tile interface has zero use on these low end machines because they don't meet the minimum resolution requirement to run the live tiles. I installed the free EX7forW8 which gave me back a start button and standard menu. I will just use that until Microsoft comes to their senses and reinstates the standard desktop. The way I see it they have no choice if they want this new OS to see anything other than mediocre sales numbers.

 

[mdmd]

But if the base erodes, the income from those 'other sources' will erode too.

I don't have the financial skills or knowledge Jimbo has about Microsoft's position in the world economy but I would speculate that unless there is a global catastrophe, the software giant will continue to rule. Except for some specialists of which I am not, Apple continues to thrive in special markets that can afford their products. I don't see the masses moving to UNIX based systems.

 

[labeeman]

I don't have the financial skills or knowledge Jimbo has about Microsoft's position in the world economy but I would speculate that unless there is a global catastrophe, the software giant will continue to rule. Except for some specialists of which I am not, Apple continues to thrive in special markets that can afford their products. I don't see the masses moving to UNIX based systems.

The masses already are moving that way, that is what M$ is trying to stop before it is too late. Apple stuff is UNIX base Android is UNIX base.

 

[MaloCS]

I've been using Windows 8 for two months and I have to say, I'm very impressed with it. I like the Metro start screen and I enjoy using Metro apps for a ton of tasks I used to use the browser for. I use the Metro versions of Pandora, YouTube and I-Heart-Radio daily. Instead of accessing these sites through my browser I just fire up their Metro variations. I've also played around with Microsoft's Xbox radio app and I have to say, it's pretty cool.

Additionally, I am a professional web developer and designer so my computer must be able to handle the workhorse duties I expect from it. I depend on my computer to help pay my mortgage, put food on my table and clothe my child. As a result, I will happily get rid of any hardware or software that doesn't meet my uncompromising expectations. Fortunately for my family, Windows 8 has proven to be a very robust, a very efficient, a very reliable and a very fun operating system to use.

I like it.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Welcome to EightForums, MaloCS. It's good to have you aboard.

Good for you! Now there's some professional positive feedback!

 

[whs]

Welcome to EightForums, MaloCS. It's good to have you aboard.

Good for you! Now there's some professional positive feedback!

+1, it is refreshing to see that people who do serious work can get along with Windows 8.

 

[mdmd]

The masses already are moving that way, that is what M$ is trying to stop before it is too late. Apple stuff is UNIX base Android is UNIX base.

I am not anti Mac or anti Linux, but they are usually either too proprietary or too cryptic. If one can run Windows on a Mac, then I guess that is like running Linux on a Windows machine in a box. Why can we not run Mac on a Windows machine? (not a generally available application)
There are literally a million applications that can run on Windows. No so much on UNIX.

Kids are not necessarily ready to go to a terminal window and sudo something.
It's possible I suppose, but I haven't seen any activity in the marketplace for builders to assemble their own Mac.

 

[labeeman]

The masses already are moving that way, that is what M$ is trying to stop before it is too late. Apple stuff is UNIX base Android is UNIX base.

I am not anti Mac or anti Linux, but they are usually either too proprietary or too cryptic. If one can run Windows on a Mac, then I guess that is like running Linux on a Windows machine in a box. Why can we not run Mac on a Windows machine? (not a generally available application)
There are literally a million applications that can run on Windows. No so much on UNIX.

Kids are not necessarily ready to go to a terminal window and sudo something.
It's possible I suppose, but I haven't seen any activity in the marketplace for builders to assemble their own Mac.

I have Mint on my laptop it runs fine it is faster than Windows 8 on boot up there are plenty of applications for Mint more than there is for Metro. Yes you can run windows on a Mac but you cannot run Mac on a Windows box I also do not own a Mac and never will. I do not like a walled garden the same reason I do not like Metro another walled garden. You can also run some Windows applications on Mint through Wine. Apple will not allow builders to assemble there own Mac due to several legal actions.

 

[whs]

I run Mint too and it outperforms Windows 8 hands down (running in Vmware Player from an external disk). It is also a lot easier and more logical to set up. And there are a gezillion apps - you only have to get used to the new names. Some of those apps are really nifty. And for setting up the system you usually have a lot more options - e.g. watch this.

As far as Mac goes, you can actually run it on a PC. Many people got Snow Leopard for $29.95 and installed it on their PC. Problem is that you violate the Apple EULA when you do that. They want you to run it only on their overpriced hardware.

 

[SIW2]

Good for you! Now there's some professional positive feedback!

Unfortunately for MS - there is little positive feedback. Large numbers don't want it.


@mdmd

No idea what you mean by going back to 2009. That makes no sense at all.

E.G. Command prompt is in 8 - does that mean it is going back several years - of course not.

Your car has wheels - does that make it thousands of years out of date - of course not.

 

[mdmd]

I run Mint too and it outperforms Windows 8 hands down

You have a very interesting accent whs. Very European. Wish I could speak French as well as you speak English. I have a flat Harvard Yard accent or like from Cape Cod Massachusetts.

Great video. Are you a teacher? You sound like an instructor.

Don't really see how Mint could outperform 8 since an 8 system can cold boot in 5 seconds (depending on CPU and motherboard). Everything else local (not on the net) is instantaneous. (depending on CPU, motherboard, memory, drive type etc...)

I never did any virtualization, so I do not know.

 

[mdmd]

No idea what you mean by going back to 2009. That makes no sense at all.

How dare you imply that I make no sense :shock:

What it means is that I doubt Microsoft will eliminate the metro and return a start menu to the desktop.
A command prompt exists in Windows but is probably never used by most everyone except techs.
A car wheel wears out.

 

[chrisa]

This may not happen if they do not help 8.

Windows 9 Is Coming: Full Version of IE11, Improved Touch Support - Softpedia

Lol, you're funny.

Of course they will happen no matter what(allthough exactly when isn't set in stone, thats just rumors). And 8 is getting all the help its going to get with Blue.

Windows 9 can just be the system people hang their hat on as the 'stable' version' that prompts them to upgrade. And given you'll have millions more people using it from then off laptops/tablets then with touch, its all good.

I'm also quite sure there will be people who stick with 7 or XP simply because they have issues learning new stuff. Something about 'old dogs' and 'new tricks'.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Good for you! Now there's some professional positive feedback!

Unfortunately for MS - there is little positive feedback. Large numbers don't want it.

A larger number of members on this forum do. The polls here show that. Looks like we can add one more.

I think MS knows most will come around with given time.

BTW, where are you quoting your "a large number" from?

 

[whs]

I run Mint too and it outperforms Windows 8 hands down

You have a very interesting accent whs. Very European. Wish I could speak French as well as you speak English. I have a flat Harvard Yard accent or like from Cape Cod Massachusetts.

Great video. Are you a teacher? You sound like an instructor.

Don't really see how Mint could outperform 8 since an 8 system can cold boot in 5 seconds (depending on CPU and motherboard). Everything else local (not on the net) is instantaneous. (depending on CPU, motherboard, memory, drive type etc...)

I never did any virtualization, so I do not know.

Right, in English I never lost my accent although I use the language since over 60 years. In French I do better - there I was able to lose my accent because I went to school in Lausanne.

I am not a teacher although I teach at times at the local computer club in Florida (when I am here in the winter). I like structured presentation which I had to do during all my professional life (computer software).

Well, I run Mint and Windows 8 side by side - both in virtual on a Windows 7 host and my Mint is faster - especially for the internet. It is also a lot smaller - less than 6GBs with a good number of programs installed.

I don't think that I will switch to Mint full time yet (my Windows 7 is still running very well on all my systems), but it is an option for my future systems if M$ does not come up with something better than Windows 8.