Admittedly 8/8.1 is not MS’s biggest hit as of date, but we have a ways to go until 9 release. On the other hand, it is not a failure like Vista either. It’s just that it’s a drastic change > Change that I see some having difficulties with. At first it was a love-it-or-hate-it OS. Then as time went on some (seeing that it was a solid OS with added features) warmed up to it. 8.1 helped out even more so for the “Desktoppers” had more options. Then even more warmed up to it. I think the whole concept will eventually come around.
I don’t know the exact numbers for each division, but even if MS breaks even or loses a little in one division, they are well diversified to make it up in others. All in all MS continues to do quite well at making profit, which increases form year to year:
Microsoft Investor Relations - Press Releases
OEM/MS relationship has been a strange affair from time to time through the years IMO. They got into spats just like anyone does. I would guess MS wanted to set the pace on how it’s going to be done, while diversifying with Surface hardware along with Xbox, and other peripherals, also adding Nokia this year. Nothing wrong with companies diversifying if performed properly, although I think they’ve got some learning to do so far as marketing. I see Lenovo and some others are performing somewhat well while others are struggling. Windows 8 was no secret to OEMs while being designed and created so their engineering departments could get on the drawing boards.
Touch UI is not at all anything new. It’s been around for ages. MS is stepping up to the plate and taking it a lot further in their new vision of how users/people will interact with devices, keeping in mind that the keyboard and mouse will continue to be input devices and always will be. Personally I have no problem navigating 8/8.1 with them whatsoever, although I prefer the keyboard at my desk tower and I prefer touch on other devices. It doesn’t mean that they can’t coexist.
Obviously MS in their vision sees touch UI an ever increasing means of human / machine interaction. They’re not alone. Other companies have been doing so with others entering the arena also. Here’s just one example:
TouchTunes | Home Amazing tech and don’t forget the services that come along with.
You can read all about it here straight from the horse’s mouth confirmed by an auditor. You can read Ballmer’s goodbye letter to investors and even meet the new boss, whom I think will lead MS even farther into the new direction they chose to take.
Microsoft Investor Relations
Have a good day and happy computing. With that I’ll post with Alt/S to make it a total of 10K posts.