Microsoft reports weak Windows 8 sales

The Windows division posted total revenues of $5.7 billion, but after adjusting for revenue stemming from the deep Windows 8 discounts available last quarter, that total drops to just $4.6 billion. This equates to flat year-on-year sales for the Windows division, meaning that Windows 8 has essentially done nothing for Microsoft’s bottom line.

With a few simple changes, such as removing the Start screen, resurrecting the Start button, and booting straight to the Desktop, Microsoft could make Windows 8 as desirable as Windows 7 for desktop and laptop users. Microsoft must do this before enterprises are forced to upgrade from Windows XP, which is finally losing official support on April 8, 2014.

Microsoft reports weak Windows 8 sales in Q1 2013, says it will “respond to customer feedback” | ExtremeTech
 
Sad thing is we still have about 1,000 XP desktops at work but there is no way we could move to windows 8 because of the new modern UI. So far we have replaced about 200 desktops all 'downgraded ' to windows 7
 

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Daft report. How is that not about 8. If they think the high prices of the 8 offerings are a problem - clearly that is a problem with the 8 product offering.

In addition to people not liking it on non touch devices.
 

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The Windows division posted total revenues of $5.7 billion, but after adjusting for revenue stemming from the deep Windows 8 discounts available last quarter, that total drops to just $4.6 billion. This equates to flat year-on-year sales for the Windows division, meaning that Windows 8 has essentially done nothing for Microsoft’s bottom line.

With a few simple changes, such as removing the Start screen, resurrecting the Start button, and booting straight to the Desktop, Microsoft could make Windows 8 as desirable as Windows 7 for desktop and laptop users. Microsoft must do this before enterprises are forced to upgrade from Windows XP, which is finally losing official support on April 8, 2014.

Microsoft reports weak Windows 8 sales in Q1 2013, says it will “respond to customer feedback” | ExtremeTech

All well and good except for one thing. MSFT didn't report weak Win8 sales. MSFT didn't report Win8 specific sales so we have no numbers -- weak or otherwise. They reported flat Windows sales when PC sales were down 14% for the quarter. As my stock analysis friends are saying, that's a strong quarter for MSFT Windows.
 

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There wasn't a report on anything other than the Windows division's gains being not on par as the rest of Microsoft.....

I don't know if Windows 8, as a software, can be blamed for a lot. OEMs have quite a bit of blame to take. Microsoft has some blame in not getting some smaller tablets out, though Acer has an 8 inch tablet according to some leaked imaged. How you can used an x86 based tablet PC with Windows, I can't even really comprehend. The updates to Windows 8.1 are honestly UI cohesion between Windows and Windows Phone, as well as putting in a couple of features for some reason Microsoft didn't include from day one such as ReFS and 50/50 app snap with active adjusting.

Those changes I don't know if it can be said that those are customer demand, or market demand. Whatever it is, Microsoft is MUCH MUCH more capable of adapting to that than they did before. It took them three years to get a proper touch/tablet OS out there. It is going to take them less than a year to get Windows 8 on 8 inch tablets and a string of new enhancements.
 

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Hi there
I don't get razzled very often but there is some REAL FUD over Ms at the moment.

Why did Ms finish at near its 52 week high yesterday --The Markets seem to be reasonably satisfied.
Microsoft: Finding Value Beneath The Surface - Seeking Alpha

Here's also an interesting snippet -- 200 USD Windows 8 tablets seem to be in the offing too.

Confirmed: $200 Windows 8 Tablets Are Coming (INTC, MSFT)

Finally XP is still making money for Ms

Why Windows XP Still Matters (MSFT)

It's "The Fruit Company" who have fallen from being the Markets darling to having a really torrid time and dropping like a stone.

As for a previous post in this thread (Sashion - about 3 up I think) --Once I see the name GARTNER anywhere in the list of contributors / references --'Nuf Said.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Not quite a shocker now, is it. Ms knew the masses were opposed to their attempt to cram metro down everyone's throat, but they did it anyway. Perhaps they truly believed we simply could be bullied into accepting the metroturd world. Alas, sadly for them their plans are a bust.

What they failed to realize that the computing world is now mature. Radical changes, especially those that dumb down the experience simply won't fly... especially those changes that largely benefit ONLY ms itself. Will they really learn from this colossal mistake... stay tuned..............
 

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I personally think the usefulness of windows reached a plateau when xp came out. If you think about it, switching to windows 7 from xp really doesn't add that much usefulness to most companies. Most labs still use xp. Plenty of companies still use xp. There's just no reason for them to move to 7.

Windows 7 is another plateau. And I think this time the plateau is even flatter and bigger. Will be pretty hard to get out of this plateau.

For example, take a look at the folk design. It's reached an infinite plateau. You're not going to find another design that will replace the mainstream folk anytime soon. Musical instruments have suffered the same fate. You're not going to find a newly designed clarinet anytime soon.

The point is windows 8's weak sales isn't a result of its quality. IMHO, windows 8 is the best modern UI out there. But because of the 2 previous plateaus, windows 8 won't be overwhelmingly popular anytime soon.
 

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If Jeff Ubben is becoming involved - that will help get MS on the right track.

They could do with some help like that.
 

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The truly STUPID and ARROGANT thing about this whole debacle is that it COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AVOIDED with a couple of simple changes, and the whole situation would have been totally different outcome.

They should have simply allowed THE CUSTOMER to have the OPTION to default boot to desktop OR Metro, and have the original start button function returned.

I would bet if they would have taken that route EVERYONE would be singing the praises of Windows 8.

Why in the hell do they pay these top manglement folks so much money to FAIL so badly???
 

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