Hurry up and wait: Why Microsoft's holding Windows 8.1

Computerworld - Microsoft's decision to sit on Windows 8.1 for two months after engineers wrap up work was driven by the year's biggest sales cycles, analysts said.

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced it would release Windows 8.1, the first of what's expected to be annual updates to Windows 8, through the Windows Store on Oct. 17. The next day, retail copies of the updated operating system will hit retail, as will new Windows 8.1-powered devices from Microsoft's OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners.
But with a late August completion date for Windows 8.1 still on track -- what Microsoft calls RTM, for "release to manufacturing" -- some have wondered why the Redmond, Wash., developer plans to hold the update for eight or more weeks.
The questions are justified: Microsoft has made much of its accelerated development and release schedule for Windows updates. Those updates are far more than collections of bug fixes, like the now-discarded service packs, but include improvements, enhancements, and new features and software.
Hurry up and wait: Why Microsoft's holding Windows 8.1 - Computerworld
 
They rushed on
out windows 8 and looked what happened. Maybe it is better to get all the kinks out then rushing it out and having another lemon
 

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They rushed on
out windows 8 and looked what happened. Maybe it is better to get all the kinks out then rushing it out and having another lemon

Can you be specific? Why do you think 8 is a lemon?

I ask this because I have 8 on all my machines and I've never had any problem at all. Runs even better than w7.
 

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    windows 8
They rushed on
out windows 8 and looked what happened. Maybe it is better to get all the kinks out then rushing it out and having another lemon

Can you be specific? Why do you think 8 is a lemon?

I ask this because I have 8 on all my machines and I've never had any problem at all. Runs even better than w7.
Although the release of Windows 8 is not technically a "rush" as we had previews starting from the Developer Preview back on late 2011, there were things on Windows 8 RTM that sort of needed more work or just didn't feel finished when it was released like some of the apps and the Start screen was less customizable too. The boot to the Desktop option should have been there on Windows 8 RTM on the first place. And Surface RT, although there are those that would claim that its better than iPads or Androids tablets, which I think is credible, people wasn't ready for the price it had upon release, along with insufficient advertising methods and MS decided to keep slashing prices off of it because it wasn't selling well, obviously. MS then came up with this new strategy starting with 8.1 after realizing that 8 wasn't doing as much as they hoped and are determined to replace it immediately with 8.1. I think its a good move they tried to improve stuff on the Metro side on 8.1 but much better if they added something substantial on the Desktop part as well (other than boot to the Desktop and Start button). Here's a blog I read.

Windows 8, one year later: 10 mistakes Microsoft made (and how they plan to fix things) | ZDNet

Page 3 had some valid reasons that back up my statement on this post that some apps wasn't as polished as they should have been when released.

Different people have rather different takes on this. Those who like Windows 8 just like yourself are convinced that the Windows 8 RTM version was near perfect or perfect upon release, but there are those whose preference are different or whose experience with it wasn't as pretty and I guess this happens with all operating systems that are released.
 

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They rushed on
out windows 8 and looked what happened. Maybe it is better to get all the kinks out then rushing it out and having another lemon

Can you be specific? Why do you think 8 is a lemon?

I ask this because I have 8 on all my machines and I've never had any problem at all. Runs even better than w7.
Although the release of Windows 8 is not technically a "rush" as we had previews starting from the Developer Preview back on late 2011, there were things on Windows 8 RTM that sort of needed more work or just didn't feel finished when it was released like some of the apps and the Start screen was less customizable too. The boot to the Desktop option should have been there on Windows 8 RTM on the first place. And Surface RT, although there are those that would claim that its better than iPads or Androids tablets, which I think is credible, people wasn't ready for the price it had upon release, along with insufficient advertising methods and MS decided to keep slashing prices off of it because it wasn't selling well, obviously. MS then came up with this new strategy starting with 8.1 after realizing that 8 wasn't doing as much as they hoped and are determined to replace it immediately with 8.1. I think its a good move they tried to improve stuff on the Metro side on 8.1 but much better if they added something substantial on the Desktop part as well (other than boot to the Desktop and Start button). Here's a blog I read.

Windows 8, one year later: 10 mistakes Microsoft made (and how they plan to fix things) | ZDNet

Page 3 had some valid reasons that back up my statement on this post that some apps wasn't as polished as they should have been when released.

Different people have rather different takes on this. Those who like Windows 8 just like yourself are convinced that the Windows 8 RTM version was near perfect or perfect upon release, but there are those whose preference are different or whose experience with it wasn't as pretty and I guess this happens with all operating systems that are released.

Not what I asked. Robin claimed 8 is a lemon. I want to know specifics that makes it a lemon. And no, I don't think 8 rtm was perfect. I have criticized many aspects of 8 on many occasions on here.

Why do you believe that 8 is either a lemon or perfect? Why does this have to be an either or scenario?
 

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    windows 8
It's not a lemon. It's just a drastic change from what the masses have come to know and love. Microsoft, like a mad scientist messed with the formula, and the masses didn't like the new formula.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Self built
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    GA-Z87X-D3H
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It's not a lemon. It's just a drastic change from what the masses have come to know and love. Microsoft, like a mad scientist messed with the formula, and the masses didn't like the new formula.
I know English is my 2nd language, not 1st. But I could have sworn the writer of post #2 specifically said 8 is a lemon.

Yeah, I'm a jerk for calling out tea-party rhetoric. So, you guys can either defend him and give me specifics as to why 8 is a lemon or change the way you criticize 8 and stop using tea rhetoric to portray 8 as the cause of all evil.
 

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System One

  • OS
    windows 8
That depends on your definition ...

That depends on your definition of "Lemon".

Obviously, from your previous statements, you don't consider it to be a "Lemon".

It could be considered a "Lemon", using these criteria:
  • The public and businesses are reluctant to buy it
  • MS had to write off $900M (i.e. more than it earned, despite spending almost that much on advertising)
  • It has failed to:
    • Make significant inroads into Apple's and Google's market dominance in the mobile market
    • Boost desktop PC sales
The only thing it has managed to do after 10 months (apart from provoking "howls of outrage") is surpass Vista's market share.

Considering that Vista's market share has been dropping constantly since the introduction of W7 in 2009, W8 has been struggling.
 

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One good example of Lemon wold be Ford Edsel, (google it if you are not old enough or don't know much about cars) but Win8 can not be put in the same basket. For one, it works and works good, aside from some people not liking the UI.
UI is NOT OS.
 

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Windows (Phone) 8 on a Lemon.... :p
Lemon.png
 

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    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
They rushed on
out windows 8 and looked what happened. Maybe it is better to get all the kinks out then rushing it out and having another lemon

Can you be specific? Why do you think 8 is a lemon?

I ask this because I have 8 on all my machines and I've never had any problem at all. Runs even better than w7.


It depends on who you ask ....?

The way you use makes it works or not .... Lemon is ... some thing you buy and CAN NOT return [NOR even dowmgrade to wds 7] when it does NOT work the way you like it ..... IMHO .
 

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    wds 8.1- x 64Bit
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    Intel HD Graphics 4400
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    500GB
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    WDS Defender and MalwareByte Pro.
Can anyone name me an MS or any manufacturer RTM OS that was perfect? Let's forget Metro for a moment. It seems to me that 8 was just as stable if not more so than 7 coming out of the box, was it not?

Admittedly I think MS made some mistakes with 8. No option for booting to the desktop and and option of using All Apps instead of Start Screen I think were the biggest. This is all being corrected in 8.1 within a fair amount of time. Let's not forget this "updated OS" is free to those that bought 8. I think that's fair.

There are some heavy Desktop users that dislike the Metro side on this forum that seem to be happy with the new options. They seem to be getting along with the Metro All Apps instead of the Start Menu. Some also use the Quick Launch menus of the Taskbar.

If MS rushed anything out of the door it was a few of their own Store apps. Windows 8 Mail app was a real loser at first, but now it's coming along quite nicely. Some of the other Store apps as well.

8, Metro, and the whole shabang is quite a change for MS. I think 8.1 is a step in the right direction.
 

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One good example of Lemon wold be Ford Edsel, (google it if you are not old enough or don't know much about cars) but Win8 can not be put in the same basket. For one, it works and works good, aside from some people not liking the UI.
UI is NOT OS.

Not sure of you technology background, but you are way off on this. The whole purpose of the OS is to act as an interface between the machine and the user, allowing the user to more easily run the programs he, or she, needs to run. (i.e. this is the computer engineering definition.) So yes, the UI is a critical part of the OS. Otherwise we would all be running Unix at the command prompt. It's just as secure, more mature, and rock solid enough to run critical systems around the globe.

That said, the Windows 8 kernel and underlying structure is solid. As I stated in a previous section, with regard to the UI, the market decides that, and with regards to Windows 8.0 the market has said they are not fans.
 

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    Windows 7/8
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    LG 23 inch LED
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    1 internal 1tb, 1 external 3tb
I intentionally used Edsel as an example of lemon in context with W8. The problem with Edsel was not it's looks, steering wheel, pedals or shifter (UI) but mechanical blunder for underlying structure (kernel).
As an long time electro-mechanical engineer (now retired with several patents in automatic machine controls) I am perfectly aware of what components an OS consists of and how much typing is needed to use Unix. I was elated when OSs started using GUI and a mouse but think that just the looks of UI (that seem to be main source of complaints) are not determining factor for satisfaction with an OS.
So to be clear, it is not the criticism of UI as whole that irks me but about the looks of it, which is highly individual thing.
 

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    16GB Kingston 3600
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    Raidmax
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    40/2 Mbps
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Definition of Lemon:
5. Slang a person or thing considered to be useless or defective

I don't think it is a stretch to consider the poor reception of Windows 8 and the Metro interface to be 'defined' as a lemon. To many people, the Metro UI is 'considered' useless and defective. Myself included.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
If we keep on like this, there's going to be a lot of lemonade around here.
 

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    16GB Kingston 3600
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    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
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    WD 2 TB Blue
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    Raidmax
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    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
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    WD
I intentionally used Edsel as an example of lemon in context with W8. The problem with Edsel was not it's looks, steering wheel, pedals or shifter (UI) but mechanical blunder for underlying structure (kernel).
As an long time electro-mechanical engineer (now retired with several patents in automatic machine controls) I am perfectly aware of what components an OS consists of and how much typing is needed to use Unix. I was elated when OSs started using GUI and a mouse but think that just the looks of UI (that seem to be main source of complaints) are not determining factor for satisfaction with an OS.
So to be clear, it is not the criticism of UI as whole that irks me but about the looks of it, which is highly individual thing.

I beg to differ...

Notwithstanding that is the ugliest car ever made, nobody AFAIK has had anything negative to say about the kernel - in fact I think it's the saving grace of this edition of Windows...

In as far as Window 8 is concerned, it's not the GUI in terms of looks that irks people, it's the loss of control.. why have your entire screen consumed with what you are working with? Most work in a multiple application environment and thus need to navigate seamlessly between those applications...ModernUI is fine for single applications like browsing, media etc..which is basically what spawned tablets.. not so?
 

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    PC-DOS v1.0
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
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    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
There you go, looks again, Edsel was within the looks at that time, come to think about it, Mona Lisa is not that hot chick either but still...
I concur about Metro apps and handling of them but luckily it is not all there is to it, otherwise I wouldn't even consider Win8 as a viable system for desktop PC as it is now.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Home made
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    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
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    Asus Prime x470 Pro
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    16GB Kingston 3600
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    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
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    Raidmax
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    CCM Nepton 140xl
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    40/2 Mbps
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There you go, looks again, Edsel was within the looks at that time, come to think about it, Mona Lisa is not that hot chick either but still...
Yes but it's rather more than looks - an Edsel would be equally usable whatever the exterior looked like, but Metro isn't as usable as desktop windows for anything more than "consumption" tasks like viewing video.

A better analogy to Metro would be if you took out all of your car's windows, mirrors and instruments, and replaced them with one single viewing screen with only one function at a time...
  • You want to see where you're going? Fine - the view forward is on the viewing screen. But you can't see any instruments.
  • You want to see how fast you're going? Fine - you bring up the speedometer on the viewing screen. But now you can't see the view forward.
  • You want to look in the mirror? Fine - you bring up the view behind on the viewing screen. But now you can't see the speedometer, and you still can't see where you're going.
  • This doesn't end well...
Even an Edsel was safer than that!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Although a bit better in 8.1 handling of Metro apps seems to go against the the trend in hardware where multitasking is getting to be very easy and efficient, with multi core processors and large amounts of memory, 64 bit etc. With 2 monitors and changes in 8.1 it is easier to use multiple ones together with desktop programs but I still don't have much use for them. It's not that I would not use them if there was anything there for me. I certainly cannot speak for everyone but for me that store is empty.
Now, for the desktop part, I like how everything works. memory handling, drivers, core balancing and SSD handling and use seem to be at better level than even Win7 and transition from previous windows is much easier than, lets say, the one from XP to Vista or 3.1 to W95.
All together Win8 is shaping to be just fine system even for classical desktop PCs. Even with those black spots I think that W8 and 8.1 the best windows yet (note that I did not say OS) and that the perception of it is it's worst enemy. Cant escape thinking that there should been a version between W7 and W8 which should have had just a hint of Metro and give developers more time to make more useful and mature Metro apps. When trying to catch up with proliferation of handheld devices, I think Balmer & Co just jumped too far in front of that train of events. Too late and too far, I'd say, and backtracking is just further aggravating situation.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Home made
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    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
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    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
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    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
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    Raidmax
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    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
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    Firefox
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    WD
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