Microsoft Claims That Windows 8 Is Finally Taking Off...

Windows 8 has never been an exciting product when it comes to sales, with Microsoft trying to cope with an avalanche of criticism for making so many changes in the operating system.

And still, the Redmond-based tech giant claims that Windows 8 is now posting accelerating momentum, just ahead of the 8.1 RTM launch scheduled to take place in October.

While no clear specifics have been provided, the company says that the number of activations is growing up, which is actually an indication that more people are now making the move to Windows 8.

“As we ramp up toward general availability of Windows 8.1, we’re seeing accelerating momentum with Windows 8. Windows 8 PCs were in demand for back to school and we saw a bump in activations (or new PCs coming online) and Net Apps data released earlier this month confirmed this bump between July and August,” Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc said in a blog post.
Microsoft Claims That Windows 8 Is Finally Taking Off Ahead of 8.1 RTM Launch
 
The propaganda machine is in full force... Surely they don't really believe what they are reporting when the actual numbers paint a totally different picture.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18xR2
    CPU
    i7 3820qm
    Motherboard
    Alienware / Dell
    Memory
    16gb Corsair ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual GTX 675m
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 120gb SSD
    1tb storage drive
    Internet Speed
    Not nearly fast enough
The propaganda machine is in full force... Surely they don't really believe what they are reporting when the actual numbers paint a totally different picture.

I'm trying to keep track myself. Where would one find the actual numbers?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
The Network Stats collations sites should give a good indication of how many machines are using the Internet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD6450
    Sound Card
    Realtek?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
    Case
    Tower
    Mouse
    Wired Optical
    Other Info
    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
I bought 2 HP PC's recently. They came with Windows 7 installed. Presumably they were downgraded from an 8 license.

When I ordered it, the online listing from NewEgg said Windows 7. When I received them, the line item on for the PC's said Windows 8. The tag on the PC says Windows 8. Installed is 7.

I wonder if the numbers we are hearing about include PC's like mine being recorded as Windows 8 computers/sales.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pssh. Who buys prebuilts?
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2600k 3.4 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Asus 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    OCZ SSD boot drive. Spinny secondary drive.
    Case
    Diablotek
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Razer BlackWidow Toureny edition.
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50 down 10 up
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. AV is for noobs.
    Other Info
    I like Macs.
Very good point - most corporates upgrade thier hardware whilst retaining the OS their systems are geared for (i.e. downgrade / re-image on receipt), thus yeah, I'm sure a lot of those Win8 PC's are in fact misquoted.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    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
Received an email form HP that they were having a sale on PCs with Windows 7 install on them, looks like OEMs are not liking Windows 8.x either M$ is in more trouble than they are letting on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7/8 Mint
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo W530
    CPU
    intell i7
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16gb
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512 gb ssd
    Other Info
    Around 13 million employes
I expect the numbers are going up. Machines break and have to be replaced. The replacements will have 8 on them as a rule. Not hard to figure that out. A few can afford a Mac, a few will seek out something with a different os. Most will just get what is on the shelves, unaware there is anything else.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Received an email form HP that they were having a sale on PCs with Windows 7 install on them, looks like OEMs are not liking Windows 8.x either M$ is in more trouble than they are letting on.

It happens. There are still people who request Win7.

Mostly the PC piles stacked in the warehouse need to be emptied. The Win7 stock needs to be sold.

HP are pretty much into Windows 8 by now, as are others, just look what PC offers look like these days.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Mmmm... Ballmer declared the same about RT...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 (?)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Assembled
    CPU
    i7 3930k
    Motherboard
    AsRock X79 Extreme 9
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix 1600 4x8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX 670
    Sound Card
    Creative Titanium HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix IPS
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD
    PSU
    Enermax
    Case
    Cooler Master Cosmos
    Cooling
    Corsair H80
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Browser
    FF
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
“Almost every customer I’ve talked to plans to remain on Windows 7 for quite a while because they want the stability, they’ve got a large install base of applications and tools,” Jim Zafarana, VP and GM for the HP Workstations global business unit, said while also adding that 90 percent of the customers still go for Windows.

At the same time, HP’s executive explains that his company expects enterprise adoption of Windows 8 to remain slow in the next couple of years, despite the arrival of the new 8.1 update.
HP: Users Choose Windows 7 over Windows 8 for Superior Stability

Windows 8 is finally gaining traction, according to a statement released by Microsoft, but company partners across the world beg to differ.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7/8 Mint
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo W530
    CPU
    intell i7
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16gb
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512 gb ssd
    Other Info
    Around 13 million employes
Darn, have popcorn, but no beer. . .:dinesh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8, (VM win7, XP, Vista)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion p1423w
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 3330 Ivy Bridge
    Motherboard
    Foxconn - 2ADA Ivy Brige
    Memory
    16 GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5450
    Sound Card
    HD Realteck (Onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Mitsubishi LED TV/Montior HD, Dell 23 HD, Hanspree 25" HD
    Screen Resolution
    Mit. 1980-1080, Dell 2048-115, Hanspree 1920-10802
    Hard Drives
    1 SanDisk 240Gig SSD, 2 Samsung 512Gig SSDs
    Case
    Tower
    Cooling
    Original (Fans)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Keyboard 2000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Optical Mouse 5000
    Internet Speed
    1.3 (350 to 1024 if lucky)
    Browser
    Firefox 19.1
    Antivirus
    MSE-Defender
MS still thinks they can talk the OS into a good position market wise, good luck with that. Outside of buying a new PC with 8 on it I would be willing to bet OS sales of 8 are anemic at best.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7
Hard to know what's really happening, but in my small pond, most people I've spoken to who are tech minded don't like it. Those who are smartfone or tablet orientated seem to like it on surface appearance. However, I honestly don't know anybody personally who is using it.

Having said that, I've been using it on my flagship for about 8 months now. And with all the latest updates, the buggy bits seem to have been ironed out. Using StartIsBack with Modern switched off, it is running seamless, and that's with generic W8 drivers as Intel don't support drivers for Win 8 on my flagship mobo. Truth is, it would now be hard to go back to Win7, which I have on my backup machine.

Both machines have high end CPU/mobos, SATA3 SSD HDs, good graphic cards and plenty of RAM. One example which is important for me because I do a lot of work on spreadsheets, is that Excel/Word open almost instantly on W8, but take about 7 - 8 seconds to open on Win7. And that's with either OS on either machine ... Win8 was originally on my backup machine.

When you have to open and shut multiple spreadsheets to copy/paste between them, and paste data from them to government web sites, it is a real pain in the butt having to wait 7 or 8 seconds between every item.

I don't mind the bland look and I really like the overall snappiness. I guess that makes me a happy camper, but I still believe it would have really taken off at the get go if MS had simply given the masses a traditional GUI/Stat Menu ... with Modern either as a separate smartfone/tablet GUI OS, or an optional alternative ... as opposed to shoving it down our throats.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
I really like the overall snappiness

Have to agree. They should just plug the 6.3 kernel into Win7 and all is forgiven :p
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    IBM
    CPU
    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
I really like the overall snappiness

Have to agree. They should just plug the 6.3 kernel into Win7 and all is forgiven :p
:thumb: That would do it.

In fact it should really have been SP2 to Win7 without Modern.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
I see more windows 8 laptops than macs in all my classes. Probably because all new laptops now come with windows 8. All I know is windows 8 sales are not disappointing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I see more windows 8 laptops than macs in all my classes. Probably because all new laptops now come with windows 8. All I know is windows 8 sales are not disappointing.

Exactly what I was referring to earlier: Almost all new computers are loaded with Win8. I don't know why some refuse to see this: any store you go to displays basically the same merchandise. Win7 has become a rarity or commodity; if you look at what they are providing (and as maybe some prefer: 'forcing') to the customers. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
I expect the numbers are going up. Machines break and have to be replaced. The replacements will have 8 on them as a rule. Not hard to figure that out. A few can afford a Mac, a few will seek out something with a different os. Most will just get what is on the shelves, unaware there is anything else.

Yes there is an air of truth in this because most people will just stick with the default. It's not a matter of not being aware it's just a matter of functionality - If it works and does what I need... why change it.

I see more windows 8 laptops than macs in all my classes. Probably because all new laptops now come with windows 8. All I know is windows 8 sales are not disappointing.

Same here, most people I know getting new laptops are just sticking with 8.

Yes, this skews the sales, but it isn't/wasn't any different then when any other OS was released. As I said, most people just stick with the default.

When I got my 8 laptop I was all ready to install 7 on it, but once I played around with 8 I saw no reason to replace it. Obviously I'm quite aware.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built by me
    CPU
    Haswell i7-4770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1 Sniper 5 (BIOS F9)
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator Platinum 32 gig (1866MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire R9-280 Vapor X
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster ZXR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC PA242W - 24 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 512gig 850 Pro SSD (OS), Samsung 256gig 840 Pro SSD (photo editing), Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB HD
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 1000 G2
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF X
    Cooling
    Corsair H100i Closed Loop Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    High Speed
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Norton Security
    Other Info
    RAM Speed: 1866MHZ @ 9-10-10-27-2T, 1.5v
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