Staples wants to make Windows 8 'worry free' for small businesses

Staples introduced on June 2 the “Staples Worry-Free PC Promise,” designed to help users, especially small businesses, ease into Windows 8 once it is available.

The new plan, which builds on Microsoft’s latest Windows Upgrade Offer for those buying new Windows PCs starting June 2. Microsoft’s upgrade plan — priced at $14.99 and available in 131 markets — allows those buying Windows 7 PCs before Windows 8 is available to upgrade to Windows 8 Professional for that price.

Source

A Guy

 

[bassfisher6522]

I remember when they did this with vista to windows 7 for free...well on the consumer level not sure what they did for the business aspect.

 

[cluberti]

Most medium to larger-sized businesses don't buy a Windows version specifically, they buy Windows with software assurance (SA). Basically, they purchase the right to install any supported Windows version.

Everyone else with a License Agreement with Microsoft would get pricing based on their agreement level, which is usually cheaper than retail, sometimes quite a bit cheaper per seat.

 

[A Guy]

It did mention specifically small businesses At what level would you think the option you mentioned would become preferable? My company would probably have way under 100 PCs, perhaps even 1/2 that.

A Guy

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
the KILLER for small businesses is the apparent headlong rush into METRO.

I can't think of any business user who only runs apps one at a time on a full screen which is what Metro is designed for.

Unless there is 100% assurance that the traditional type of desktop will remain W8 is guaranteed to be a 100% disaster in any workplace.

I really think that workplaces will be 100% W8 free zones until MS has a serious re-think on the desktop -- and even for phones and tablets google's latest Android version removes it from being "Dumdroid" to something quite passable -- given google's resources and talent I don't think MS have a snowballs chance in hell of catching up in the mobile phone market.

Who these days even THINKS of buying a Nokia phone any more (sorry any Finns -- Nokia was great at the start but lost their way). Blackberry's are also on the way out -- these symbolize that you are a "Wage slave tethered to some boss in an office" - not an image todays generation want to create. The only 3 major players are of course the iPhone from apple, and the other big two who both use android -- Samsung and HTC.

Can you really see W8 breaking into this market !!.

MS IMO would be far better at trying to encourage some laptop makers to have completely detachable screens so they could operate as a "tablet" when needed or revert to a proper PC at other times. Ms could then adapt W8 to work for the touch screen in tablet mode or switch the OS to Desktop mode when that's required.

It's so obvious that even a 4 year old could see it -- but in my experience since when has management ever been "sensible" or logical.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[A Guy]

I personally couldn't see a small business, much less a large one, switching to such a radically changed user interface. No one would be experienced to give instructions for instance. I do believe that this is MS's way of putting out a mobile OS, and they know they have Windows 7 for all the businesses who need to update. If consumers decide they want Windows 8 on their PC's, great, but I don't think it is MS's plan. A Guy

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
It's fine for a tablet -- It's probably fine for a phone too --but can you really see Ms breaking into SAMSUNG or HTC's market.

I'd love to try it on the Samsung galaxy --I'm sure there might be a hack later. I certainly wouldn't buy a Nokia phone just to try out W8 on a phone !!!!.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[BillWindows]

Hi there
It's fine for a tablet -- It's probably fine for a phone too --but can you really see Ms breaking into SAMSUNG or HTC's market.

I'd love to try it on the Samsung galaxy --I'm sure there might be a hack later. I certainly wouldn't buy a Nokia phone just to try out W8 on a phone !!!!.

Cheers
jimbo

[h=2]Nokia Lumia 800 shows fastest growing sales in UK Top 10, iPhone 4S fading[/h] June 1, 2012 | By Surur

If there is one thing Nokia has managed which other Windows Phone OEMs have not it has been to sustain and even grow sales over time, rather than simply release a token Windows Phone and forget about it.
MobileToday reports that their continuing promotion of their handsets have paid off, and the Nokia Lumia 800 is not only back in the top 10 sales in the UK, but also recorded the fastest growing sales in the top 10, outstripping rivals such as RIM, Samsung and HTC.
The handset is closing in on the sales of the Blackberry Curve 9360 and Bold 9900, both still popular handsets in UK, where Blackberry still has 15% market share.

 

[legacy7955]

I can't believe I agree with BillBot....erm I mean BillWindows about something, but he is correct about the lastest Noika Lumina series...great functionality and performance, with what you'd expect most importantly from the Finnish company....reliability.

 

[SIW2]

Good to hear Nokia isn't doing too badly.

It would be sad to see them in trouble.

If that article is correct - Nokia have produced a device that people want and marketed it well

 

[BillWindows]

I'd say it's most likely correct as I've read before they were doing well in Europe and the UK. Germany has actually jumped from 3% to 6% market share. The US is also doing well.