277 replies to this topic 11 votes

[CentralDogma]

In the month of February, according to Net Applications, Windows 8 gained 0.4% of the desktop market, moving from 2.26 to 2.67%. In comparison, Windows 7 had a market share of over 9% after four months of public availability. A growth rate of 0.4% is absolutely horrendous, and — if we assume that PCs are replaced every five years — actually below the natural attrition/replacement rate. If growth of 0.4% wasn’t bad enough, it’s also worth pointing out that it’s down from 0.5% in January — yes, Windows 8 adoption is slowing down.

...


At this point, it isn’t entirely clear how Microsoft intends to spur the adoption of Windows 8. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but Windows Vista actually enjoyed faster growth than Windows 8 — and we know all too well how the Vista story played out. Despite selling Windows 8 at a massively discounted price of $40 for three months (it’s now $200), and sales boosts from Black Friday and Christmas, it’s clear that Windows 8 has failed to take off.



http://www.extremete...at-a-standstill

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[+ViperAFK]

40 dollar deal is the only reason I upgraded, otherwise I would have stayed on win7.

[Relativity_17]

What does the chart look like with the raw numbers instead of percentage of worldwide PCs?

[ctrl_alt_delete]

did extremetech make that chart? I wonder where they got there data from. maybe I didn't read properly I actually just skimmed article. I wonder where they got their data from.

[warwagon]

Quote

discounted price of $40 for three months (it’s now $200)

$200 for Windows 8?

[Ryano121]

Wow I knew it was bad but I didn't think it was this bad. Just makes you realise how good Windows 7 is and how well it did on launch.

[mclaren2]

if steve ballmer wasnt such a good friend to gates, his head would have rollen already ...

[Tyler R.]

Microsoft forked themselves with this one. I"m sure Windows 9 will correct a bunch of the issues people are having. *ducks*

[Snake89]

I don't really see people leaving windows 7 until the next advancement in computer hardware itself. Since PC's over the past few years haven't really gotten that much faster when it comes to OEM desktops. So in general the only people who do upgrade are those people who love new tech, An that's only a small percent.

No reason to upgrade when everything on your current system works great.

[Order_66]

But but..... it sold 60 million copies, how can this be true wtf?? /s

[Order_66]

Snake89, on 02 March 2013 - 19:54, said:

No reason to upgrade when everything on your current system works great.

At the retail level people are avoiding windows 8 machines because of the hostile user interface, 90% of the time that's the first thing they look at when buying a new machine, and is also the main reason why they avoid it altogether and sales of macs have gone up because of this as well.
People always want to upgrade but sadly when it comes to the average consumer there is currently nothing to upgrade to because of windows 8 and its dominance at retail.

[johnporter29]

Windows 8 is so diabolical it should be taken off the shop shelf and removed from every PC/Laptop on on sale today /s

[MorganX]

1) Like the Modern UI or not, Windows 8 is a recommendable upgrade to Windows 7.

2) The main problem is, some of the changes MS made for its own needs to irritate many. The problem is there's not compelling reason to endure that on the desktop if you're happy with Windows 7, and why wouldn't you be, all the games are and are continuing to be written for it and all the meaningful apps are for it, including Office 2013.

3) The Surface RT has failed to win over the "consumer" users, defined as those buying iPads and cheap Androids to play games, email, browse and yes, to Facebook and Twitter.

4) I believe MS missed, is missing the mark because they have incorrectly read the market. The consumer tablet market is not people migrating from PCs. It is people who otherwise would not have a PC of any kind. PC users add-on a tablet. Because MS believed the desktop user was a dying breed (it is quite the opposite) they made decisions that alienated many of them. Which has been in the past, MS reliable bread and butter.

5) The potential of Windows 8 and even the Modern UI is quite exciting, but the problem is the decision makers at Microsoft IMO. If they backtrack a little and give loyal desktop users some of what they want (really what is that anyway, other than the start menu for which there are alternatives. that deserves a thread if we can avoid zealots on both sides tainting it with their stink.) this thing can turn around.

6) MS has overestimated the desire for touch on a desktop PC. It's really non-existent. What's driving it? Microsoft's need to penetrate the tablet and phone market. I believe the hybrid UI can work if they make improvements and provide strong full featured core Modern UI apps.

I'm going to create a topic on what improvements I would like to see. Because I think improving Windows 8 is better than going back to Windows 7. And that includes having to go back to Windows Media Player Classic to sync a Windows Phone 8 with a Windows 8 desktop. Absolutely ludicrous and inexcusable.
Windows 8's number will continue to grow by default, but it may never be "popular" if something doesn't change.

ViperAFK, on 02 March 2013 - 19:43, said:

40 dollar deal is the only reason I upgraded, otherwise I would have stayed on win7.

$14.99 x 3 here. 2 new Desktops and a laptop. But I'm glad I did. There's nothing wrong with Windows 7, and plenty of irritation with Windows 8, but I can't go back. The Desktop Environment is too good.

[Order_66]

Tyler R., on 02 March 2013 - 19:52, said:

Microsoft forked themselves with this one. I"m sure Windows 9 will correct a bunch of the issues people are having. *ducks*

If Ballmer is still running the show then I wouldn't bet on windows 9 being any better than 8.

[Snake89]

MorganX, on 02 March 2013 - 20:11, said:

1) Like the Modern UI or not, Windows 8 is a recommendable upgrade to Windows 7.

Who says it's a recommended upgrade to windows 7? No one did. That's just your own point of view.