100 Million Windows 8 licenses sold!

[Chris123NT]

I run Windows 8 (well, 8.1 now) because of the kernel optimizations and other features that make desktop usability easier.

I still don't like the start screen, but maybe my opinion will change with future 8.1 builds depending on how they implement some things that a lot of people complained about with 8.

[Growled Member]

What puzzles me is Microsoft keeps telling us Windows 8 is selling and yet the market share for Windows 8 is barely registering.

[Astra.Xtreme]

What puzzles me is Microsoft keeps telling us Windows 8 is selling and yet the market share for Windows 8 is barely registering.

That's because regardless of what magical sales number Microsoft tries to feed us, the fact is that not many people are using it.

[grik]

Its a nonsense this news. Let me explain.

Windows8 was sold alot because of the price 15?. I installed it, didnt like it at all and went back to Windows7. Now comes the Final version of Windows, its called Blue and will be solving most of the problems, like the previous 7.

MS is delivering and, most important, selling BETA versions of their software, there was Vista that had a beta core systems with many bugs and problems. Now Windows 8 is a GUI Beta that was a ridiculous effort to impose a new gGUI to users. Old, new every user had to learn and like this. Stupid Stupid Stupid.

With this MS shooted itseld on foot, once again. They jump from FINAL versions to BETA then they launch another FINAL.

[Mr. Gibs]

That's because regardless of what magical sales number Microsoft tries to feed us, the fact is that not many people are using it.

Er not really.

1. Statcounter and IDC both count iOS under operating system (as well as mobile OS), not sure why but it skews the results a tiny bit.

2. Windows 8 is at what 5% or so on those sites? There are 2.4 billion computers connected to the internet, so 5% of that is 140 million. Microsoft said 100 million.

3. Comparing Windows 7 and Windows 8 strictly by percentage is a stupid idea. Windows 7 released in 2009 and there were 1.7 billion computers connected to the internet then. As of 2012, there were 2.8 billion so obviously the percentages are going to be different.

Granted this isn't 100% accurate because not all computers will have visited websites that report to statcounter or IDC, some people have adblockers that will block it, etc etc etc. But the 100 million sold thing doesn't actually seem to be that far of.

Windows8 was sold alot because of the price 15?. I installed it, didnt like it at all and went back to Windows7. Now comes the Final version of Windows, its called Blue and will be solving most of the problems, like the previous 7.

Sigh do people ever read?

The $15 was ONLY if you bought a desktop/laptop in the previous 3 months. In comparison with Windows 7 it was FREE. Then there was house party (free windows 7 ult), and family pack (3 for $50 each).

MS is delivering and, most important, selling BETA versions of their software, there was Vista that had a beta core systems with many bugs and problems. Now Windows 8 is a GUI Beta that was a ridiculous effort to impose a new gGUI to users. Old, new every user had to learn and like this. Stupid Stupid Stupid.

With this MS shooted itseld on foot, once again. They jump from FINAL versions to BETA then they launch another FINAL.

No they are not. The start screen wasn't a beta, please learn how software works.

Just because something is different or has a couple of bugs in it doesn't make it a beta. If that were the case every single software in the world would be considered a beta and will never reach final stages.

And Vista's core wasn't buggy it was because drivers from nvidia and creative (and other companies to a smaller extent) were so **** that they kept crashing.

[PGHammer]

That's because regardless of what magical sales number Microsoft tries to feed us, the fact is that not many people are using it.

Or maybe there are still a lot of PCs running older versions of Windows.

Look at the TOTAL number of Windows-based PCs - including all those that don't even meet the requirements for Windows 7. If they can't run 7, then Windows 8 (same hardware requirements) is certainly a nonstarter. The economy in a lot of places is still dragging itself off the deck - that is why sales of new PCs (including Macs, by the by) are still taking it in the neck.

Then there are refurbished/repurposed PCs - an enterprise or even a government agency clears out an old computer running XP (auction or sells to a refurbisher, or even donates it to a charity) who then refurbishes it and either uses it themselves or sells it to a home user. complete with XP or Vista (or, if the hardware meets the requirements, 7). The OS may be EOL; however, that doesn't mean that the computer is. (Windows 7, for example, is going to be supported for another eight years.)

Then there are virtual machines. VMs are a new wrinkle because, for the first time, VM licensing of Windows is not just permitted, but is available outside of enterprises - how many older versions of Windows are running in VMs? (It is a very fair question, as I have legitimately-licensed versions of Windows NT Workstation back to 3.x in VMs, and will soon be installing both Vista Ultimate and 7 Home Premium VMs this week. Do they count?)

Statistics in terms of OS counts have more wrinkle factors than a lion has hair.