Microsoft only sold 1/3 of internal sales projections of Windows

[Shane Nokes]

To Microsoft, have you ever heard of common sense? Tell me, why should I upgrade when my computer does everything I want it to right now? I can see why you would want to go from 98 to XP, but 7 to 8 - there's not much point (unless you absolutely want Metro). I only use desktop PCs - I find tablets to slow to work with.

Huh...I could swear that I have 8 installed on my desktop and working just fine...otherwise this is one hell of a heavy non-portable tablet that uses a mouse and keyboard...

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

sales projections are based on the quarter...

So what's with the stories about Windows 8 sales being well below projections then?

I knew it was about 7 from the title...

Good for you. :)

[Shane Nokes]

So what's with the stories about Windows 8 sales being well below projections then?

Story...singular...and it's Paul Thurrott. I've already explained this before. He cites no actual sources for the story, and just leaves it up to you to sort of assume he knows what he's talking about.

The problem is that PT hasn't actually really had any 'ins' at the company for quite some time now...due to the way he throws fits when he doesn't get all the insider access he wants.

In fact read the following excerpt from his update:

Those are simply my best guesses, not "facts," and certain debatable. But you can expect Microsoft to eventually release sales numbers for Windows 8, numbers that it will use to prove (or at least contort) that everything?s just fine.

That's my point...sour grapes...he admits what he says is just a guess, not a fact, and then goes on to say that Microsoft will eventually give numbers (because they haven't) to prove (or contort...because yeah PT is awesome and can use words like contort) that things are fine.

In other words (reading between the lines)...PT has no idea what is going on...is making a guess...and then states that Microsoft will lie...but claim it is truth in order to pat their own bruised egos.

Like I said...sour grapes.

[farmeunit]

Between the still-crappy economy, and the basically flat hardware requirements (compared to 7), what is there to drive either hardware OR OS upgrades - even assuming that Windows 8 were unchanged from Windows 7? (I'm citing Windows 8's critics, mind - my opinion on Windows 8 is known.)

Since when is a software upgrade determined by the hardware requirements? If it required more horsepower, then you wouldn't upgrade because your computer can't handle it, but if it's the same, then you would. Make sense? Unless you're counting new computer sales.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

he admits what he says is just a guess, not a fact,

Really doesn't seem that way to me. He flat-out states as a fact:

Microsoft has not met is [sic] internal projections for Windows 8 sales.

Then he goes on to speculate about possible reasons for poor sales:

some possible explanations for what went wrong [...] Those are simply my best guesses

So it seems it's only the explanations (for poor sales) that are based on guesswork.

[Shane Nokes]

Really doesn't seem that way to me. He flat-out states as a fact:

Then he goes on to speculate about possible reasons for poor sales:

So it seems it's only the explanations (for poor sales) that are based on guesswork.

That's my point. If he actually had this 'source' he would know why. He wouldn't be guessing.

He's contradictory on things...because he no longer actually has 'ins' at MS. He hasn't for quite some time..at least not anyone who actually can provide him with good usable data.

So most of what he does is guess...and he often misses the mark. That was what my point was. He's guessing at the supposed cause of an event that cannot actually be confirmed to exist.

The whole post is supposition...and he usually does this shortly after MS denies him access to something he wants.

Snipped

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

That's my point. If he actually had this 'source' he would know why. He wouldn't be guessing.

Sorry. I can't follow you there. Like he says, the explanations are debatable, there's not necessarily a single correct explanation that Microsoft (and/or his source) would know about. As far as I can tell, you're essentially accusing him of lying when it comes to his assertion that

Sales of Windows 8 PCs are well below Microsoft?s internal projections and have been described inside the company as disappointing.

No offense, but Microsoft has internally determined that Windows 8 is selling worse than expected. [...] it's an attempt to figure out what happened. Because it did happen.

[Shane Nokes]

As far as I can tell, you're essentially accusing him of lying when it comes to his assertion that

I'm saying that PT often runs with a story that isn't true...it happens a lot.

[PGHammer]

Since when is a software upgrade determined by the hardware requirements? If it required more horsepower, then you wouldn't upgrade because your computer can't handle it, but if it's the same, then you would. Make sense? Unless you're counting new computer sales.

I didn't say it was - I said that there was an assumption with Vista (which was largely untrue) that it required greater hardware than XP. That was largely untrue; however, there was indeed bad hardware released during the Vista era.

The hardware requirements for 7 and 8 are absolutely identical - however, 7 is familiar as it changed little in terms of UI/UX from XP or Vista; that is, in fact, the ONLY advantage that Windows 7 has. 7 is vanilla - which is enjoying a return to favorability. Notice that I did NOT say that Windows 7 is a "bad" OS - merely that it's a "vanilla" OS. Windows 8 isn't a bad OS, either - it's just that some folks, after having tried the fancier *flavor* of Windows, seek a return to "vanilla" (7).

[Marshall Veteran]

Thread Cleaned

Let's try to maintain a level of maturity, please.

[JaredFrost]

Notice that I did NOT say that Windows 7 is a "bad" OS - merely that it's a "vanilla" OS. Windows 8 isn't a bad OS, either - it's just that some folks, after having tried the fancier *flavor* of Windows, seek a return to "vanilla" (7).

If I am understanding you correctly, you're calling Windows 8 fancier, I however find it the opposite, I see it as flat, plain and boring

Not even as fancy as vanilla.