Will windows 8 sink the microsoft ship?
It has been more than a year since Windows 8 was introduced to consumers. The date was Oct 26, 2012, to be exact. And here we are, still debating if Windows 8 is a failure.
The early news was showing good traction in Windows 8 sales. ZDNet published a report on May 6, 2013, saying that over 100 million Windows 8 licenses were sold. But Windows 8 sales started declining after that.
I am not here to talk about how good or bad Windows 8 is selling but instead to talk about what real consumers think of Windows 8. The consumers I am talking about are home PC users, business tablet users, business owners and executives, marketing managers, programmers, and even students.
The good
I love Windows 8. I love the concept and the idea behind it. I love the design and user interfaces. I love live tiles and everything else about it. The only thing I hate about Windows 8 is not having the real Start menu. I heard rumors that Windows 8.2 will have the real Start menu back, the way we have in Windows 7.
Here are some of the positive quotes from my colleagues, friends, and co-workers.
“I love the new Windows 8 interface.”
These are tech-savvy or semi-professional users who own multiple PCs including tablets and laptops. These users are very familiar with how to use keyboard key combinations. These are also the people who get excited about new technologies and are willing to go the extra mile to get their hands on these devices. Most of these users have a Windows 8 loaded on a touch tablet or laptop.
8% of people love Windows 8.
I have a one-touch PC and 2 Sony laptops running Windows 8. All three PCs have touch screens.
That is the good news about Windows 8.
The bad
Windows 8 is loved by 8% of people only. What about the rest? I will now tell you about some consumers who are my friends and co-workers but they are not developers or professionals.
They are very confused about Windows 8. Some of these users have found a way to go back to the Desktop mode but they are frustrated when files are opened in the metro mode.
Consumers are finding Windows 8 overwhelming
“How can I keep the desktop mode the default mode?” one of my closest friends asked.
And what about switching back to Windows 7?
These are the people who do not like the new interface but are still willing to learn and give it a try. They also have no option to return to Windows 7. They are just stuck.
And the Ugly.
“I hate my new laptop.”
“How can I install Windows 7 on my new laptop?”
“I just returned to my new laptop.”
These are the kinds of questions I get from some of my friends and co-workers.
“I have this new computer I just bought from Best Buy. Can I return it? What computer do you recommend?” one of my friends and the founder of a new startup asked me earlier this week.
“I hate Windows 8.”
She said.
Some Windows 8 users are panicking.
These are the consumers who are panicking. They wish to go back to their old Windows 7 PC.
Microsoft’s mistake
Microsoft made a blunder in early 2002 or so. They had one of the first tablet computers and I remember I bought it as soon as it came out. I had a Toshiba Tablet running Windows XP Tablet Edition that could be folded and become a tablet where I used a Pen to write on it. It also had voice commands.
At that time, Microsoft panicked and discontinued it.
And then Apple came out with the iPad that changed the world!
I hope Microsoft is here to stay with Windows 8 and does not repeat the same mistakes they made earlier with Windows Tablet.
Conclusion
With all the above discussion aside, Microsoft is fully vested in Windows 8 and I can see Windows 8 is the operating system of the future. I firmly believe there is a strong future for touch and speech. I think that, until speech input has improved, Keyboards will survive only among coders, authors, and others who do a lot of typing. I strongly believe that voice commands and touch devices will take over the world. When that happens, Windows 8 is far ahead of other competitors out there. Windows 8 is already being successfully implemented at restaurant tables, conferences, planes, and other consumables.
When hardware becomes cheaper, everyone will have large touch displays, and the value of Windows 8 will be noticed and appreciated.
So, hold on tight! Windows 8 is here to stay.
Thank you to our Editor Sam Hobbs for proofreading and editing this article.