I HATE how they boast about such things when they release a new POS Operating System. I'd bet a small fraction of those "sold licenses" were by customers actually wanting to run that OS. It just comes pre-installed by the PC manufacturers(like having new cars with completely undesirable tires), and I'm sure a vast majority of end users even know what an operating system is, let alone knowing another one such as Linux can be installed. I bought a new HP Laptop for my wife, and it had a Windows 8 license with downgrade(their words lol) rights to have it pre-installed with Win7 Professional, so technically I "purchased" a Windows 8 license, and it will never EVER run on that Laptop. Had it not been for the option of having it come with Win7, I wouldn't have bought it. If given an informed choice, I'm certain that your average end user would be much much more satisfied and comfrotable with one of the 'mainstream' Linux operating systems over Windows 8.
Windows 8 has to be at least part of the reason PC sales are in the toilet. The OEMs would be FAR better served to not be joined at the hip with Microsoft!
I bought a new HP Laptop for my wife, and it had a Windows 8 license with downgrade(their words lol) rights to have it pre-installed with Win7 Professional, so technically I “purchased” a Windows 8 license, and it will never EVER run on that Laptop. Had it not been for the option of having it come with Win7, I wouldn’t have bought it.