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Posted on 07/15/2016 8:13:13 PM PDT by dayglored
All that nagware hasn't worked
When Windows 10 launched, Microsoft claimed it would have the new operating system on a billion devices by mid-2018. That isn't going to happen, however, Redmond has now admitted.
For the past year, Microsoft has offered the new OS as a free upgrade for both desktop and mobile users (provided the phone can handle it in the latter case), and has been pushing it for Internet of Things makers. However, so far the OS is only on 350 million monthly active devices, and Redmond says it needs more time to hit ten figures.
"We're pleased with our progress to date, but due to the focusing of our phone hardware business, it will take longer than FY18 [the year to July 2018] for us to reach our goal of one billion monthly active devices," a spokeswoman told The Reg.
"In the year ahead, we are excited about usage growth coming from commercial deployments and new devices – and increasing customer delight with Windows."
The admission shows that the persistent nagware on PCs for users of Windows 7 and 8.1 hasn't worked, despite Microsoft attempting some fairly underhanded tactics to get people to upgrade, and may have soured some on the OS.
Enterprises, which were thought to be big believers in the new operating system, have also been unimpressed. Sure, there are pilot programs running in many companies, but IT managers have shown little willingness to do a mass upgrade when earlier operating systems are still working well.
The other failure point is with Microsoft's mobile strategy, or lack of one these days. Windows Phone sales are cratering, it's not a popular OS with vendors, and although Microsoft says it is still developing the platform, their OS is short on apps and customers.
Microsoft can expect an upsurge in Windows 10 installations from PC users toward the end of the month, when the free upgrade offer ends. But with PC sales disappointing, mobile users a dying breed, and enterprise not biting yet, it's clear Microsoft will need longer than two years to hit the billion mark. 2020 perhaps?
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The nagware worked for me. I switched to Linux. Why did I wait so long?
750 million?
850 million?
You probably don't want me to answer that. :-)
Was it that clown Ballmer who promised that, or was it the new Slurpee salesman?
Based on a Linux box of course.
Keep that M$ stuff in a lock box I say...
I’m on FR with a W7 laptop. FW10.
I bought a refurbished desktop with a 900 GB HD and a fresh installation of Windows 7 Professional for wait - the miserly sum of $62.
The prediction was made in April 2015, a few months before Win10 released. Steve Ballmer retired effective Feb 4, 2014.
Can't lay this one at the feet of ol' Steverino.
If they’d tried something other than the ‘free candy’ marketing approach, a lot more Windows users would have given it a whirl.
Forcibly inserting that Windows 10 icon into billions of users system trays, was a draconian, heavyhanded move. Tens of millions of users (like me) objected to that intrusion on THEIR computers.
Mine won’t fire up. Not necessarily a Windows 10 problem but this laptop for some reason is dead as a door nail. Won’t power up. Toshiba.
Software so impressive you can’t give it away.
Upgraded a couple of months ago from Windows 8.1. It took a little time to adjust to the changes but the price was right.
I like it. Best Microsoft operating system ever and I go back to DOS.
I'd guess at 400 million....unless there are any more rumors about home users becoming "subscribers" to Windows.
If that happens, Redmond's going to be lucky if they don't start losing systems by the thousands.
If they think they had a near revolt on their hands over XP, just wait....
Try this: disconnect the power supply and remove the battery.
Hold down the start button for about a minute.
Then, in this order- connect the power supply, replace the battery...and see if she boots up.
This procedure does work-sometimes.
We may have loaded win 10 but were turned off bad by all their very annoying pop up ads. To hell with it!
Thanks. The battery is not easily removable. I did try the complete power down and the hold the start button for 20 seconds.
I will see if I the battery can come out and try your idea. Much appreciated (Someone on here showed me how to hot wire a tablet that would not power up and dang it worked). Hope your idea does.
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