CES 2013: Industry Source -- More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

Dailytech ^ | January 11, 2013 6:48 PM | Jason Mick (Blog)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Notably, more than half of gamers who DO pick the embattled OS downgrade within weeks

Arguably the most important, but relatively underdiscussed single story at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show can be expressed in a single word -- "solidarity".  Whether it was Intel Corp. (INTC) pushing customers towards touch-friendly devices or companies like Hewlett-Packard Comp. (HPQ) and Lenovo Group, Ltd. (HKG:0992) pushing Windows 8 hybrids/laptop designs, everyone was standing firmly behind Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) embattled Windows 8 operating system.

With past releases Microsoft was blasted for not being innovative enough compared to Linux and OS X, in terms of user interface design.  Windows 8 flips the tables innovating wildly -- well beyond what Linux distro makers or Apple, Inc. (AAPL) have dared do.  And now the equation has flipped: Microsoft finds itself under attack for innovating too much.

Whether its DailyTech's readers or online critics, it's important to recognize that much of the criticism is coming from the enthusiast sphere.  Average consumers -- who generally gravitate towards bright, colorful, touchable devices like moths to a light -- tend to react more kindly to Windows 8 when exposed, at least in my anecdotal experience.

But the numbers are troubling.  Despite Microsoft playing an interesting licensing sales game selling a deluge of licenses to OEMs at a rate that would indicate Windows 8 to be outselling Windows 7, the usage numbers indicate that OEMs are only moving a fraction of those licenses.  Windows 8 is only drawing around a tenth of the internet traffic Windows 7 did at a similar point in the adoption cycle; in fact Windows 8 trails Windows Vista in internet traffic.

For obvious reasons I won't name the particular company I heard this from, but during a discussion this week with a company who makes enthusiast laptops and desktops for gamers I heard a somewhat interesting and startling statistic that drives home just how much Windows 8 is indeed struggling.

_{Less than half oif enthusiasts give Windows 8 a try, and over half that do downgrade to
Windows 7 quickly, according to an industry source. [Image Source: Reuters]}

According to the the source:

It's really interesting... what we see is more people selecting Windows 7 [than Windows 8]... because we offer both side by side.  And we actually see more people switching [back] from Windows 8 [to Windows 7] which is interesting.

The source said that over half of the purchasers of enthusiast PCs who do take the Windows 8 drive tend to bail within a couple weeks.

Now bear in mind a couple of qualifiers:

1. Not all the enthusiasts desktops/laptops sold by this company come with touch monitors (hence limiting the Windows 8 UI).
2. The target audience is enthusiasts, who as mentioned tend to "hate on 8".

Still, the idea that 3 out of every 4 buyers of new machines are rejecting Windows 8 should be a startling one for Microsoft.  Microsoft should be very thankful for the solidarity shown by its partners at CES 2013, in the face of that kind of sales trend.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[prisoner6]

Well one clue is the MS offer to D/L 8 for what...less than $30??? Plus you can upgrade from XP which is what I use.

It is past time for me to upgrade though and I'll probably take them up on the 8 offer but get 7 as well so I'm covered.

[dhs12345]

Windows 8 = beta test for Windows 9. Windows 9 will be better.

Windows me, Vista, and now Windows 8. Notice the every other Windows version is bad.

[oh8eleven]

For those who may be stuck with Win8, there's still some hope ...
Windows 8 Survival Guide: All the Tips, Tricks, and Workarounds

[Olog-hai]

Why bother fixing what is not broken. Development should focus on OS integrity rather than just producing new operating systems for the sake of it.

[dhs12345]

XP is great. Why upgrade? Upgrading can be a painful process.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Just my 2 cents.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

From what I’ve heard about it I don’t want it.

[oh8eleven]

Windows me, Vista, and now Windows 8. Notice the every other Windows version is bad.
Ah, don't look now, but someone stole Win 7 off your list.

[prisoner6]

W98 worked great for me too. Stuck with it until newer programs/hardware wouldn’t run on it. Don’t want to be in that boat again.

[Alas Babylon!]

XP will no longer be supported next year. That means all security patches, hot fixes and updates will no longer be available. Plus, the worldwide hacker community have had 12 years now to learn to exploit XP—and the security of a year 2001 designed operating system just isn’t safe anymore.

And before we condemn Microsoft for dropping support, do realize it costs a ton of money to keep good programmers working on XP code when they’d be better used staffing newer models.

All good things must come to an end.

Finally, the PC has been a real success story—almost legendary when you think about how much it has changed the world; yet, even it will be replaced. In my opinion, the tablet/smart phone has not; rather they suplement the PC world, but nevertheless, something different will arise. What? I don’t know, but it will.

[dhs12345]

I know. We will stick with XP or switch to Linux. We won't be upgrading.

A huge can of worms in trying to upgrade an old PC. Especially, if it isn't necessary.

Most of the computers at work are running XP, too. We'll probably continue to run XP.

[dhs12345]

Depends on what you do. If you are running the latest and greatest software, then you’ll have to upgrade eventually.

New games, etc. drive the need to upgrade.

[dhs12345]

Lol. Win 7 has been pretty decent. They learned from Vista. :)

[meyer]

Bought a new Dell desktop this month. With Windows 7. It’s a great OS and I’m familiar with it. Much better user interface, at least for non-touch screen use.

[Moltke]

Purely anecdotal, but one of my secretaries mentioned just yesterday that she bought a new home PC a short time ago and decided to go with the “new Windows 8” for the “new PC”.

She’s now thoroughly PO’ed. Annoying user interface, data loss, etc. I just had to laugh (in a caring, your-boss-sympathizes way, of course...)

As for myself, Win XP still does everything I need it to do at the firm and at home. Our firm is a small one at 20 people or so altogether, so we don’t have ‘corporate’ size IP issues that would absolutely require always having the latest OS. Even moving most of our workplaces to Win 7 was a waste of time and money IMO.

[Bob]

Amen. Hated Vista. Very happy with 7. Very skeptical about 8.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I aam happy with my Linux versions....no trouble with malware.

And I can see Photos just fine.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Microsoft hasn't changed their automatic orienttion....there will still be exploits...

And Oracle's JAVA is now even worse apparently.

Take a look at the various Linux distros....for serious internet browsing....

Why have a computer with personal data accessible to the INTERNET....when there are other choices,.?

[pallis]

I will be upgrading my XP desktop to Win 7 soon. I want to upgrade my motherboard and a few other things at the same time. The Win 7 on my laptop has won me over. I don’t have any use for Win 8, but the wife, kids and grandkids don’t seem to have a problem with it on the pad.