Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Usage Apparently Double That of Windows 7 Beta
Windowsitpro ^ | April 23, 2012 09:04 AM | Paul Thurrott

Posted on 04/28/2012 7:46:30 AM PDT by SmokingJoe

Microsoft revealed late last week that usage of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview has doubled that of Windows 7 during the same pre-release timeframe for that version. “Millions” of people are already using Windows 8 every day, the company claimed.

Because this is literally all the information that Microsoft communicated about this incredible milestone, let’s read between the lines a bit. I have two thoughts about this issue, one of which has been bothering me for some time.

First, this announcement is an attempt by Microsoft to remind people of how popular Windows really is. While the mainstream media is busy trying to bury Windows by constantly reporting on the “surge” of sales of iPads and other tablets (and rewrite history in the process), the truth is a lot less dramatic. In fact, as I pointed out last week in Good News and Bad News for the Future of Computing, even in a worst-case scenario in which tablet sales really do surge and actual PC sales fall by 35 percent, Windows still dominates the iPad and Android-based tablets as far into the future as 2016, the last year for which any estimates are available.

Second, and more alarming, the delivery of this little news tidbit represents just another step in an ongoing trend at Microsoft in which the responsibility for delivering a statement to the press and thus the outside world isn’t attributed to any executive or other person who works for or represents Microsoft in any official capacity. That is, Microsoft didn’t announce this information via a press release or have an actual human being working at the company utter the words that triggered this story.

No, Microsoft delivered this news via Twitter.

(Excerpt) Read more at windowsitpro.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: ipad; micrsoft; tablets; windows8
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last
To: rarestia

I tried Win8 and hated it. I’ve switched my laptops to Linux and when I’ve figured it out I’ll change my main desktop over, too.


21 posted on 04/28/2012 10:01:40 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (To the left the truth looks like Right-Wing extremism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

Microsoft can’t leave well enough alone for several reasons:

Number ONE:They want to sell lots of software,and forcing users to upgrade keps the money rolling in!

Number Two:Programmers always want to show they could have done it better or differently or more cleverly,and having access to the latest hardware,they disdain average users who simply want the computer on the desk to keep doing the job it has been doing satisfactorily.Many of us RESENT the periodic abandonemt of our systems forcing us to buy new just to do the same tasks.What actual new capabilities have been made available to users with each iteration of Windows? Did we not have email,internet,networking,spreadsheets,wordprocessing,desktop publishing, photo,music, and video capabilities in Win 95! I had those things on my Win95.And my use has not been made easier by the huge bloated programs that succeeded that era.The only difference I see is that the average user’s internet connection now can deliver fullscreen movies whereas my Win 95 or Mac OS9 was limited by the availavable internet connection speed of 56k.But I’d rather watch a movie on a bigger screen anyway.For an experiment I may dig out an old PC and try it on DSL;I know Win98SE did DSL,don’t remember if Win95 could.

Number Three:There is a huge industry of people making very good money “supporting” Microsoft products;i.e. retraining users how to use the new program they really didn’t want,need, or ask for.I have a huge stack of books explaining the various MS products;of course it is all obsolete in a very few years.

I think the computer people are like the man with only a hammer and they insist every task is best done by using a hammer,although it may require the “new,improved” hammer.

FINALLY, I posit that the Electronics Industry of post -1990 is the most successful group ever at implementing,selling, and profiting from planned obsolescence.The landfills are piled with perfectly functional,serviceable electronics whilst the consumers’ pockets are emptied to buy the latest because last years’ item is no longer supported!


22 posted on 04/28/2012 10:46:10 AM PDT by hoosierham (Freedom isn't free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe
It comes with it's god and it's bad.
Microsoft is simply mining for licensing dollars, nothing more. The rate in which they are releasing OS major and minor updates is alarming. They are even withholding system features, only to release them as "r2" and consider it another release this not allowing your license to run it without an upgrade purchase. Their CAL licensing is now nothing more than a rape-job as well, especially in the SQL world... God help you if you have to run SQL for some reason.

I used to be a go-along, MS fit and did it's job rather well. the past 3 years have transformed me into one of those irritating MS haters. We are doing everything in our power to eliminate Ms products from our corporate setting. It's difficult to do, but in most cases, it's possible.

One thing is a plus: the new versions of windows will be able to run on ARM platforms. Let's hope this gives the industry the shove it needs to start migrating away from intel architecture and get some real and efficient instruction into the mainstream.

23 posted on 04/28/2012 11:03:58 AM PDT by FunkyZero (... I've got a Grand Piano to prop up my mortal remains)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

I’m both a Windows 7 and Linux user as well as a developer and I have one piece of advice for you when Windows 8 launches - get your hands on some Apple stock. Windows 8 is such a usability nightmare for a desktop operating system it should drive people to the Apple Store in droves.


24 posted on 04/28/2012 11:33:29 AM PDT by GunningForTheBuddha (DC is like a car full of clowns off their meds.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

No way will I install Windows 8. Think about this:
Windows 3.1 - stable
Windows 95 - turd
Windows 98 - stable
Windows Millenium Edition - turd
Windows XP - stable
Windows Vista - turd
Windows 7 - stable
Windows 8 - turd (projected)
That’s all you need to know.


25 posted on 04/28/2012 11:38:42 AM PDT by george123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

I’m all about having things work. I still have one XP machine at home and a few at my office. They do the job just fine for what is needed. I have a pretty substantial Win7 machine at home that I use for Blu-Ray quality home video projects, multi-track music mixdown and other horsepower related projects. When I just want to surf the web I grab my iPad 1. You can get one for $200 on eBay now. I got a used Macbook Pro for mobile audio purposes; it does great things with digital audio and my Presonus equipment. Different tools for different jobs.


26 posted on 04/28/2012 11:44:31 AM PDT by jdsteel (Give me freedom, not more government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Roccus
Totally computer illiterate. Was quite hapy with XP and OE, then my ‘puter fried. Now I’m stuck with 7 and Live Mail (which I hate!)

I was also an XP die hard, until the last of my old dinosaur computers died on me. I went out and bought a new e-machines computer with Windows 7 pre-installed, and have been pleasantly surprised by it.

For what it's worth, I find it to be as stable and reliable as XP, although Microsoft's whiz kids 'fixed' a few things that didn't need fixing. Overall, though, I have no real complaints. I'm becoming accustomed to the new layout, and breaking it in like a new E-Z Boy lounger.

27 posted on 04/28/2012 12:11:47 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: qam1
I want my search back!!!! In XP you hit control F and up came the silly dog but all you had to do was enter the file name you wanted to find on one line or the text in the file contents on another line.

Simple and it worked

Gotta agree with that. It's one of my chief beefs with Windows 7. The search function sucks raw eggs.

28 posted on 04/28/2012 12:15:53 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Clara Lou

My favorite days are the ones when I hit the button on my KV switch and get to use my Linux workstation all day. :)


29 posted on 04/28/2012 1:11:33 PM PDT by The Duke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe
http://0.asset.soup.io/asset/2333/9920_4f92_750.jpeg

Windows are Structural Weaknesses, Geth do not use them.

30 posted on 04/28/2012 3:08:09 PM PDT by KC_Lion (A Romney victory means that the socialistsÂ’ takeover of both parties is now complete)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Windflier
The search function sucks raw eggs.

I was once told that opera singers sucked raw eggs before performances.

31 posted on 04/28/2012 3:10:56 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: SmokingJoe

Keep in mind the old truth applicable to any such products, including your beloved iPads: once you have bought it you own an obsolete piece of technology - the new improved next generation is coming sooner than you can say Jack Robinson!


32 posted on 04/28/2012 3:12:47 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hoosierham
Number ONE:They want to sell lots of software,and forcing users to upgrade keps the money rolling in!

I would suggest they are also in cahoots with the hardware manufacturers. I have one newer desktop that has Win 7 on it and I'm happy with it. I also have older boxes and laptops that still have XP. These do not have the RAM and CPUs to let them work with Win 7, let alone Win 8, but they work perfectly well with XP. When MS stops supporting XP, my options will be
1)buy new computers
2) upgrade the motherboards, RAM and CPUs so they will work with Win 7
3) switch to Linux
4) toss perfectly good computers.

You can bet Dell, HP, etc. hope I and all the others in my boat choose option 1).

33 posted on 04/28/2012 3:19:32 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: george123
No way will I install Windows 8. Think about this:
Windows 3.1 - stable
Windows 95 - turd
Windows 98 - stable
Windows Millenium Edition - turd
Windows XP - stable
Windows Vista - turd
Windows 7 - stable
Windows 8 - turd (projected)
That’s all you need to know.

While I can't be sure, I think I'm seeing a pattern in your list. :=) Excellent summary of previous MS releases.

34 posted on 04/28/2012 3:21:36 PM PDT by Bob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Roccus
...All I want is internet access, a place to store pictures, e-mail capability and printability. Any suggestions for when my Windows 7 goes south?...

Before you make the plunge and get further immeshed in the Windows world, check out the web page below and watch the short video tutorials that give you an overview of what switching to a Mac can do for you:

http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/

As an alternative, visit an Apple Store for a hands-on demonstration, if you live near one.

35 posted on 04/28/2012 4:15:46 PM PDT by doc11355
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Clara Lou

TY

I’ll give that a try.


36 posted on 04/28/2012 4:43:08 PM PDT by Roccus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: The Duke

I used Ubuntu for quite a while. I liked it. But the last version I downloaded had a messed up updater. I could not figure out the problem, so I wiped that drive. I do not know (as in “in person”) anyone else who uses Linux in any version, so there was no one I could ask questions, and forums were only helpful up to a point.


37 posted on 04/28/2012 5:18:56 PM PDT by Clara Lou
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
I was once told that opera singers sucked raw eggs before performances.

So that's where that came from!

38 posted on 04/28/2012 6:36:41 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Clara Lou
I bet you had the same 'lock up' problem that I had with the Muon package manager. I found a fix for it online, applied it, and it works perfectly now.

I believe that Windows is striving to appeal to a user base that becomes less sophisticated by the year, while (at least my own Kubuntu desktop) just drops sophistication. :)

39 posted on 04/28/2012 6:51:58 PM PDT by The Duke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Another convert...


40 posted on 04/28/2012 9:46:40 PM PDT by TXnMA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson