More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

[gregrocker]

Microsoft WIndows 8 update restores start button and adds search | FP Tech Desk | Financial Post

One major research firm, International Data Corp., blamed the redesigned operating system for worsening a decline in PC sales by confusing prospective buyers.

Meanwhile, Windows 8 hasn’t proven it’s compelling enough to put a major dent in the popularity of Apple Inc.’s pioneering iPad or other tablets running on Google Inc.’s Android software. Microsoft, though, remains convinced that Windows 8 just needs a little fine tuning. “We feel good about the basic bets that we have made,” Leblond said.

One issue, particularly for tablet customers, has been the lack of applications for Window 8, compared with more than 350,000 apps for Apple Inc.’s iPad. Windows now has about 79,000 apps, according to MetroStore Scanner, a website that tracks how many apps are in the Windows store.
While the Windows 8 update is a concession by Microsoft that the new operating system may have turned off some customers, the software maker isn’t backing away from its new design, Miller said.

“That’s not giving in — that’s just changing it to be more usable,” Miller of Directions on Microsoft said. “People need to realize Microsoft isn’t just going back to the way Windows 7 was.”

 

[whs]

“People need to realize Microsoft isn’t just going back to the way Windows 7 was.”

And Microsoft has to realize that people are just not going to buy their stuff any more. There are plenty of better alternatives.

 

[x BlueRobot]

“People need to realize Microsoft isn’t just going back to the way Windows 7 was.”

And Microsoft has to realize that people are just not going to buy their stuff any more. There are plenty of better alternatives.

 

[Indianatone]

“People need to realize Microsoft isn’t just going back to the way Windows 7 was.”

And Microsoft has to realize that people are just not going to buy their stuff any more. There are plenty of better alternatives.

And some of them are free like http://linuxmint.com/rel_nadia_whatsnew.php

 

[PaulGo]

For Windows 8.1, a half-step toward a Start button



....But clicking on the "tip" won't launch the familiar menus that the Start button did in previous versions of Windows. Instead, it will take users to their Start screen. With Windows 8.1, users can customize that Start screen to replicate something close to the old Start menus, listing all of the applications that are available to them, if they want.
It's unclear if the Start tip will be enough to quiet critics who are clamoring for the ease of use that comes with familiarity. The Start tip is a bit of a half-step toward a Start button. Microsoft seems to be giving a nod to its critics but not quite giving them all they had wanted.

For Windows 8.1, a half-step toward a Start button | Microsoft - CNET News


Why ...Why does Microsoft have to be so stubborn about this, and just give their customers what they want - a Windows 7 style start menu! They just can't admit their idea of what customers want is misguided.

 

[Night Hawk]

Yup! Everyone is getting in the act on blogging the new form of Start whatever! Here's how the new Windows Blue Start Button may work | ZDNet But MS is certainly NOT GOING TO back away from their main "Surface RT/Win8" goals! They simply shove the RT gui on the desktop releases just to have something for desktops while being focused all on how to mash Google-itis and Fruit IPxxx's takes on the mobile market side. This was never about taking away the desktop from the OS but to smear MS all over the mobile side of things. The desktop user takes the brunt of everything however just to appease the MS marketing goals.

 

[SIW2]

This is why :

Microsoft's original premise was based on requiring customers to use the Start screen, or at least move through it, before reaching the "classic" desktop

Hey, Microsoft: It's the apps, stupid - Computerworld

Why ...Why does Microsoft have to be so stubborn about this, and just give their customers what they want - a Windows 7 style start menu! They just can't admit their idea of what customers want is misguided.

 

[Night Hawk]

It's marketing! Remember to look at what would be the want for apps on a tablet sometime to see where MS wants to take people! Oh gosh golly Windows 8.1 Blue unveiled, will it...??? Windows 8.1 unveiled: will it change your mind about Windows 8? | ZDNet Sorry no go here! 7 to stay for the time being at least! I run desktops not tablets.

 

[lehnerus2000]

MS goes "All In"

Hopefully it will bomb so badly, that the jokers responsible for the W8 debacle are made redundant and replaced by people who actually have some idea (preferably Windows desktop supporters).

 

[Dallas 7]

“People need to realize Microsoft isn’t just going back to the way Windows 7 was.”

And Microsoft has to realize that people are just not going to buy their stuff any more. There are plenty of better alternatives.

 

[Iforgot]

Hi all
I wonder whether the upgrade to win8.1 will have issues with Start8??? Amongst other apps.

 

[Faladu]

I think it comes down to:

I HAVE ZERO, that's ZILCH, NADA, NIL reasons to upgrade to 8.

And sorry, they jacked the price way too high for a casual upgrade at this point.

Besides history repeats itself and they were due to screw up another OS release.

 

[PaulGo]

Former Microsoft Windows chief: I was right to kill the Start button

Ex-Windows chief Steven Sinofsky is “happy” with the miserable sales record of tablets and PCs running his Windows 8 baby.


...For the sake of history, let's remember Windows 8 hasn't just not helped revive sales of PCs - it has actually hurt them. Bob O'Donnell, IDC's program vice president for clients and display, wrote at the time of his company's predicted PC sales numbers: "It seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market."


He blamed the radical changes Microsoft had made to its UI with Metro, the removal of the familiar Start button, and the relative expense of touch PCs.

Former Microsoft Windows chief: I was right to kill the Start button ? The Register

 

[Night Hawk]

And now you wonder why he is now the "former gui chief"?! He got out of the ring before the lions were released making himself a nice patsy to pass the blame on but now gone for MS to cover their.... ??? Let's say Win 8.1 won't be what saves their bacon in the long run! A closer look at what's new in Windows 8.1 | ZDNet So what's new? "Improved Apps"! and we know where that is going! Metro for Tablet while the desktop gets the toilet! IE 11 will allow unlimited number of tabbed windows for tabbed browsing.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

And now you wonder why he is now the "former gui chief"?! He got out of the ring before the lions were released making himself a nice patsy to pass the blame on but now gone for MS to cover their.... ??? Let's say Win 8.1 won't be what saves their bacon in the long run! A closer look at what's new in Windows 8.1 | ZDNet So what's new? "Improved Apps"! and we know where that is going! Metro for Tablet while the desktop gets the toilet! IE 11 will allow unlimited number of tabbed windows for tabbed browsing.

IE10 has a limit on the number of tabs?

 

[Lone Browncoat]

IE10 has a limit on the number of tabs?

Don't know, been using Mozilla/Netscape since converting from ST/TT though i think i was only using Lynx at the time, don't remember. Sometimes Opera, may try Chrome/Chromium someday.

 

[Dallas 7]

And now you wonder why he is now the "former gui chief"?! He got out of the ring before the lions were released making himself a nice patsy to pass the blame on but now gone for MS to cover their.... ??? Let's say Win 8.1 won't be what saves their bacon in the long run! A closer look at what's new in Windows 8.1 | ZDNet So what's new? "Improved Apps"! and we know where that is going! Metro for Tablet while the desktop gets the toilet! IE 11 will allow unlimited number of tabbed windows for tabbed browsing.

IE10 has a limit on the number of tabs?

I haven't tried it, but the article said IE11 is not limited to 10 tabs. I've never tried to use that many tabs. I may use several at times, but not that many.
I'm still running IE9.

 

[Lone Browncoat]

I have 16 open in Firefox without lateral scrolling needed.

 

[Wenda]

And now you wonder why he is now the "former gui chief"?! He got out of the ring before the lions were released making himself a nice patsy to pass the blame on but now gone for MS to cover their.... ??? Let's say Win 8.1 won't be what saves their bacon in the long run! A closer look at what's new in Windows 8.1 | ZDNet So what's new? "Improved Apps"! and we know where that is going! Metro for Tablet while the desktop gets the toilet! IE 11 will allow unlimited number of tabbed windows for tabbed browsing.

IE10 has a limit on the number of tabs?

I haven't tried it, but the article said IE11 is not limited to 10 tabs. I've never tried to use that many tabs. I may use several at times, but not that many.
I'm still running IE9.

They must mean the 'Metro. version of IE10, as I currently have 17 open in the desktop version of it on Win 8 without an issue.

I don't use the 'Metro' version at all.


Wenda.

 

[Night Hawk]

What they are referring to is IE 11 for 8.1 Blue being a new IE but for 8 only not for 7. IE 10 saw the 7 release made available. As for the number of tabs I never found that out by having that many tabs open since I disable tabbed browsing to start with. With the dual monitors here I move browser windows back and forth between displays often enougn when having multiple WaterFox windows open. For some reason IE 8, 9, 10 will all tend to stall when having multiple IE windows open going back the 7 RCs while everything else about 7 has been 100%!