[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Windows 8 adoption: Worse than Vista, better than OS X Mountain Lion here

[MKZ1945]

“Windows 7's all-around excellence is likely holding back Windows 8—there simply isn't a compelling reason to leap to Windows 8 and its redesigned modern UI if you're a happy Windows 7 user.”

This is the one statement in the article that stands out to me here. I believe a lot of people like me saw the opportunity to get a new operating system at almost a give-away price and made the leap before the January 31st deadline. The introductory price had to have a lot to do with sales, and not everyone ended up using it. I use it for my personal use and it has been flawless, however, I still use Windows 7 for the business side because it has a proven track record.

I’m much more interested in how this operating system is going to catch on over the next 12 to 18 months, not that the price is up there where most come in at. I expect that the majority of the business world will remain with Windows 7 for a long time for the same reason I have, and that operating system is going to be around for some time to come. I’m of the belief that Microsoft had to have known this when Windows 8 was released. They certainly were smart enough to know that the majority of the business world has little use for an operating system primarily designed for touchscreen use. So the question is, who is the target audience for Windows 8? Windows 8 success, I believe, depends upon a number of factors over the long term, including adaptability of Surface RT and Pro, and Windows 8 on smartphones. If the target audience really is the users of Apple Mac, I-pad and other tablets, and android phones then it’s going to take time and a lot of fancy footwork on Microsoft’s part to capture some of that audience. Selling these toys at a much higher price is not helping their cause, in my opinion.

[rak1948]

The figures used in this story are very misleading. To begin with, Macs are a very small percentage of total PCs used and thus comparing the percentages of all PCs with Win8 to all computers with ML is like comparing apples to oranges. To accurately check adoption rates, compare the percentage of all Mac computers that have ML installed to the percentage of all the Window computers that have Win8 installed. You will find that ML's adoption rate is at least 50% and probably much higher. Most articles I have read, shows Win8's adoption rate around 6% of all Windows PCs. And it's not about whether you like one or the other OS, it's about providing results that don't show a bias towards one or the other. And that is what happens with a lot of people who are not used to dealing with and interpreting statistics.

[MichaelRousseau]

Quote

The figures used in this story are very misleading. To begin with, Macs are a very small percentage of total PCs used and thus comparing the percentages of all PCs with Win8 to all computers with ML is like comparing apples to oranges. To accurately check adoption rates, compare the percentage of all Mac computers that have ML installed to the percentage of all the Window computers that have Win8 installed. You will find that ML's adoption rate is at least 50% and probably much higher. Most articles I have read, shows Win8's adoption rate around 6% of all Windows PCs. And it's not about whether you like one or the other OS, it's about providing results that don't show a bias towards one or the other. And that is what happens with a lot of people who are not used to dealing with and interpreting statistics.

"Net Applications, whose web measurement network is comprised of 40,000 websites that receive roughly 160 million unique visits each month."

I'm pretty sure that is the installed rate. Quite hard to measure web site visits from each OS without it actually being installed. You say 6% of all Windows PCs are Win 8? Can you substantiate that number with a link? I use Win 8 so I am not out to knock it but you seem to think you know better then this article and author. Well you just have to back it up. I highly doubt 6% is even close to being accurate.

[SElope]

To tell you the truth I have actually seen only one (1) single person using windows 8. It was an upgraded computer and ... guess what? The computer went black when he hoocked up the datashow. We waited another 3 minutes for it to boot again, and again it went black when the datashow was connected.

We ended up doing the presentation on my Acer TM370 from 2003, which still is doing great with win XP.

[krm1255]

It doesn't work!! I hear story after story from business associates at multiple companies and they are dumping the windows 8 computers they do have. I cannot get most of my independent software titles to work because of permissions errors and I can't solve the errors. I can't find anyone who knows how to solve the errors.

Every article I read blames it on something other than the fact that it turns your pc into a doorstop if you need to use the computer to do business

[thewazak]

Quote

“Windows 7's all-around excellence is likely holding back Windows 8—there simply isn't a compelling reason to leap to Windows 8 and its redesigned modern UI if you're a happy Windows 7 user.”

End of story!
The fanboi prophets of doom on iPCW can say all they want. But it's all BS.
The fact that W8 ("Dead on arrival" OS) is almost as popular as (and about to overtake) OSX is clearly upsetting the fanbois.
Please don't point out to them that 10 year old XP is still 4 times more popular than all OSX's put together - that'll kill them!
Anyway, I too am sitting on the fence: simply because I don't have any use for a touch interface at the moment and can't justify the change. But I have had a go on W8 and I'm well impressed. One day.........

[Datamisc]

Quote

It doesn't work!! I hear story after story from business associates at multiple companies and they are dumping the windows 8 computers they do have. I cannot get most of my independent software titles to work because of permissions errors and I can't solve the errors. I can't find anyone who knows how to solve the errors. Every article I read blames it on something other than the fact that it turns your pc into a doorstop if you need to use the computer to do business

It does work actually, I'm writing this from an upgraded computer using Windows 8, and if you are telling the truth ( I think you are exaggerating ), it’s from the few that had problems with it (as with any upgrade, with any OS), not the majority that keeps their mouth (and keyboards) shut, and just keep working

[MKZ1945]

Quote

Rak1948 Stated:
The figures used in this story are very misleading. To begin with, Macs are a very small percentage of total PCs used and thus comparing the percentages of all PCs with Win8 to all computers with ML is like comparing apples to oranges. To accurately check adoption rates, compare the percentage of all Mac computers that have ML installed to the percentage of all the Window computers that have Win8 installed. You will find that ML's adoption rate is at least 50% and probably much higher. Most articles I have read, shows Win8's adoption rate around 6% of all Windows PCs. And it's not about whether you like one or the other OS, it's about providing results that don't show a bias towards one or the other. And that is what happens with a lot of people who are not used to dealing with and interpreting statistics.

MichaelRousseau Stated:
"Net Applications, whose web measurement network is comprised of 40,000 websites that receive roughly 160 million unique visits each month."
I'm pretty sure that is the installed rate. Quite hard to measure web site visits from each OS without it actually being installed. You say 6% of all Windows PCs are Win 8? Can you substantiate that number with a link? I use Win 8 so I am not out to knock it but you seem to think you know better then this article and author. Well you just have to back it up. I highly doubt 6% is even close to being accurate.

I seen that 6% number someplace also and, like MichaelRousseau questioned it. I expect that it is more related to sales of Windows 8 rather than usage, but that’s just a guess. Statistical numbers are weird people and sometimes when you start seeing percentage numbers they don’t always tell the entire story. People who come up with these numbers often do so with an objective in mind that tends to make the numbers lean in the direction of that objective. People like us sometimes have to read between the lines to come up with our own conclusions. I have no major problems with this article, or the posts of MichaelRousseau or Rak1948. One of the percentages I looked at was that of Vista’s decline and said to myself that probably a large percentage of Windows 8 usage was due to those that found a cheap way of abandoning Vista. I killed two Vistas in a matter of hours.

[seikorolex]

Windows 8 is a HUGE step sideways. Change for the sake of change. There seem to be some tweaks to the core functionality that allow it to run smoother. But, overall, 8 was unnecessary

[Xach]

Personally I think windows 8 is the best OS Microsoft has made since XP.

Easy install plays games with no drivers downloaded on my A6 and A10 APU computers.

Its definitely a needed change for Microsoft to enter into the game of touch screen computing.

[TsarNikky]

No surprise. If one believes the Microsoft TV commercials, Windows-8 is all about fun and games, and play time. Nothing about office-oriented productivity. So, in short, Windows-8 for "play" and Windows-7 for "work."

[etakasaki]

this is the most misleading heading for this magazine in a long time. Considering the relative bases of Windows and Macs, the "adoption" rate of Mountain Lion is MUCH MUCH higher than Windows 8. If fact, the vast majority of Windows uses are still clinging to an OS that is over a decade old, whereby Mountain Lion has the "lion share" (pun intended) of any other single OSX version. (Can you even imagine a modern Mac using a 10year old OS?)

Why don't you compare the adoption of OS 10.8 among Mac users, compared to adoption of Window 8 among the existing Windows base. More interesting would be the percentage of Mac users choosing to UPGRADE to OS 10.8 compared to Windows users willing to upgrade to Windows8 (i.e, leave out the people who get Windows 8 or OS 10.8 because the buy a new computer and have little choice in OS).

Mountain Lion is extremely popular among new and current Mac users (assuming they have the hardware to run it). The vast majority of my friends and colleague would never move to Window 8 (and many, esp in corp world, still happily use XP) whereby almost every Mac owner i know uses Mountain Lion.

[Fatesrider]

Without adding a vitally needed functionality to the core OS while retaining a close semblance of the original UI the average computer user will pass.

Here's why.

Fundamentally, people hate change. A computer is perhaps the most customizable, intimate machine a person can use. It can be set exactly the way they like it to the point that even if you have two identical computers in specs, hardware and programs, they can be used most efficiently by the person who customizes the UI to suit their tastes.

And then Microsoft went off and changed the UI entirely. People dislike change. Going from XP to 7 will be considerably less painful for the average computer user than going from 7 to 8 (Let's not talk about Vista. It was, is and will always be a pig.) People don't want to be challenged by simply trying to get the computer to work. They want their UI back.

Then Microsoft throws on unneeded functionality that is POINTLESS in 99% of the computers out there and absolutely useless in desktops. Computer users have been using keyboards and mice for decades. NOW Microsoft wants to encourage them to finger paint? And if you've ever seen the computer keyboards of most people who DON'T touch their screens, you can imagine the visually detrimental condition those screens will quickly develop.

What Microsoft did fit with THEIR vision of what was good for Microsoft, falsely believing that what they did will be acceptable to the average user. Most people aren't willing to accommodate a corporate vision that leaves the needs and wants of the majority of end users sitting outside in the cold. Microsoft climbed aboard the tablet fad and left several orders of magnitude more people than who own tablets standing there going "W T F?" just to try to "own" the tablet market by tying it to a unified OS.

They should fire their CSO (Chief Sensibility Officer). If they don't have one, they should hire one. It might be good if they chose from a pool of harried soccer moms who are sitting there staring at the "Modern" (don't call it Metro) UI with a blank expression and a hyperactive tweener soccer team destroying her kitchen while they wait for her to download and print the seasons' schedule as she tries to figure out how to even get the browser to come up.

Don't mess with people's UI. They get annoyed with you when you do.

[eye4bear]

Quote

It doesn't work!! I hear story after story from business associates at multiple companies and they are dumping the windows 8 computers they do have. I cannot get most of my independent software titles to work because of permissions errors and I can't solve the errors. I can't find anyone who knows how to solve the errors. Every article I read blames it on something other than the fact that it turns your pc into a doorstop if you need to use the computer to do business

[eye4bear]

I have been using Windows 8 for months, yes started as a Preview Customer and I have not found one single program that will run on Windows 7 and will not run on Windows 8. BTW while I am running Windows 8, I dislike the Modern UI and almost never use it, spending all my time in the desktop app.

[mobileico]

How is Windows 7 holding back Windows 8, when they're both in the same system? You get Windows 8 on the front, because it gives a better look to the OS, but just a click on the 'desktop' gives you Windows 7. i'll take this anyday over any Lion

[Tuba2]

neephius, it seems to me you are the one posting the "Egotistical ranting Crap".
We are not laughing at you but rather feeling sorry for those around you who might have to endure you inflated ego and the “I know more than anyone else my way or the highway attitude”.

[Tuba2]

neephius, it seems to me you are the one posting the "Egotistical ranting Crap".
We are not laughing at you but rather feeling sorry for those around you who might have to endure you inflated ego and the “I know more than anyone else my way or the highway attitude”.

[PMerriwether]

On the positive side...Windows 8 looks like it could be a good operating system for chimpanzees; big bright pictures, touch interface...