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Windows 8 (MSFT) is being adopted at a slower rate than the much-maligned Vista, and a much...

  • Thursday, December 27, 2012, 12:07 PM ET
    Windows 8 (MSFT) is being adopted at a slower rate than the much-maligned Vista, and a much slower rate than Windows 7, according to usage data from Net Applications. As of Dec. 22, Win. 8 was used on an estimated 1.6% of all Windows PCs. This compares with 2.2% for Vista at a similar point in its release history, and 6%+ for Win. 7. Consumer PC demand remains tepid, and many enterprises have made it clear they have no interest in upgrading to Win. 8, at least for now.
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This news story has 23 comments:

  • Yet enterprises maintain XPs and W7s and explore apps for iPads. Brilliant strategy, stupid!
    27 Dec 2012, 12:12 PM Reply Like
  • I'm not all that surprised to be honest, companies are pinching pennies as are consumers. Windows 7 more then accommodates what most businesses need from an OS... If Windows 8 fails it's because it didn't attract consumers.

    Tablets will continue to cannibalize PC/laptops simply because not many people need more then a consumption device.
    27 Dec 2012, 12:25 PM Reply Like
  • It is not surprising at all that Windows Vista adoption was quicker out of the gate than Windows 8.

    Windows Vista came out when XP was already severely "long in the tooth". Other than XP SP2 (which itself was pretty much a new operating system), it had been far too many years between major releases.. so the adoption of the new software plus the PC refresh cycle with new PCs running Vista was much greater than that of Windows 8.

    The need for a new OS when Vista came out was far greater than the "need" for something better than Windows 7 that supports a new "touch-first" user interface.

    Whether or not Windows 8 is a "success" will not be determined by how many devices are sold so early in the cycle (or un-informed "analysts" on "the street" who don't really want to look past their iPads); but by the impact it has on users and their choice of device going forward - even beyond Windows 8.

    Disclaimer: I work for and am long MSFT. Yeah, I'm a fan. :)
    27 Dec 2012, 12:44 PM Reply Like
  • Windows 8 has simply come out too quickly on the heals of Win7. Businesses are still using XP, as are many private individuals. It is a stable system that doesn't suck up memory.
    27 Dec 2012, 01:08 PM Reply Like
  • Yes, 3 years seems like a fast turnaround for a new OS. But Windows 8 had to come out quickly. Microsoft couldn't afford to NOT have a touch-friendly tablet option available ASAP. And now Windows 8 gives you tablet options that you can actually get real work done on.

    Oh.. and it actually runs in LESS memory than Windows 7.
    28 Dec 2012, 09:59 AM Reply Like
  • People don't generally upgrade their OS in Windows. It's much too dificult for the average user. New PC's are how they're going to get the new OS & PC sales are down. This only makes sense. I'm still buying MSFT today though.
    27 Dec 2012, 01:13 PM Reply Like
  • well is it any wonder? windows vista was a disaster and most people stuck to xp for almost 10 years. windows 7 was a welcomed update because people started to feel the need for an upgraded windows experience. now that they've had it for just a few years, they dont feel the need to upgrade again.
    27 Dec 2012, 01:13 PM Reply Like
  • msft need to have NOK do well. enterprise would upgrade to win7 rather win8 for now. overall if phones do well for MSFT overall reputation would be great and business would start noticing new OS that would be same everywhere. i think dust would settle but would take 2013. over all MSFT is going to clawback there is nothing wrong i see just matter of time . imagine how long it took for msft to break XP magic spell.. win 8 is not vista and i am confident it would pick it up eventually. till then xbox, nok, windows phones, office has to pump up revenue for msft.
    27 Dec 2012, 01:13 PM Reply Like
  • I used a Win8 PC down at the mall. It crashed while I was using it. F**K Win8.
    27 Dec 2012, 01:51 PM Reply Like
  • Maybe you should just avoid the store. W8 is a rock solid.
    27 Dec 2012, 02:13 PM Reply Like
  • Surprising. My work system, home system & wife's system are all 8 and not one crash. Then again, I don't install all of the dell/hp bloatware.
    27 Dec 2012, 02:19 PM Reply Like
  • I haven't had a crash since XP SP2. Windows 7 is even more stable. Can't see why Windows 8 will be any worse considering it's built on Win 7
    4 Jan, 11:00 AM Reply Like
  • metro, the 'tiles' front end microsoft wants to force you to adopt,
    is obnoxious and annoying.
    why would anybody pay for that?
    27 Dec 2012, 02:19 PM Reply Like
  • I think there is a way to change that so it boots to a regular desktop setting... I could be wrong though. I mostly agree if you don't have a touch screen the tiles are pretty useless.
    27 Dec 2012, 02:22 PM Reply Like
  • That's an innovation of a revolutionary start screen. With the live tiles, you don't have to open an app for some information highlights. This is very good communication for user interface.
    If you don't like the live tiles, you can switch to desktop mood or app mood.
    Win8 needs a bit learning curve but it's truly a brilliant OS.
    I experienced win8, which uses much less resources than XP with my old dell 2005 desktop pc.
    29 Dec 2012, 07:08 AM Reply Like
  • I have more evidence for these guys, Windows 8 is the most upgraded windows ever. It might be because of the $40 upgrade, but that is something for another article. Adoption is slow because PC sales are down.
    Jeeze give them another quarter.
    27 Dec 2012, 02:54 PM Reply Like
  • What about MS-DOS? Aren't these computers going up in value?
    27 Dec 2012, 02:55 PM Reply Like
  • Windows 8 will be just fine. Microsoft can wait as long as they need to.
    27 Dec 2012, 04:36 PM Reply Like
  • blah blah blah

    the impact of an operating system can't be felt until the applications which the new system allow have been developed, ie applications which utilise live tiles. Once more developers start to experiment and utilise the improvements that windows 8 allows, more adoption will be seen. Bottom line, win8 is a better desktop experience, and the "metro" UI, integration across devices including the xbox, and other win8 features like live tiles allow programmers to do things that they couldn't before. This stuff will happen, its just a matter of time.
    27 Dec 2012, 05:11 PM Reply Like
  • looking to upgrade to Surface pro and windows phone in '13... so far it's the best I've seen...
    28 Dec 2012, 03:05 AM Reply Like
  • Windows 8, moreso than Win7 and Vista, is very device-dependant, and many of the devices that make Win8 really do what it's designed to do (touch!) were slow to be released or are still not out yet. The true success (or lack thereof) of Win8 will not be known for another half or even full year.
    28 Dec 2012, 03:25 AM Reply Like
  • Typing from my Win 8 desktop now. To get the most out of it, you really need a touch screen, but I am pleased with the better performance, the fast bootup times, and the autocorrect is awesome.

    I don't think that it's fair to expect Windows 8 to be adopted at the same rate as Win 7, or even Vista, as it's a totally different beast, targeting mobile devices, touch screens, and not so much desktop and especially enterprise desktops.

    I think Microsoft understood that it was a pretty quick release after Windows 7, so in many cases they offered some upgrade deals, for example I was able to upgrade this machine for a $15, due to a promotion they are running.

    If adoption rate really does become an issue for them, I would expect to see them release more promotions.
    28 Dec 2012, 04:02 AM Reply Like
  • I began 8 with a NOK 710, now an 8 PC. Learning curve, like a new car. It's better!
    4 Jan, 01:40 PM Reply Like
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