"As we pass the one month anniversary of the general availability of Windows 8, we are pleased to announce that to-date Microsoft has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses. Tami Reller shared this news with industry and financial analysts, investors and media today at the Credit Suisse 2012 Annual Technology Conference. Windows 8 is outpacing Windows 7 in terms of upgrades." Not bad, but there are the usual asterisks, as Ars notes.
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Member since:2012-03-14
exactly. I don't think most people or even finantial analysts realized that Microsoft has just halved or more, their Windows revenues just to slightly keep up adoption rhythm.
Windows8 is being sold in a larger market than 2009 Windows7 launch, and at less than half of its price and at best it gets the same number of sales of Windows 7 in the first months. I don't think this is particularly brilliant or a good omen.
(wrote the same thing yesterday: http://www.maccouch.com/2012/11/microsoft-weve-sold-40-million-wind... )
Member since:2009-08-18
TBH I suspect this might be because they are the victim of their own success.
Windows 7 as a Desktop operating system is pretty damn solid and I am pretty sure it is going to be the next Windows XP. TBH, while I am using 8 at home, apart from the Metro UI ... it is very similar on the desktop.
Edited 2012-11-28 19:35 UTC
Member since:2005-11-29
Only in OSNews bizarro land is 40 million licenses sold a commercial failure.
Microsoft has said both that Windows 8 has sold 40 million licenses and that Windows 8 is outpacing Windows 7 in upgrades.
People undoubtedly will try to pick the numbers apart and twist them to suit their needs (Something or another about forced pre-installations, OEM sales, yada yada) but what they fail to realize is that the way that sales are counted between Windows 7 and Windows 8 has not changed.
That means that using the SAME metrics that Microsoft used for Windows 7, Windows 8 is doing well.
The Windows Store has exploded in growth in the past month doubling from 10,000 to over 20,000 apps.
I know developer friends of mine that get 12,000 downloads a day and make 300 dollars a day in ad revenue. This is the most vibrant ecosystem, and probably the modern day gold rush.
Sorry, our Metro overlords are here to stay.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2007-09-22
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Member since:
2011-07-14
Considering how cheap Windows 8 costs as an upgrade, I would say 40 million is an unimpressive number. And I think it is pretty safe to say that it will be harder to convince the next 40 million to buy Windows 8 than it was for the early adopters.
I don't plan on ever using Windows 8. Windows 7 is my last Windows.