Windows 8 launches today, but don’t expect massive queues outside the Currys store on Tottenham Court Road for the midnight launch. There won’t be many TechWeekEurope readers there anyway, as our poll shows they are not chomping at the bit to get their hands on Microsoft’s OS.
Just 10 percent of 734 readers who took part said they were going to get Windows 8 in the next six months. Around 64 percent said they were definitely not going to buy into the OS, and were happy to stick with Windows 7 (45 percent) or XP (19 percent)- and less than 15 percent want to use it, even after the first software update shows it has settled in.
[Figures updated: After the launch, attended by our reporter Max Smolaks, we had a surge of voting so we have added new figures to this story]
So despite years of development, and a gamble on moving over to a more tablet and touch-friendly operating system, Windows 8 could be a flop in terms of sales.
Analyst Gartner agrees that it won’t get much traction in business. It predicts 90 percent of businesses won’t bother moving from an older version of Windows to the latest iteration through to 2015.
“Most enterprises and their trusted management vendors are not yet prepared for this change, and Gartner predicts that enterprises will want to wait for more stability before proceeding,” Gartner said.
“While Microsoft as a technology company can make these changes at a more advanced pace, the preponderance of the customer base cannot move so quickly. The market will take time to mature, and most enterprises will sit on the sideline for now.”
Many are looking forward to testing out the OS, which has had a number of positive reviews. Yet big names in the industry have heaped opprobrium on Windows 8.
Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff said it marked the beginning of the end for Windows, as people move to cloud-based environments. Gabe Newell of game company Valve Software describes Windows 8 as a “catastrophe”.
Over the next year, Microsoft will hope that wide adoption across general users, businesses and developers proves the naysayers wrong. At the minute, the Redmond giant appears to be losing the fight.
Update: A surge of interest nearly trebled the number of votes on this poll over the weekend after Windows 8 launched, so we have updated it. The “interest” in the product seems to be theoretical only: the number of enthusiasts actually dropped after the product launched.
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As a small business we have already upgraded all machines to Windows 8 and are enjoying its compatibility, performance and many new features. We are a software development company however and of course we have high hopes for the Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and RT tablet possibilities.
I don't think it's fair to say that "Windows 8 could be a flop in terms of sales" based on a limited survey asking those who intend to upgrade in the next six months. Most companies hardly ever upgrade to a new OS so soon. In fact most always stick to the older version. This is nothing new. Windows 8 may take years to really take off but we believe the phone / tablet side will fuel its success. Don't forget that Windows 7 has taken three years to get to where it is now and still many are using WindowsXP and that's not because Windows 7 is a bad OS!