Windows 8 pre-launch adoption rate not looking good

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 10/03/2012 06:52 AM | source: | 63 comment(s)

Net Applications compared the pre-launch adoption rate of Windows 8 with Windows 7 and found that it's five times lower. The low adoption rate reflects the overall sentiment about Windows 8, as many power users feel Microsoft is going in the wrong direction with its latest operating system. At a month before the launch of Windows 7, it was receiving a warm reception and overall usage was sitting at a healthy 1.64% of all Windows installs.

However, Windows 8 is sitting at a mere 0.33%, just a fifth of what Windows 7 had achieved - and the operating system is mired in controversy over its new interface previously known as Metro, plus its closed ecosystem that is the Windows Store, too. It's also not unreasonable to believe that Microsoft could extend the Windows Store to the desktop as well in time, giving them total control over what software their customers can run on Windows - while taking a big cut from sales, of the order of 30% and perhaps even more. A totally unacceptable situation we think you'll agree.

Even gaming companies such as Valve aren't keen on the new OS, saying it will stifle gaming and calling Windows 8 a "catastrophe". Interestingly, Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson has slammed Windows 8, refusing an offer from Microsoft to certify his game for it, which would allow it to run under the new "Metro" interface, Tweeting, "I'd rather have minecraft not run on win 8 at all than to play along. Maybe we can convince a few people not to switch to win 8 that way.." Ouch. It's not looking good for Windows 8, is it? It's also far from certain that with this much backlash against Windows 8 already, the $40 heavily discounted introductory price will help much. If people don't like something, then they just won't buy it at any price.

Tagged as: Windows, adoption, looking, pre-launch

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Darren Hodgson
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#4422873 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:00 AM

Urgh, after reading that, it has completely put me off buying Windows 8 and I was never very interested in it in the first place. I'll stick with Windows 7 for as long as I possibly can. Windows 8 doesn't offer me anything more beyond what I can do already on my PC anyway, which is used solely for gaming and browsing, and that Metro interface annoys the hell out of me. It looks bland and ugly and clunky to use in my opinion. I have a desktop not a touchscreen tablet or smartphone.

thatguy91
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#4422880 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:08 AM

Yes, for desktop the Metro UI is crap. Also, Metro UI apps aren't that good either, and seem to take up a lot of disk space. People will have to be careful on portable devices with Metro apps, so they don't go over download quotas, which is very possible on 3G/4G networks. It is bland too, taking aero out of the final Windows 8 was just arrogant - trying to make the desktop view look crap so you use Metro instead.

LesserHellspawn
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#4422884 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:15 AM

I can't help feeling that Windows 8 is mainly an app store with an OS attached to it, and that I will never support.

Other than that it might even be acceptable on a desktop meanwhile, since there are enough 3rd party solutions out there by now that block Metro out. Some even boot right past it to the desktop, so you never have to see it at all.

For tablets Windows RT could be a good choice....if you didn't have to use the desktop for quite a few things. And the desktop is just not very touch friendly.

Summary ? Incomplete separation of Metro and Desktop as alternative options: fail. Appstore: fail. ALL shortcuts of an installed program cluttering the Metro screen without being able to remove the unneeded ones: fail.

I think, no, I *hope* Windows 8 goes down in history as Vista 2.

WhiteLightning
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#4422886 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:25 AM

Unfortunately i had to revert to windows 7 because of d3doverrider and inject plugins didnt work half of the time for me.

i dont find metro clunky at all tbh, being html5 programming gives potential over the traditional start menu imo. (live updating etc) wish the stacking would be more configurable though (which shape etc) .

SirDremor
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#4422896 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:49 AM

Ha-ha!

Though I really like Microsoft, I must say all this Windows 8 idea is total crap.

And I can't even imagine why in today's world of mad "Apple's walled garden of delights", numerous petitions forcing big companies to change "endings" and their products, why Microsoft sticked with this crappy interface (for desktop-mouse-keyboard PCs) and even removed opportunity to easily change that?!? Why didn't they listen?

I always said I am skipping Windows 8, now I am relieved many others will do the same.

WhiteLightning
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#4422899 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:52 AM

ALL shortcuts of an installed program cluttering the Metro screen without being able to remove the unneeded ones: fail.

Thats a user fail

Loobyluggs
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#4422901 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:53 AM

Heads are gonna roll

lucidus
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#4422902 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:54 AM

And people hate on Apple for deciding for the consumer

Can't wait to see how things turn out for MS even though I have no intention to get 8.

Yxskaft
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#4422905 Posted on: 10/03/2012 09:59 AM

I think, no, I *hope* Windows 8 goes down in history as Vista 2.

Or Millenium 2

I'd guess Win8 doing badly is the only chance we have of Microsoft not continuing the Metro approach in the successors

Mikedogg
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#4422915 Posted on: 10/03/2012 10:17 AM

If people don't like something, then they just won't buy it at any price.

You'd think MS would have learned that by now.

Again, this seems fitting:

And:

sapo_joe
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#4423049 Posted on: 10/03/2012 01:59 PM

I knew it from the beginning. That's what happens when a company DOESN'T listen to their customers.

Windows 9 will come after shortly, with a great START MENU back, and THAT will be an OS to look at. Metro is pure crap for desktop users, and EVERYBODY knows it.

Xzibit
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