Ballmer: Windows not selling well

[nsane.forums]

Microsoft's executive team held an internal conference on the campus today to talk about the latest earnings report and dropped a few other important nuggets of info.

On Microsoft’s campus today, Ballmer held a ‘rally the troops’ type event where they typically go over the quarterly earnings report and attempt to boost/keep the good vibes flowing within the company.

During his internal address, Ballmer stated that Windows is not selling well enough, which shouldn’t come as a major surprise, as the company has blamed just about everything under the sun for the slower adoption of Windows 8.

Other tidbits from the address are that Microsoft is hoping to carry the third quarter momentum into Q4 and that, like many organizations, they will be investing heavily into professional services in the next fiscal quarter. Other obvious talking points included the fact that Windows 8.1 was heavily shaped by user telemetry and was why Microsoft reintroduced the Start button back into Windows 8.

Ever wonder what Microsoft’s top subsidiary was for the past fiscal year? Wonder no more, as for the first time in eight years, the US subsidiary was the top performing entity for Microsoft.

As for the next Surface? The device is currently in testing and will feature ‘typical improvements’ which is likely a spec bump. Internal response to the next gen Surface has been positive.

Microsoft also reiterated that getting Instagram is more important than landing 900,000 apps; it’s clear they know that quality is better than quantity. Considering that the highest level of the food chain wants the app on Windows Phone, you do have to wonder why Facebook/Instagram is holding back.

That’s all of the interesting tidbits that were discussed at the event. It’s clear that Microsoft knows it has a lot of work to do to meet next quarter's expectations.

View: Original Article

[dMog]

most sales of windows 8 is on new computers... why would anyone running windows 7 or xp upgrade??? it just does not make economical sense to do so

[ROMANTICGUY50]

most sales of windows 8 is on new computers... why would anyone running windows 7 or xp upgrade??? it just does not make economical sense to do so

I agree on that. I am happy with Windows 7

[mosaji]

I found w8 much faster than w7

With SIB, it's a new improved w7

[mastershake]

win8 simply sucks. no two ways about it. im a pc tech and i have a min of at least 1-2 customers EACH WEEK that have me downgrade their brand new systems back to windows 7 people simply hate windows 8.. and this is from thousands of clients we deal with. we have maybe only 5-10 people out of every client we have that actually likes it.

[nIGHT]

most sales of windows 8 is on new computers...

Agree with you on this one. Given the choice consumer will choose wind0ws 7 than 8.

Only those who are first time buyer or those who have no knowledge on the issues of wind0ws 8 will never asked for wind0ws 7.

After a few days or weeks most people that bought pc/laptop with wind0ws 8 in it will come back and will ask for wind0ws 7 os replacement.

The bad part they didn't know about the "tweaking" to bring back startmenu.

Micros0ft really needs a slap on all its executives' head for insisting metro suck into the desktop os and had made nothing to improve the desktop to impress their consumers.

My company considered wind0ws 8 as a "not-for-the-business" os. :whistle:

Edited July 25, 2013 by nIGHT

[bbmak]

If Microsoft uses Windows 8 kernel with Windows XP UI, it will be a great succeed. At least all the XP users will move on.

Edited July 25, 2013 by bbmak

[SPECTRUM]

I found w8 much faster than w7

is just a placebo effect, if you disable in Windows 7 the same things that Windows 8 doesn't have (compared to Windows Vista/7), you will notice it run at same speed.

[calguyhunk]

I found w8 much faster than w7

is just a placebo effect, if you disable in Windows 7 the same things that Windows 8 doesn't have (compared to Windows Vista/7), you will notice it run at same speed.

Not true. I'm a vicious critic of Win8, but you'll know only if you're using it on a regular basis that apps generally open a lot faster on Win8 than on Win7. Everything from Firefox to Photoshop, R to 3DS Max and everything in between. It also cold boots much faster even with Fast Boot disabled :yes:

The things that bug me though are many. You need multiple extra clicks to accomplish a lot of different tasks (and no, don't tell me you can "configure" it any other way, 'cuz you can't). The other thing is that the Goddamn Task Manager takes ages to open up on Win8 compared to Win7. Dunno if installing the Win7 Task Manager would solve that problem (Yes, you can do that on Win8). And I don't like installing 3^rd party apps for Task Manager, Windows Explorer, Copier etc. ;)

Edited July 26, 2013 by calguyhunk

[dMog]

well i purchased anew computer..in no way would i have ever thought or considered to buy one with windows 7 as the OS when windows 8 was available... that just crazy talk people

[DKT27]

The other thing is that the Goddamn Task Manager takes ages to open up on Win8 compared to Win7.

I thought I was the only one facing this issue. :unsure:

well i purchased anew computer..in no way would i have ever thought or considered to buy one with windows 7 as the OS when windows 8 was available... that just crazy talk people

You know, people out there, those who know what is Windows 7 and what is Windows 8, literally hate Windows 8. Some willing to pay extra money to get that out of their new PC. There's no crazy talk about people not liking Windows 8. It's hard truth. The further problem is manufacturers almost forced to sell the new OS with the new PCs.

In addition to that, after the release of Windows 8, not only PC sales have slowed down, Android sales have risen, iOS sales have risen, all the tablet sales have risen. After going to Windows, Nokia sales, share market price & cash in hand, has gone down. Coincidence? I think not. Common people hate Windows 8 and it's ecosystem. The faster Microsoft understands it, the better.

[Everyone]

I don't know how people see 8 faster than 7. I was evaluating 8 on two PC's of mine and one at work. All of'em a fairly good configurations with modern fast CPUs (intel and AMD), loads of RAM and fast HDD's. On every single one of'em 8 wasn't performing faster than 7 at all. Infact, 8 had strange issues which I haven't seen since XP - random UI slowdowns or freezes, random application UI freezes with the mouse cursor going into busy state and not reacting to mouse movement for about a second or two, short stutters. Also cold boot was actually around 5-15 secs slower than on 7. Windows 8 faster? I for one don't percieve it that way.

[ffi]

I don't know how people see 8 faster than 7. I was evaluating 8 on two PC's of mine and one at work. All of'em a fairly good configurations with modern fast CPUs (intel and AMD), loads of RAM and fast HDD's. On every single one of'em 8 wasn't performing faster than 7 at all. Infact, 8 had strange issues which I haven't seen since XP - random UI slowdowns or freezes, random application UI freezes with the mouse cursor going into busy state and not reacting to mouse movement for about a second or two, short stutters. Also cold boot was actually around 5-15 secs slower than on 7. Windows 8 faster? I for one don't percieve it that way.

maybe an incompatible app in the background?

[DKT27]

I don't know how people see 8 faster than 7. I was evaluating 8 on two PC's of mine and one at work. All of'em a fairly good configurations with modern fast CPUs (intel and AMD), loads of RAM and fast HDD's. On every single one of'em 8 wasn't performing faster than 7 at all. Infact, 8 had strange issues which I haven't seen since XP - random UI slowdowns or freezes, random application UI freezes with the mouse cursor going into busy state and not reacting to mouse movement for about a second or two, short stutters. Also cold boot was actually around 5-15 secs slower than on 7. Windows 8 faster? I for one don't percieve it that way.

Windows Updates have improved things a lot I think. :)

[insanedown58]

When I read the title I was like "You don't say!?" and in my head I was like "No shit Sherlock!"

[alaindc]

When most peoples pirating the Os stay away from the new one, that mean a lot.

[dMog]

biggest problem i see is that win8 tries to be an OS for tablets and pc too... touch screens do not translate well to what people use their pc for... microsoft did not put a lot of thought into this...maybe what they really need to do is get their market research team to be asking the people that don't like windows 8 what they want in an OS...on a similar note Apple does lot of things very wrong too with what the ipod, ipad and iphone CANNOT do also..it not just microsoft not listening

[ASIO]

poop to windows 8 .. m happy with 7

[speedpedal]

It seems that most of the new Desktops sold by Microcenter will be wearing the Windows 7 Jerseys for the time being. Just a short time ago they were all Win 8's, apparently customer demand for Win 7 won out.

[nIGHT]

I found w8 much faster than w7

is just a placebo effect, if you disable in Windows 7 the same things that Windows 8 doesn't have (compared to Windows Vista/7), you will notice it run at same speed.

Not true. I'm a vicious critic of Win8, but you'll know only if you're using it on a regular basis that apps generally open a lot faster on Win8 than on Win7. Everything from Firefox to Photoshop, R to 3DS Max and everything in between. It also cold boots much faster even with Fast Boot disabled :yes:

The things that bug me though are many. You need multiple extra clicks to accomplish a lot of different tasks (and no, don't tell me you can "configure" it any other way, 'cuz you can't). The other thing is that the Goddamn Task Manager takes ages to open up on Win8 compared to Win7. Dunno if installing the Win7 Task Manager would solve that problem (Yes, you can do that on Win8). And I don't like installing 3^rd party apps for Task Manager, Windows Explorer, Copier etc. ;)

Wind0ws 8 has a new kernel but did not gave a lot of boost. It seems like the two were alike (7 and 8 ). I was almost convince that its just a new tweak and not a new kernel. I was expecting micros0ft will include a new compact kernel in 8.1 but no word about it til now. :think:

That's very true, Wind0ws 8 is snappier but needs a lot of multiple exra clicks. I have been using it for more than 3 months now. :unsure:

I have windows 7 on my gaming pc and, also, a windows 8 on my test pc, its a laptop actually, in the office, but used windows 7 on my workstation.

Offtopic:

Why can't my company afford to upgrade our vpn software to work with wind0ws 7/8?

Damn vista! I hate it but its company issued and can't do a thing about it. :angry:

Edited July 26, 2013 by nIGHT

[nuthut]

I don't know how people see 8 faster than 7. I was evaluating 8 on two PC's of mine and one at work. All of'em a fairly good configurations with modern fast CPUs (intel and AMD), loads of RAM and fast HDD's. On every single one of'em 8 wasn't performing faster than 7 at all. Infact, 8 had strange issues which I haven't seen since XP - random UI slowdowns or freezes, random application UI freezes with the mouse cursor going into busy state and not reacting to mouse movement for about a second or two, short stutters. Also cold boot was actually around 5-15 secs slower than on 7. Windows 8 faster? I for one don't percieve it that way.

Subject #1: Acer One D255 Netbook all OE. Originally had Windows 7 on it. It ran ok for a netbook. Typical boot up time was in the minute 45 second range to 2 minute range. Installing Windows 8 Pro (valid paid for key) on the same netbook. One minor registry tweak to run metro apps. The netbook boots up in under 30 seconds to desktop (including wifi connecting). Things I did previously on Windows 7 came up quicker in 8 (actual measured times not perception). Basically repurposed my netbook. Upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro and maxed out my memory with 2 Gig. Boot up times are now in the teens seconds and I can easily run multiple metro apps at the same time with little effects. No I don't run graphic intensive programs for the fact that the atom processor does not have a true GPU built into it.

Subject #2: Wifes' quad core ARM processor with 6 gigs of DDR3 memory. Windows 7 it ran everything at upper medium to high end specs on 3D video game settings. Boot up times was about a minute to desktop. Running Windows 8 and 8.1 pro boot up times are comparable to the netbook being under 30 seconds. Running DX11.1 on Windows 8 I can run the same games exclusively on high settings now with no noticeable lag in game play.

Subject #3: My sons old HP pavillion with an antiquated Athlon X2 processor and onboard nvidia GPU. Once again not to beat a dead horse, but the same results. Windows 8.1 on this computer basically repurposed and old and aged PC to something my son can use for high school projects.

So, I respectfully disagree with your statement saying that Windows 8 is a downgrade from running an older OS

[Nedal0]

Windows 7 vs. Windows 8 is not really about speed. What's the point having the fastest car but can't turn the corner ? It's obvious you'll crash !!!!!

I'd rather have an OS that makes sense than one that doesn't. The amount of clicks and time you spend on Windows 8 doing the same things you do on Windows 7 is just too much and sometimes ridiculous.

Windows 8 is great but they took a step back whiles trying to go forward. Kinda like driving a German Car. The quality is excellent but the reverse gear selection is mind twisting.

Windows 7 is in that sweet spot and that's what Microsoft should have tapped inspiration from.

We pay for the OS so we should be able to demand the start button back. If Windows 8 was free, then Microsoft can dictate.

[LeeSmithG]

Start button.

Windows is supposed to be designed to be easy, fast and hassle free.

Windows 8 is not that.

[MidnightDistortions]

I don't know what kind of systems that users are running that is making Windows 8 run any faster than Windows 7. I run a 64 bit version of Windows 7 with the sata 6, put Windows 8 on it while the benchmarks are a bit better the loads make no difference, maybe faster boot up time but there isn't really any increase in performance, but Windows 7 on it's own is very responsive. It depends on your hardware.

[Nedal0]

I don't know what kind of systems that users are running that is making Windows 8 run any faster than Windows 7. I run a 64 bit version of Windows 7 with the sata 6, put Windows 8 on it while the benchmarks are a bit better the loads make no difference, maybe faster boot up time but there isn't really any increase in performance, but Windows 7 on it's own is very responsive. It depends on your hardware.

Exactly ! I'm starting to think people just install Windows 8 and then start posting boot times. Why don't they install all the applications they would use daily and then do those benchmarks again ?

I have actually done that and was not surprised to find out Windows 8 could not even handle some of the software I use regularly due to driver or compatibility issues.

Playing around with their "fake start button" will just make things worse when Windows 8.1 is finally out.