BUILD 2011: 500,000 Windows 8 Developer Preview Copies Downloaded in Less Than a Day, Ballmer Thrilled
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Microsoft unveiled yesterday its future Windows version, Windows 8, a strange combination of Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7, expected to run seamlessly on regular computers, desktops and notebooks, but also on “new” tablet PCs. The new OS is still in beta, or a few steps ahead of beta so not all the features of Windows 8 can be experienced at this time.
What’s really annoying though is that Microsoft is still keeping around that blue screen of death, which means Windows 8 systems are still expected to crash but we’ll cover that bridge once we get there.
Getting to more important things though, it would seem that Microsoft’s Windows 8 developer preview was downloaded half a million times in less than a day, which is an impressive number for an early version of the OS. Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer came out on stage during the company’s Build conference to talk about the new OS but also to brag about this accomplishment. But does Microsoft want to make Windows Phone 7 popular by association with Windows 8?
Yes, I agree Windows 8 has a great potential and Microsoft may be very close to launching a totally new OS, ready to satisfy the needs of old-school, and new-age PC users, but we’re a long time from that. And yes, I appreciate Microsoft is disclosing such information about Windows 8, but then again they always did mention their Windows 7 sales performance in the past.
But what I don’t like, as a consumer, is the fact that neither Ballmer nor Joe Belfiore seem willing to confirm the total number of Windows Phone 7 handsets in use so far. That’s because WP7 sales can’t live up to their current hype, can they? So if the mobile OS isn’t popular after more than a year of existence, would Microsoft be able to sell an OS looking like WP7 but performing like Windows 8 on a new Windows tablet in 2012?
However good or bad Windows 8 will be, it’s certain Microsoft will sell a bucket load of licenses for notebooks and desktops. The question is, will the company be able to really gain any traction in the tablet and smartphone business? Because so far we’re seeing more talk rather than walk in the mobile environment from this giant corporation.
Have you downloaded one of the 500,000 Windows 8 copies? How do you find the preview so far?
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6 Comments / Add Your Response?
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To the author,
You know they sell Macs, and you can use Linux right.
What’s the point? You don’t like MS? Well I don’t like Del Monty catsup, It’s got to be Heinz, but nobody gives a s&%t! Why not just promote the systems that you like? Unless they delegate what you write you are choosing to just be a HATER.
Ah no Rodney, I am not a hater, I like what I see in Windows 8, it has potential, but at the same time it feels like Microsoft is feeding future Windows users, that don’t have anything to do with a WP7, a WP7 experience also. Because what have we seen so far in Windows 8? Metro UI right?
You make the assumption in this article that WP7 isn’t selling as a result of the UI. The UI is probably the aspect of the OS that has won most praise. It came out missing critical features, (multi task, c&p), had update issues, awful marketing, poor sales reps etc. It hasn’t even been a full year and most of those issues are addressed.
People have been talking about Windows going metro since the Zune software 2.0. Metro UI does not please all but an overwhelming majority in the tech community believe it to be beautiful, as do I.
A unified UI for the most dominant PC OS in the world, makes its way to the tablet, phone and XBox creates an ecosystem that is simply unrivalled.I would argue that if Windows 8 is executed properly, MS has a very good chance to cement for a long time its position as king of the OS’s.
Btw: Sent using an EP 121 with the Windows 8 Developer Preview… Some very nice aspects but needs major work! We’ll see how they due on the beta!
Rodney, just to confirm, there is no delegation concerning material here on the site and authors are at will to express their own opinions.
I really thought Microsoft was being left behind. Ipad and Android where making all the advances. But it looks like Microsoft was busy working on their comeback. With Windows 8 it looks like they are still in the game. I’m looking forward to seeing it in person…whenever it finally comes out.