Windows 8 tablets are trickling into the UK channel but demand is still barely outstripping supply, distributors have reported.
OEMs have taken a conservative attitude to their inventory position this Christmas, ignoring bullish calls from retailers and web shops for more kit – it seems the experiences of 2011′s stock mountain are fresh in the memory.
see We CAN'T GET ENOUGH Windows 8 tablets, moan distributors • The Channel.
Compare that with the situation a decade or so ago when no OEM thought they could sell anything PCish without a licence and burdensome licensing agreement with M$. How the mighty have fallen. Not only is the channel tentative about new Wintel and WARM products but the channel is rebelling against M$’s intrusion into their hardware-space. The ship is sinking and everyone wants to be in a lifeboat.
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Windows 8 is like going into a large store and not being allowed to look around at anything. Instead, there is a lame attendant at the door who will go and look for things based on keywords you give them. What they give you may or may not be what you wanted, and you have to try endless combinations before they find what you wanted or you simply give up. You’re not allowed to browse, either.
Good article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57551670-75/design-guru-nielsen-windows-8-ui-smothers-usability/
“Windows” no longer supports multiple windows on the screen. Win8 does have an option to temporarily show a second area in a small part of the screen, but none of our test users were able to make this work. Also, the main UI restricts users to a single window, so the product ought to be renamed “Microsoft Window.”
That lack of multiple window support forced Nielsen to dub it “one of the worst aspects of Windows 8 for power users.”
In the end, Nielsen believes that Microsoft has focused on tablets with Windows 8 to the detriment of PCs. He argues that while Windows 8 is “weak on tablets,” it’s “terrible for PCs,” adding that “on a regular PC, Windows 8 is Mr. Hyde: a monster that terrorizes poor office workers and strangles their productivity.”
Following the release of Windows 8 last month the VP at popular retailer NewEgg has described sales as falling below expectations.
Talking to readwrite Merle McIntosh, senior VP of Product Management at NewEgg, says Windows 8 sales have been “slow going” compared to the “explosion” the company expected.
(…)
http://www.t3.com/news/windows-8-sales-are-slow-going
eug wrote, ““slow going” compared to the “explosion””
M$’s worst fear and my fondest hope is that we get an implosion. The positive feedback of the retail markets could make that happen, just as Nokia and RIM have collapsed rapidly. If, a year from now we had reports of another four quarters of rapid decline in that other OS, I could die happy
dougman wrote, “Windows 8 is like going into a large store and not being allowed to look around at anything.”
Amen! If the date were 25 years ago, “8″ would be absolutely wonderful, but now after everyone is used to multi-tasking with PCs, “8″ is a straight jacket.
If or when Microsoft dies, something on the order of 100,000 people will lose their jobs and thousands more will find the skills they have worked hard to develop and build up will find those skills almost entirely redundant.
The worst of the damage Microsoft can do is till yet to come. It’s one more example of an overly aggressive American multi-national that has been allowed to grow too big.
A lot of people will suffer when Microsoft sinks. It’s not something I’d be happy about. Even though I want to see the back of Windows and Microsoft. Too many innocent people are going to be caught-out in the storm.
Kevin Lynch wrote, of M$’s demise, “Too many innocent people are going to be caught-out in the storm.”
Many more people’s lives will be enlightened by access to FLOSS and FLOSS has its own global and local economies. Small businesses employ more people than the big guys and the small businesses will benefit greatly by procurement of Governments, business and retailers and OEMs. Because more people will be involved, it will benefit more people. There might be fewer multi-millionaires but who cares? Munich, for instance, hired a few people and local businesses to help our with their migration and lots of FLOSS is being written.
There’s something in FLOSS for everyone, consumers, businesses, and developers. It’s just that no one expects to be filthy rich shipping FLOSS except in volume. Ask Samsung if FLOSS pays.
I could argue that M$ has harmed the IT business globally by shipping bloated, inefficient software and being very unreliable. That going away will be a huge plus for the world’s economy.
> Even though I want to see the back of
> Windows and Microsoft. Too many innocent
> people are going to be caught-out in the
> storm.
Boo hoo for them.
They made their choice and made hay while the sun was shining on that choice. I feel no more for them than I would for big tobacco employees being laid off when more people quit smoking.
Far too many MCSE idiots sucking resources out of IT Departments. They don’t know anything about computers. The only way to fix any problem with their defective technologies is a reboot then a reinstall. After that they’re usually “out of ideas on this one”.
I’ve worked with Microsoft colleagues who’ve actively tried to sabotage non-Microsoft projects on which I’ve worked in order to push their own agendas. They cannot tolerate any other technologies but Microsoft’s. They are always arguing for more and more of that crap to be bought and installed because it’s protection for their own gravy train rather than it’s good for the company.
Cry no tears.