Microsoft Discounting Windows 8 For OEMs to Boost Sales

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This may seem offtopic and I hope that it is not, but Steam Box's OS gives me hope that I can skip Windows and add 100 bucks to hardware. Think about how much a jump in GPU performance can be had for 100 bucks.

B/C of Android I am seeing stuff like this for about 100 bucks that I would never buy at 200 bucks. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/coolship-an-android-desktop-computer-that-looks-like-a-keyboard?c=home.
 
I have all my computers at home running Win 8 - one of them cost me $15 upgrade, the rest were free through MSDN. I like Win 8 up to $15-20 per copy. If I were to pay more, I will simply go OSX or Ubuntu. Most likely my next builds will be Hackintosh-es...because there is already plenty of hardware that simply works with OSX, and the OS itself is $20 from Apple store. There is all kind of software and all kind of accessories already on the market for Macs, the infrastructure is there, and on top it is often on sale and cheaper than PC.

For small or portable devices Android is the way.

Microsoft screwed big time this release.
 
[citation][nom]damianrobertjones[/nom].P.s. It seems that Toms is now full of negative posting users that drawn out anything positive with regards to Windows 8. Some of the posts are simply idiotic.[/citation]

Or it could be that Win8 really isnt that well liked by the masses. Time will tell.
 
When Microsoft drops their prices this stage in the OS life cycle you know things are bad. They've had ample opportunity to not dig this hole. People were trying to tell them how to avoid digging this hole back in the betas and release previews. Microsoft didn't listen. I can't feel bad for someone who was told how not to make a mistake but chose to do so anyway.
 
people aren't not buying windows 8 devices because of the pricetag, they're not buying windows 8 devices typically for 1 of 2 reasons:
1) it's windows 8 (they believe they'd hate the new UI, true or not)
2) this isn't 2001 anymore, there's no need for a family of four to have four desktops/laptops anymore. they only see themselves needing one computer and letting tablets and smartphones handle the everyday basics - don't need an expensive, powerful, bulky, full-fledged computer to check email or view pictures or play casual games anymore.
 
Hmmm... I am guite sure that MS is not worried about not so good desktop sales. They are fighting Android and Apple in here! MS knows that touch based devices are the future (It does not matter if we like it or not) so they wants to get larger market chare of it.
So they are trying to sell more tablets and other mobile devices in here! Not more win8 to the desktops. Desktops are not so important to MS anymore. Anyone else has seen this trend lately?
 
And when I am shopping at an online computer store, and the "do you want to chat with a sales rep." popup appears, I usually begin, after the rep asks "how may I help you"! I state that that is a great deal you have on that new laptop, But windows 8 is a deal killer, can I get this laptop wint windows 7 installed! If the rep answers no, well Windows 8 is the deal Killer!
 
[citation][nom]damianrobertjones[/nom]Is it me or have some of you guys hardly even or EVER used Windows 8? Just reading through the comments makes it more than clear.I'm a supposed 'power' user and find no issue with Windows 8 on the desktop, laptop and of course, tablets. Why not? It's Windows 7 with extras. What is a power user anyway? I run multiple VMS, administer a network etc and Windows 8 has never gotten in the way of my day to day work. I actually like having easy access to the Kindle/ebay/other app and it saves a whole load of crap being installed across my SSD.Don't any of you actually see the benefits of Windows 8? The GUI is damn easy to use, the OS 'is' better than Windows 7 (Seeing as it pretty much is 7 anyway) so I'm not too sure why we have a whole load of negativity?Baffles me.[/citation]

I've used it since the Developer Preview early last year(ish.) Apps are probably fine on a tablet, but a waste of screen space on the desktop (and don't tend to work as well as a real application, quite frankly. I don't need a 3-4-5 screen wide, full size "pretty" weather display, for instance - the old desktop gadget worked beautifully. Quick glance, don't even have to get anything out of the way, done.)

When I install an *application,* I shouldn't then have to dedicate the next several minutes (worse when doing an initial setup and using something like Ninite to load multiple apps and utilities) to rearrange tiles, deleting all the ones that are normally hidden away inside start menu folders that I may want access to later - uninstallers, configuration, readmes and related utilities. Oh, sure, I can go to "all apps" later... what a waste of space, even with the search. Space *and* time.

And, being on a *desktop,* when I want to run a program, my options are... flip back and forth between Metro and the desktop, making my system look like a gymnast on crack, fill up my desktop with a pile of icons, or fill up my taskbar (which I prefer to have free of pretty much everything but Explorer and my browser, thanks, so I can see what else is actually *running*) - or, of course, track down a third party add on to put some semblance of the start menu back.

And these wonderful "apps?" Oh, ebay, bing, weather... yeah, I can get to those now without them taking up real estate when not being used. It's called "going to the web page."

For little things, aside from not liking the general overall look, I dislike the lack of customization on the metro screen (again, without using some third party app, it's juts MS's little patterns and colors,) and of all things missing the WIN-tab Aero flip through running programs. And how about an actual clock there 24/7 on the Metro "start" screen? Oh, wait, it'd be covered up by the app running full screen.

Are there things I like? Sure. The new task manager. The improved file copy dialogs. And... hmm... um... that seems to be it.

Windows 8 commits a cardinal sin for an OS. It *gets in the way* of what I want to do. Even after all this time with it. The only reason I still have it running (in a VM, thanks) is because I have to support people who have been saddled with it. And even then, I didn't pay extra for it - already had a technet subscription.
 
[citation][nom]Soda-88[/nom]Sorry, but nobody bitching about default UI is a power user.[/citation]
You're obviously not a power user or a business user. Otherwise you would see how stupid that statement was...
 
I like my windows 8 although after using it for a while the metro system is getting more and more sucky, for example when I installed nero 10 that came free with my dvd rw it flooded my start screen with help files for every language nero dose :/ it looks a real mess now but I can live with it :/ still looks a mess though, other that I suppose the metro interface is ok'ish ... as for harder to use, I guess it like everything you have to adjust or don't, that simple really, Im happy with windows 8 even if everyone else hates it ? the metro bit though ? hmmm bit odd, and the windows store and apps pretty pointless for me so I don't even use them, am I happy that I upgraded to windows 8? yea I suppose I am, although was it worth me upgrading from windows 7 ? nah not really lol :/ and I still cant see why anyone would need to at the moment, although it has given me a learning experience that I have enjoyed because its just different to what I was used to. kind of left me feeling like the first time I used a pc for about an hour until I learned how to get about the o/s .. somethings I like somethings I don't with windows 8 but it was the same with Linux for me some things I like about it some things I don't.

sorry about edit but I think I may have thought of some reasons to upgrade to windows 8

1. if you want to get that feeling of being new to computers (until you get used to it at least)
2. you like those mobile app thingys (load of rubbish I think .. why would I want mobile apps on my desktop pc ?)
3. or you simply just love testing your patients

I guess 1 and 3 apply to me.
 
Just because MS reduces the price by $20~30 or whatever for OEMs to build WinRT/8 whatever hardware doesn't create demand...

No point for them to make MORE hardware that nobody is buying... which means Amazon, BestBuy and Walmart won't buy either.

Bye Bye Microsoft.
 
[citation][nom]hannibal[/nom]So they are trying to sell more tablets and other mobile devices in here! Not more win8 to the desktops. Desktops are not so important to MS anymore. Anyone else has seen this trend lately?[/citation]
So much wrong.
First, desktop is turning in professional market: small numbers, high revenues, similar to server market. Apple understood it, Chromebook are also aiming to those users. W8 is so anti-desktop in usability and in marketing statements that it has just lose this battle.
Second, user share counts everyone using a given system, on desktop or tablets as well, and in this W8 is failing epically to gain an user base: they are not succeeding in selling tablets, but are succeeding in not selling desktops, numbers says this!
Third, pecunia non olet, shareholders does not care if money comes from desktop or tablets, if you have to pay billions to shareholders (and to 10K employes too!), you need to get the money from somewhere, big BIG BBIIGG money every month, or you get bankrupt.
 
Well , the future of computing is the soc and some form of tablet , microsoft is right to try and get a foothold in the tablet/mobile market . They are actually late in doing so . But loosing your bigest share in the market , the desktop , while trying to enter another is idiotic . They are trying to shove a touchscreen UI down the desktop users throat . And guess what , the desktop users react to it , badly . MS will force the notebook and desktop OEMs to use win8 , and thats the only market share they will get . Its not small , but MS will never be the same after this . Combined with the switch of computing to mobile/tablet (MS share of total OS market is now less than 20%) and their shockingly poor decision to market their ARM OS as windows RT (people expect backwards compatibility when they hear windows) , this is the end of MS as we know it ......
 
[citation][nom]damianrobertjones[/nom]Is it me or have some of you guys hardly even or EVER used Windows 8? Just reading through the comments makes it more than clear.I'm a supposed 'power' user and find no issue with Windows 8 on the desktop, laptop and of course, tablets. Why not? It's Windows 7 with extras. What is a power user anyway? I run multiple VMS, administer a network etc and Windows 8 has never gotten in the way of my day to day work. I actually like having easy access to the Kindle/ebay/other app and it saves a whole load of crap being installed across my SSD.Don't any of you actually see the benefits of Windows 8? The GUI is damn easy to use, the OS 'is' better than Windows 7 (Seeing as it pretty much is 7 anyway) so I'm not too sure why we have a whole load of negativity?Baffles me.[/citation]Don't expect common sense to prevail here. Anything to do with Windows 8 just becomes a mindless fact-void circlejerk of tired jokes and baseless complaints, often from people who haven't used the OS for a sustained length of time.

If power users like you and I are happy with Win 8, we shouldn't waste our time.
 
[citation][nom]godfather666[/nom]Dear Microsoft, pricing is not the reason Windows 8 is doing so poorly. It's because it's a horrible barely usable schizophrenic OS.The sad thing is, they can easily fix it. All they have to do is create two modes that the user can easily switch between: touch mode and desktop mode.And that's it. Done, you have a winner.[/citation]
I quoted you only because of the cap of 20 thumbs up. So here is another +
 
Download classic shell, get your start button back, it will keep the metro abortion from taking over. Loads right to my desktop, and I have identical laptops for the wife and I, I put 8 on one and kept 7 on the other.. after a day or two I like windows 8 better, even as a power user. People just have what is known as baby duck syndrome, the inability to adapt to new environments. your all complaining now, but wait till windows 9 is released with no third party app installations possible. If you decide to go to Linux, well good luck if you cant adapt from one Ms to another, linux will melt your face.
 
The price is still too high for the benefits you gain. I wish they would develop a OS that would let you transfer or preserve your programs and files with less hassle. I may be considered old fashioned here, but I still like my Windows Xp and am sick of constant upgrading, so Windows 8 would never work for me anyway. Why should I pay them to hold my computer hostage? It is odd that when it first comes out the price is affordable (69.99), but then the price goes (199.99) up the longer you wait to buy it.
 
The major visual and app changes are rather in your face, and quite pointless and annoying for desktop function also, I don't need or want that crap on my desktop. They really should have developed two forms one for desktops more in keeping with current Windows systems and a separate mobile version that would be cross compatible. Bottom line I am hate the New Windows 8, sure I could get used to it, but it really does not gain enough improvement for the extreme cost.
 
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