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Poll Results: Is there a market for Windows 8 or is Microsoft playing with fire?

May 9, 2011, 9:54 AM PDT

Takeaway: See how your TechRepublic peers answered this question: Is there a market for Windows 8 or is Microsoft playing with fire?

On April 7, 2011, I asked the readers of the TechRepublic Microsoft Windows Blog this poll question:

Is there a market for Windows 8 or is Microsoft playing with fire?

In the past month or so, TechRepublic has published “leaked” screenshots of Windows 8, and the interest has been greater than I expected. I have been, and I remain, skeptical that Windows 8’s being released so quickly on the heels of Windows 7 is a good move by Microsoft.

I am sensing a significant amount of upgrade fatigue, especially in small businesses. To overcome that reluctance to yet another upgrade to the Windows operating system, Microsoft will have to do something noteworthy with Windows 8 — something I have yet to see in any of the leaked photo galleries.

Thus spawned my poll question regarding the potential market acceptance of Windows 8. Not surprisingly for the TechRepublic practical-based audience, most poll respondents are content to wait for additional information. However, plenty of respondents are exasperated by the prospect of another operating system migration.

Should Windows 8 even be on our radar at this early point in the development cycle?

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About Mark Kaelin

Mark Kaelin is a CBS Interactive Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He is the host for the Microsoft Windows and Office blog, the Google in the Enterprise blog and the iOS App Builder blog.

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4 Votes

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I've been asking the same question for years

rick@... Updated - 10th May 2011

I just don't understand it. Ford, GM, Toyota, etc., all come out with new car models every year. Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc., all come out with new camera models every year. Maytag, Whirlpool, GE, etc., come out with new appliance models every year.

Somehow, we all manage to survive without having to buy every new car, new camera, new TV, new dishwasher, etc., that comes out each year. Most of us use our cars, TVs, appliances, etc., until they wear out, or break down, or we get tired of them, or we see something new that we absolutely must have. When we're ready to buy something new, we might buy the latest and greatest model available. Or we may buy last year's model at a discounted price.

On the other hand, when Microsoft comes out with a new version of Windows, it seems to cause all this controversy. Some seem to think that MS will "force" us to upgrade our OS every time a new version comes out. Others are convinced that MS only creates new versions of software so they can "force" people to have to pay for an upgrade. What's wrong with thinking that an OS is just a product, like any other product? What's wrong with using the OS you have until it is no longer useful, or until a new OS comes along that has something you really want? Or just upgrade your OS when you buy a new computer?

Why is common sense such a rare commodity in the world of IT?

Rick

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0 Votes

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The reason is simple

runningcommentry 21st Nov 2011

The reason the world of IT is different to the car or other electronics industries is that you're dealing with an abstract product, a product which can greatly enhance your existing hard ware potentially, without the need for anything new.

The problem how ever is that you can't just keep an 'old' OS because companies like Microsoft force you into upgrading. Eventually all support gets cut, updates don't come, other companies software ceases to offer support, and your existing OS is artificially out dated by money hungry organisations.

It's not just about having the latest for the sake of it, in a fast paced industry like IT things are improving, security features and the like are often added as we learn and improve. (Although I do admit this isn't always the case!)

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Well, a lot of bluster...

wuboyblue 26th Sep 2011

I'm kind of looking forward to W8 as long as it doesn't mess with Xbox development or WMC. Microsoft has become the defacto desktop for 90% of the world and with really good reason, boot times aside, everything works well together. Putting an Xbox virtual machine into W8 won't exactly move me from my Xbox, which integrates well with WMC.

Business apps aside, I develop games and W7 is a really good platform for both tools and target. W8 is supposed to be faster and lighter, so bring it on. I love the guys who talk Linux and I have to ask, for what, web browsing. The only useful Linux desktop I have is Android 2.2 on my phone.

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A trip down memory lane...

MarkReynoldsIT 18th Jul 2011

Sorry, Rick S._z, but while I heartily agree that Windows 3.1 was far more stable and useful than Windows 3.0, Windows for Workgroups (aka WfWG) was version 3.11, not 3.1. 3.1 did not come with the networking buit in.

Ah, a trip down memory lane...!!! Do I remember my 16kB Microbee fondly? Absolutely! Do I believe we are better off for always marching forwards (just like we did when we moved from Windows 3.0 to Windows 3.1)? Absolutely!

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