Forumswindows8.com has popped up asking more than 50,000 users what their favorite Windows OS is now and other information regarding Windows 8 in general. According to the site, the results paint a picture that shows early users of the Windows 8 aren’t nearly as enthusiastic about it as you might think. The survey has 25 percent of voters stating that Windows 8 is their favorite OS. Meanwhile, 53 percent claim Windows 7 as their favorite. Other portions of the survey point that 56 percent of Windows 8 new users say their favorite new feature is its fast boot and shut down. Easy installation is the second favorite feature in Windows 8 according to the survey. On the other hand, only 22 percent approved of the new Modern (METRO) UI.
Is this survey bad news for Windows 8?
You can make this out as bad news, but it is really? I would say no. I look at it this way: Windows 8’s new UI is a pretty massive change for users that have being utilizing the Start Menu and bar since the mid-90s. It is not at all surprising that users that early users aren’t as receptive. It’s also more than likely that the vast majority are using the new UI on a non-touch device (laptop/desktop). The touch UI isn’t that useful or necessary for the average power user on a traditional PC, at least in my own humble opinion. Personally, I’m starting to get used to the Modern UI and find it somewhat useful from time to time- but don’t regularly use it. Could this change in time? Certainly. The second reason why early users aren’t going to necessarily fall head-over-heals in love with Windows 8 is that it is a new OS with a new ecosystem that still has a limited amount of apps (a little over 2000). I’m not complaining about the lack of apps – this is perfectly understandable for a new ecosystem – I’m just stating that the major draw for Windows 8 is arguably the new Modern UI. The biggest draw for the new touch-oriented UI is apps. Microsoft is likely saving its best apps until right at launch. Once we have some of these ‘saved’ apps out in the wild, Windows 8 will get all that much better. As a tech user myself, I’m not sold on the new UI unless it is found on a tablet. I have a brand new PC and yet I’ve left Windows 7 as my OS. It’s not because I have a problem with Windows 8, I just felt Win7 did what I needed, so why bother? This will be the mentality for many users like myself at first. Microsoft knows this and is okay with it. While Apple tends to push every OSX (and iOS) update on its user quickly, Microsoft doesn’t shift from Windows 98 to XP to Vista to 7 instantly, it allows consumers and businesses to do it gradually. Okay, Apple doesn’t force anyone to go from Leopard to Snow Leopard to Lion- it just seems that Microsoft’s upgrade strategy is (and has always been) more about the long term, and Apple instead uses hype to make users feel they need the newest version NOW. Which approach is right or wrong? That’s the beauty about freedom of choices, it really depends on your own preferences. Don’t find Windows 8 useful today? That’s fine, you can use Windows 7. Eventually your needs will change and you will grow into Windows 8, and that’s what Microsoft counts on. At least that is the way I see it. Bottom line, I personally think it is a very positive sign that 25 percent of users in the survey are already claiming an OS that hasn’t even come out officially to market yet is their favorite. What about you? How do you feel about Windows 8?]]>Article Tags:
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Andrew, I applaud you for digging into the survey a little more than the rest of the bloggists and reporters on the internet. But there was another question in the survey that you haven’t mentioned that I think weighs highly in the proper interpetation of the results of the survey. That question is “What OS do you use?” This question allowed participants to select multiple answers. Windows 7 had the highest useage followed by Windows XP while Windows 8 only had 26% of the respondents saying they used it. Now those of us who have reviewed this all come to the same conclusion that it is hard to say you perfer an OS if you dont use it. Therefore, I think it is highly likely that 96% of those who say they used Windows 8 also responded that they perfer it. Of couse this is an assumption as the survey does not list this statistic directly, but I think the assumption is valid. This then refutes the whole premise that most bloggist are using on the internet that most Windows ( users perfer Windows 7. That I think is a complete inaccurate interpetation of the data. What the survey says is that The majority of the respondents perfer Windows 7 and the majority of the respondents use Windows 7. This seems like common sense to me. I wonder if the bloggists are being sensationalists in their interpetation, lazy, or just downright dishonest.
Very excellent point. Makes sense.
As someone who has used Windows 8, do I prefer it to Windows 7 myself? I’ll be honest- no. Do I like Windows 7 better than 8? No to that as well.
I’m in a very neutral spot when it comes to Windows 8 (on non-touch devices, anyhow). I’m not sold on Metro/Modern for desktop/laptop use just yet but I don’t hate it.
I certainly don’t think the new UI is WORSE than the start menu, I just don’t see enough reason to adjust to the new UI yet. This will likely change as my computing habits change and more great apps show up.
At the same time, past experience with Windows 8 shows me is faster in many ways than Windows 7.Right now, I simply like Windows 7 and/or 8… no preference. Eventually, I might change my mind. 🙂
Well, I guess me being in the 22% of this statistic is better than me being in the 47% of some other statistic!
🙂