Microsoft finally started talking numbers, as the company recently let out that 60 million Windows 8 licenses were moved since launch. A substantial number, which is set to only increase as more and more devices make their way to the market.
Several company heads have already chimed in on the success of Microsoft’s newest operating system. HP’s CEO Meg Whitman believes that Windows 8 will take off at some point, but we will have to wait a while for that eventuality. Talking to BusinessWeek she said:
“Listen, Windows 8 did not appear to grow the market. But we are in early days, and the magnitude of the user-interface change and features were substantial. We have to stick with this. I am a believer. We are going to continue to invest in this platform. Whenever you do something of this magnitude in this kind of environment, you have to stick with it.”
Stick with it, then? Seems like a plan!
Just like HP’s CEO, analysts around the world expect Windows 8 to skyrocket later this year. The senior research analyst at IDC, Jay Chou recently said that hardware manufacturers are getting ready to release new computers that can make the most of Windows 8:
“As Windows 8 matures, and other corresponding variables such as Ultrabook pricing continue to drop, hopefully the PC market can see a reset in both messaging and demand in 2013.”
All said and done, this much is clear that Microsoft’s newest operating system is wrangling several variables all at once — an updated user interface, a new ecosystem, weak economy, lack of devices made specifically for Windows 8, and the rise of mobile computing.
A few of these variables might stay the same, but others will definitely improve as time goes by, which can only be good news for Windows 8 and Microsoft.
