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Frustrated with its initial launch, Microsoft is reportedly planning to reboot Windows 8 in February.Microsoft is reportedly pissed at PC makers for failing to ready themselves for the launch of Windows 8 back in October. Without naming its source(s), The Register claims Microsoft believes OEMs should have been ready with more attractive Windows 8-based touchscreen tablets, and had they been on the ball, the reception would have been much more positive. There's more.
Redmond reportedly provided specific guidance on the hardware its partners should be using for any machine running Windows 8. Microsoft also provided advice on both high-end and low-end form factors PC makers should build, including Ultrabooks, hybrid laptops, and traditional notebooks.
"Microsoft is very frustrated with major OEMs who didn't build nearly enough touch systems and are now struggling to find parts and ramp up. Microsoft says they provided very specific guidance on what to build," an un-named source told The Register.
For their part, PC makers says that if they followed Microsoft's requirements and stepped up production, they'd essentially be stuck holding onto a bunch of expensive tablets that nobody wants to buy.
So here we are three months later, watching Microsoft and PC makers argue about what consumers do and do not want, while the fate of Windows 8 hangs in the balance. What's Microsoft's next move, then?
Reboot Windows, of course.
Hey, it used to work in Windows 95, and according to The Register, Microsoft is planning to reboot the launch of Windows 8 in February when Surface Pro comes out.
If Microsoft goes through with that strategy, it will be interesting to see what happens next. Call us skeptical, but rebooting the launch of Windows 8 is not going to solve the fundamental problem that exists, which is that consumers never asked for touch-capable desktops or a bunch of overpriced hybrids to begin with.
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Comments are closed on this article
pastorbob
January 24, 2013 at 5:17pm
Hate to disappoint you but I've been running it on three systems since its release and haven't seen even one blue screen or lockup.
Bullwinkle J Moose
January 24, 2013 at 6:42pm
"haven't seen even one blue screen or lockup."
Same with XP if you know what you're doing
and you can run more software on XP
and you can record what you hear in XP
and you can make XP much more secure than 7 or 8 if you use driveshield
and you can see what Microsoft components are making backdoors through your firewall in XP but not in 7 or 8 (Hint: > Security Essentials)
and XP doesn't monitor everything you install
and...
oh forget it, you're not listening anyway
just keep drinking the cool-aid
pastorbob
January 25, 2013 at 5:52am
"Same with XP if you know what you're doing"
True, but I didn't say XP crashed and I didn't move away from XP for that reason.
"and you can run more software on XP"
Moot point for me since Windows 8 runs any software that I want to run. And some apps that I use regularly will not run under XP.
As far as your usual conspiracy theory rants I always find them quite amusing.
I think I'll have another glass of cherry Kool-Aid.
Scatter
January 24, 2013 at 3:42pm
Another CEO who blames everyone else for when his ideas don't catch on or just plain suck. Here's a idea, sell the customer something that they want, not what you say we want.
for the record, I HATED Windows 8 when I first installed it. I HATE the new Start screen. I eventually installed Start Is Back' and have grown to accept it. I just can't understand Microsoft's refusal to not make the old Start button a option that can be turned on and off.
Pacal
January 24, 2013 at 2:32pm
I used Win8 as my main OS for a while and found it more than tolerable after a few days of messing with it. I eventually went back to Win7 after needing to "refresh" Win8 for the 3rd time after it decided my gtx 670 didn't exist anymore.
somethingelse
January 24, 2013 at 2:19pm
"...rebooting the launch of Windows 8 is not going to solve the fundamental problem that exists, which is that consumers never asked for touch-capable desktops or a bunch of overpriced hybrids to begin with."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
I think Microsoft needs to wait till PC/Notebook sales start picking up again before expecting anything radical from OEMs. It's not that Windows 8 sucks, it's just the timing of the release couldn't have come at a worse time...but then again, if they wait too long, Google and Apple will run away with bigger market share.
thematejka
January 24, 2013 at 2:07pm
Part of Microsoft's problem is a more diverse market. There are many companies than there used to be to compete with Windows. Some are free, some are simpler, some are more customizable, etc. They all have their own flavors. It is becoming increasingly hard to dazzle anybody with so many companies vying for our attention. The funny thing is, despite all the diversity, this is basically a Windows vs. Linux war. Google, Apple, and other OS producers are capitalizing off of essentially the same open-source system.
With more diversity comes a new virtue in business: Choice. Some companies want to be #1 and the only one. We know who those are. On the other hand, the virtue of 'Choice' allows one to concede that all these competitors are good, that they build on each other, push each other to innovate. Also, the bonus of being able to choose whatever product that tickles your fancy is a nice touch.
With diversity and choice, people realize the possibilities, but manufacturers have to work harder to work together and deliver satisfying products. With a 'one rule' company, it is easy to deliver products. I can understand, apart from the allure of money, why companies would want to control the market outright.
Microsoft used to be a common name, not so much anymore. In the light of 'Choice,' I do enjoy my Windows. Windows 8 was a cheap upgrade and useful for me as an IT Workers. For others...It is really a waste of money. Why buy a new axe when your old one is still sharp?
Jox
January 24, 2013 at 9:06pm
Microsoft tried to come up with a new ploy, but they could not hatchet!
-Jox
PCWolf
January 24, 2013 at 1:53pm
Reboot Windows 8??? Oh Pleaseeeeeee!! What they going to call it? Windows 8.5? Windows 8+? In it's current form, Windows 8 with its lame Metro UI & its color tiles only appeals to PC Noobs, Gays, Social Media Addicts & Children.
If Microsoft wants me to buy Windows 8, it must give me the option to choose what version to boot in when installing. Windows 7 Desktop Mode with Classic menus & Start Button, or Windows 8 with it's tablet UI Mode. I don't need to be forced to use a Touch Interface when I don't even have a Touch Screen Monitor.
Stop Blaming OEM'S for the fail of Windows 8! Rebooting it won't help & neither will that planned $200 price tag. Stupid Microsoft.
mellamojay
January 24, 2013 at 3:10pm
You sir are an idiot. Windows 8 appeals to a great deal of people like myself who know a hell of a lot more about PC's than you do. The changes under the hood and boot times alone make windows 8 worth it. Sub 15 sec boot to desktop from completely shut down? yes please. Also, anyone with half a brain cell would know that if Metro is something you don't like, you can get rid of it or do exactly what you are asking with classic shell (which is free). Also, you are not using a Touch interface with metro.... you are using a GUI that is optimized for touch, but works perfectly well with a mouse. One click and you are back to your good old desktop.
I have run Windows 8 as my go too OS for about 3 months now and would never go back to Windows 7. The performance is just too good. It sounds to me like you are negative on windows 8 because you have never actually used it, resistant to change, or just plain stupid. Then again, I would probably go with option 4 of you being all 3 of them.
luke904
January 24, 2013 at 6:38pm
Sub 15 second boot? I don't even remember the last time I shut down my DESKTOP computer. My laptop lasts for days when it's in sleep mode (not hibernate), so I rarely turn it off.
I don't like windows 8 because they put such a huge focus on something completely useless to me as a DESKTOP, or even laptop, operating system user. I don't want touch screen. I can do every faster and easier with a mouse and keyboard.
The improvements made to performance are great, as well as some of the other things they to the task manager, etc. But just think what they could of done if they didn't waste time making a tablet OS for the desktop.
mywonderapple
January 24, 2013 at 2:06pm
Although I agree with most of what you say, obviously the metro user interface is aimed at "less advanced" PC users and younger people... but please don't immaturely discriminate against homosexual people, just because someone is gay doesn't mean they want big flashy colored tiles that's called stereotyping... and before you ask no I am not gay I am straight.
Jacker
January 24, 2013 at 3:04pm
If you're so worried about gays being discriminated against, then you should start letting society treat everyone and there stereotypes equally.
Its just that people like you think some groups should be treated better than others. Always drawing lines in the sand wonder why we all cant get along.
mellamojay
January 24, 2013 at 3:12pm
how in the fuck did you get that out of his comment? No where did he say anything about any other group. All he said was to use one group as a negative slur was wrong. He never said it was ok to use stereotypes against any group... Sounds to me like you are in the closet and being hyper defensive.
Jacker
January 24, 2013 at 3:52pm
You just proved my point "All he said was to use one group as a negative slur was wrong"
Saying "gays" is not a bad word and if you felt that they were your equal you wouldn't consider it offensive.
Example:
"All girls like Windows 8 because its colorful" - that ok in your minds
"All gays like Windows 8 because its colorful" - negative slur
"All straights like Windows 8 because its colorful" - its ok
See ya later small minds!
mywonderapple
January 24, 2013 at 5:12pm
I can't even comprehend your stupidity... All I said was not to discriminate against homosexuals, you're putting way to much thought into it.
limitbreaker
January 25, 2013 at 10:38am
Actually he's got a point, he named a few groups but gays were singled out to be defended. For the record in case it needs to be said, I totally disagree with him on windows 8. Also, I find that people who call others stupid are usually not very intelligent themselves.
mywonderapple
January 25, 2013 at 8:50pm
Let me put this in simple terms he said something mean about gays, I said not to, I never said to treat gays better than other people, I believe everyone should be treated equally, I'm not going to sit here and ramble off all the different people he shouldn't say mean things about, he mentioned gays, I said not to... You guys are seriously making this over complicated, I meant no harm only good... can this please just be done now?
Bullwinkle J Moose
January 24, 2013 at 1:30pm
I think Maximum PC has finally found the magic elixer to get their readers back
Bullwinkle J Moose
January 25, 2013 at 8:29am
Apparently
Lets ask the machine.....
Hey Ballmer, was that the big plan?
Just get everyone talking about Windows 8?
Well....
Mission Accomplished!
Gauntylgrym
January 24, 2013 at 1:28pm
So MS admits that even their launch of W8 resulted in a BSoD? **snicker**
.
.
I hope the reboot is met with equal disdain. I'll keep my W7, thank you very much. I think it's just about perfect.
PCWolf
January 24, 2013 at 1:54pm
I would not put it past MS to start creating patches to slowly kill windows 7 by making it perform worse & less unstable. Forcing people to upgrade to that POS windows 8.
mellamojay
January 24, 2013 at 3:16pm
The ONLY reason windows 7 gets as much praise as it does is because of how TERRIBLE Vista was. If Vista was decent, 7 would of been met with the same reaction windows 8 is getting now. Go actually use a windows 8 box for a month then put in your 2 cents, because right now all of you haters just sound like uninformed bitches. How about you give me one good reason windows 7 is BETTER than windows 8 other than the Metro hate (which is personal preference anyway).
Paper Jam
January 24, 2013 at 9:12pm
7 is what Vista should have been, and if it had been, we would have a lot longer period of time between full versions right now, which may have boosted sales.
And Jox got it right. 8 could have been a service pack for 7 and made the UI change optional. But it wasn't, and in fact is a shameless cash grab by MS. 7 is nowhere near as outdated as XP was when Vista was released, and is nowhere near as clunky as Vista was when it was released. That means there are many satisfied customers who aren't ready for an expensive upgrade.
And you are right, Metro hate is a preference. But most people make choices with their money according to preference. This is not insignificant. And I did use Win8 for over a month. Still didn't make me love the live tiles, hot corners, or the charms bar.
Jox
January 24, 2013 at 8:39pm
Windows 7 is essentially Vista 2.0. Most of the bugs are fixed and much of the unpleasantness that was Vista has been redesigned. Code optimizations made for an overall better OS in Windows 7, but at the core, they are largely the same OS.
That said, 7 doesn't get praise exclusively because Vista was so poorly received. 7 is leaps and bounds beyond XP in many regards. The difference between XP and 7 is akin to the difference between 3.0 and '98.
The difference between 7 and 8, however is akin to the difference between Vista and 7. Code optimization and tweaks. 8 should have been a service pack for 7 and as such it would have been happily received (assuming it didn't force the UI change). If I go out tomorrow and buy a new PC with 8 installed, I probably won't remove it, but I currently have a desktop PC running 7 and there's simply no incentive for me to switch to 8.
Windows 7 was well-designed update that was sorely needed. Windows 8 is a cash-grab and it shows. Glaringly. And now Microsoft is suffering for it. Call me when windows 9 is ready and I may reconsider.
-Jox
limitbreaker
January 25, 2013 at 10:19am
Do you guys think they could have added uefi boot with a service pack? That takes a clean installation with even the medium (DVD or flash) to be booted in UEFI. one of the best features of windows 8 is the fast booting which again takes a ground up installation.
Dexter243
January 24, 2013 at 1:07pm
There is no need for Microsoft on tablets there not gaming rigs and gaming is the only and i meen only thing keeping windows in my house
and for tuch screen tablets android all ready works and will do every thing any one wanted to do on a tablet
why would i buy a windows tablet when i can buy a ipad or android tablet that has more bells and whistles then i could ever use
Besides windows 8 will not even play a freeking dvd movie what a joke and as of jan 31st you will have to buy windows media player from the app stoor for $20 because microse wants to save $2 on every copy of win 8 that is sold and all i see is linux growing and growing with even gamers now that steam suports lunux
Microsoft time is over and will disipear off in to the sunset
PCWolf
January 24, 2013 at 2:02pm
While I am a Windows 7 User, & I fully support Linux & its open source environment, you Linux Lovers have been preaching the end of Windows for years now. Sorry, It's never going to happen. Linux is for Advanced Users. To use a car Analogy, Stick Shift may be better, but most people still prefer to drive Automatics.
Jox
January 24, 2013 at 8:25pm
"Linux is for Advanced Users. To use a car Analogy, Stick Shift may be better, but most people still prefer to drive Automatics."
This is true, but only to an extent... For the vast majority of Windows users, Windows may as well be Linux, at least when things go wrong. Many people have no idea how to fix a broken Windows box, which is why Staples and Best Buy make so much money from their "experts". If you can operate a mouse, you can USE Linux. You may not be able to get down into the nuts and bolts of it, but the average Windows user suffers from the same limitation. As Dexter243 said, the ONLY leverage Microsoft has is game support. Once they lose that, I suspect that will be the end of Microsoft (as we know it).
-Jox
Hey.That_Dude
January 24, 2013 at 12:55pm
A more attractive Windows 8 would have allowed boot to desktop and made it impossible to run the new OS on any screen resolution smaller than 1080p (and maybe even increased support of resolution up to 4k so that i could plug into next gen TVs and junk).
danwat1234
January 24, 2013 at 12:53pm
Guys, I've been using Windows 8 for a few days now, it is pretty nice. They've done a good job at making the system more efficient, using a bit less RAM than before, hardly any more hard disk space used than Windows 7 and it boots up even quicker. The new task manager is useful and the Refresh and Reset functions make life easy and the "Cancel or Allow" dialog boxes pop up quicker now.
But Metro sucks, especially if you can't keep it out of the way!
Solution; Buy Stardock Start8 for $5 and you can have the Windows 7 start menu back including the jump lists (lists of recently opened files by programs). You can even change the start menu button graphic to the green button just like Windows XP. H0t.WIndows 8 is nice if you can hide Metro. But if you have Windows 7 I wouldn't pay for Windows 8, the enhancements aren't that necessary.
The sooner Microsoft realizes that they should let Metro be able to be shut off, the more they will sell.
Mekan
January 24, 2013 at 9:22pm
Why should I pay $200 for a product that sucks so hard I have to buy a workaround at the get go?
mellamojay
January 24, 2013 at 3:20pm
Get classic shell for free instead of Start8. Windows 8 is worth the money if you do any high end computing or want the flexibility for storage. Like being able to do raid arrays with different hardware. Windows 8 is better than windows 7 BUT the public perception is skewed because of how much better Windows 7 was to Vista.
angryone
January 24, 2013 at 12:48pm
All Microsoft has to do is allow Windows 8 users to bypass the start screen and boot directly to the desktop if they want, and put the start menu back. That is it. The users with a touch screen can use the start screen and desktop users can use the desktop. It would be an easy fix and Windows 8 sales would take off. But Microsoft wants to force people into something they don't like, want or need, and then blame others for its failure to sell.
livebriand
January 24, 2013 at 10:43pm
EXACTLY! Why is this so hard for Microsoft to understand? Shit doesn't sell. Period.
m35g35
January 24, 2013 at 3:12pm
Googled to bypass the metro ui and found an answer in a few minutes. There is more complaining than being technical.
USraging
January 24, 2013 at 12:36pm
If they can only make metro or win8 interface not cover my whole screen when trying to get to some of my applications than i would be in. windows 8 does not seem very effective at multitasking.
pastorbob
January 24, 2013 at 5:45pm
"windows 8 does not seem very effective at multitasking."
Are you for real? I use Windows 8 on a daily basis. At any given moment I might have Powerpoint, Word, IE 10, Thunderbird, and Logos 5 all open at the same time. I open them all from the Start Screen. I cut and paste and switch between them without any problems at all. And running in the background is Crashplan doing my daily backup.
Servant
January 24, 2013 at 12:37pm
"windows 8 does not seem very effective at multitasking"
Excuse me...
ROFLMFAO!
OK, I'm better!
