Maximum PC: We’ve seen this story reported on by several blogs around the web, but few seem to point out that the price of Windows 8 isn’t going up, its just returning to normal. Microsoft’s promotional pricing allowed for $20 upgrades with the purchase of a new Windows 7 PC, or $40 if you have anything newer than XP expires at the end of the month, and it doesn’t look like they have any intention of extending it.
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Interesting.
If the price of Windows 8 goes up, I'm not sure how many people will make the switch cause not many people I know made the switch from Windows 7 when it was cheap. As someone who has made the switch, performance is better and I think you are able to get rid of the metro interface if you don't like it.
W8 was barely getting any attention on this price, how they think raising the price is gonna help.
This is nothing new we all knew it was going to happen. I think this year will be a big year for Windows 8 as it will have the hardware it should have now.
I have a PC running Windows 8 and I have to say I don't miss the old start menu at all on my work laptop. Once you get the hang on using the OS everything is a lot easer to access and the OS is more stable and runs quicker on my 3 year old laptop than Windows 7 did.
I have also got a Surface last week and this imo is the best tablet on the market. It is very well put together. Looks amazing and again Windows 8 RT is very stable fast and it has now stopped me from taking my laptop home as it will do everything my Xoom would but the big + it is will do everything my PC at work will to as it comes with Office and gives me VPN and Full remote desktop tools as well as extra screen support. Add the touch cover why would you look at an Ipad or Android tablet for a Laptop replacement.
Every one is different though but I do think the next 18 months apple will have the tablet market cut a lot by Windows 8 and Android as the hardware is about to come to the main market that will help people notices both.
I have the Samsung Series 7 DP700A3D. I love windows 8.
I bought Windows 8 when it came out. I'd tried the consumer preview and didn't think it was very good but then Microsoft emailed me about the offer and curiosity got the better of me so I thought I'd give it another go. I went back to Windows 7 soon after as I felt Windows 8 wasn't ready yet, not enough Metro native apps so I spent 99% of my time in classic desktop mode. Unfortunately with no start menu button Microsoft have made it difficult and cumbersome to use. The 1% of time I did spend in Metro there just wasn't enough there to make me stay there. You can buy apps or cobble a start menu back into classic desktop but its something that Microsoft should have put there themselves.
Microsoft are trying to force Metro onto users, trying to force their vision of what an OS UI should be. Metro is not as customisable try to make out, you can change some things but as long as its within Microsofts strict parameters. Windows 8 sales are disappointing and the guy in charge - Steven Sinofsky leaves the company shortly after launch, it's like a train wreck in slow motion. As if that wasn't bad enough Windows tablet sales are also very poor and their mobile phone market largely clings to a manufacturer whose market share is in free-fall while they desperately court others.
Microsoft does not trust it's users or its own design enough to make it optional to boot to Metro or classic desktop with a start menu. Add that functionality to the first service pack and maybe people will upgrade and over time Metro will mature with more apps and better design and people wil start using it.