[MagicAndre1981]

MSFT is insane. They really think they sell 400 million Windows8 devices until July 1st 2013:

Microsoft: 400 Million+ Windows 8 Devices in 9 Months
http://www.winsupers...-90-days-144446

Quote

As for Windows 8 and its ARM-based brother, Windows RT, Lorizio says the systems will sell much more quickly than its PC-based predecessor, Windows 7. “When Windows 8 goes live on October 26, the [size of the market] is [over] 1 billion consumers. Our goal … is conservatively over 400 million units in the marketplace by July 1.”

Which drugs do the Managers at MSFT consume to have such unrealistic expectations?

[JorgeA]

CharlotteTheHarlot, on 08 October 2012 - 02:54 AM, said:

For MicroNokia, early indications and word on the street has not been good at all. These are the danger ahead articles over at Fanboy Central just in the past month ...

Great roundup of articles, thanks!

One WOULD think that if the market thought Win8 were going to be such a winner, Nokia's stock price wouldn't be dropping.

Back in the spring I did some research and noticed that, several weeks prior to the GA of Windows 7 and even Vista, there was a significant bump in the price of MSFT. But here we are, barely half a month from the official release of Windows 8, and the stock hasn't budged. I'll have to go back and see how long before GA those bumps occurred; memory suggests it was about 4-6 weeks.

--JorgeA

[JorgeA]

MagicAndre1981, on 08 October 2012 - 09:59 AM, said:

Quote

As for Windows 8 and its ARM-based brother, Windows RT, Lorizio says the systems will sell much more quickly than its PC-based predecessor, Windows 7. “When Windows 8 goes live on October 26, the [size of the market] is [over] 1 billion consumers. Our goal … is conservatively over 400 million units in the marketplace by July 1.”

And they say this is a conservative estimate?? Sounds like they seriously need some outdoor time, as there's something funny in the air inside MS HQ.

The 400 million figure must include not only "real computers," but also tablets and phones. Still, the forecast sounds wildly optimistic.

Quote

It’s about providing the same experiences across all devices in the Microsoft family—not just across the PC, but across mobile, across Xbox, and across the phone. And third, we’re going to have beautiful, relevant, and personal ads. So all of the ads are going to be integrated; they’re not going to be disruptive to the user experience, but beautiful, relevant, and useful.

They really don't get it that a phone is not a PC. I don't want my phone to work like a PC, much less do I want my PC to work like a phone.

And, where exactly are these "personal ads" going to appear -- directly on the Metro start screen? Can you think of a faster way to drive people AWAY from your OS, than by making it a vehicle for even more (and more intrusive) advertising?

--JorgeA

[MagicAndre1981]

JorgeA, on 08 October 2012 - 10:20 AM, said:

And they say this is a conservative estimate?? Sounds like they seriously need some outdoor time, as there's something funny in the air inside MS HQ.

yeah That the Design Team consumes LSD is obvious because of the ugly colors of the metro fullscreen thing and the gray Explorer after the "trip" is over and the depression starts.

But what is he consuming? We should start a poll "Which drugs do the "Destroying Windows Team" consume during their task of damaging Windows?

[jaclaz]

Well, the good news (for them) are that the given link does NOT prove:
http://www.winsupers...-90-days-144446

Quote

Anyone expecting Microsoft to take an artificially conservative approach to Windows 8 market acceptance is going to find this news interesting: A senior Microsoft executive said over the weekend that the software giant will see much better than expected success with Windows 8, thanks to its new “pivot” on consumers.

that they use drugs on working hours.

We have years of medical studies on the effect of drugs so it is easy to find out which is which, and it doesn't sound like LSD (which seems a lot ike the one used by the design team ), but this one sounds more like peyote :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyote

As a comparation, it took Windows 7 :
http://techcrunch.co...s-of-windows-7/
23 months to sell 450 million copies, so if the trend (and it doesn't seem to me like the world economical situation is the same) remains the same (and doing an unfair average as initially Windows 7 didn't start that fast) 450/23*9=~176 millions
This would leave 450-176=274 millions of the sales relating to either the Surface or to the Nokia phones. (please read to something that doesn't yet exist and to something that doesn't sell)

jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: 08 October 2012 - 12:51 PM

[CharlotteTheHarlot]

JorgeA, on 08 October 2012 - 09:51 AM, said:

If the laptops feature touch screens, we also have to factor in the cost of that technology. So... extra $$$ (possibly) shelled out for the opportunity to keep your arm constantly extended in ergonomically dubious ways.

Yeah, but a big "if" I would say. Disregarding the first photo ( doesn't even specify the screen size ) the laptops look like they have trackpads built in, but I guess we cannot rule out trackpad + touchscreen. But that last AIO PC specifically says "touchscreen" so I would assume that HSN is counting on that as a selling point and would necessarily include that in the laptop descriptions. UPDATE: I missed the "touchscreen" spec on the 3rd laptop, it is there obviously. It is a dual configuration. That's probably the only acceptable design for a laptop IMHO.

My gut tells me they are simply existing Acer designs for Windows 7 laptops with Windows 8 shoehorned in.

The deals there pretty much suck based solely on specs, but considering Acer has been pulling up the rear on overall quality and satisfaction for the past decade, the two Acer deals there really REALLY suck. Buying something off that page as it stands should qualify the sucker a nomination for a Darwin award.

EDIT: mistake

This post has been edited by CharlotteTheHarlot: 08 October 2012 - 02:39 PM

[JorgeA]

jaclaz, on 08 October 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

We have years of medical studies on the effect of drugs so it is easy to find out which is which, and it doesn't sound like LSD (which seems a lot ike the one used by the design team ), but this one sounds more like peyote :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyote

Speaking of the influence of drugs, do the Metro Start Menu backgrounds...





...remind you of 1960s psychedelic art:





--JorgeA

[JorgeA]

What do you think?

Windows 8 is not about desktop market share (playing down expectations, just in case)

Quote

In the end, the tablet market will decide Windows 8's success or failure, not desktop market or the operating system's pre-launch performance. For Microsoft, it is less of a gamble than many journalists and analysts seem to think it will be.

We'll soon see how many thousands of Microsoft fanatics, eager to be parted from their money, will camp out overnight for the release of Windows 8 and Surface and other Win8 tablets...

--JorgeA

[CharlotteTheHarlot]

Well that didn't take long now, did it?

Microsoft has rained on HSN's Windows 8 sales parade ( NeoWin 2012-10- 08 )

Home Shopping Network Starts Selling Windows 8 PCs Early ( Tom's Hardware 2012-10- 08 )

HSN.com Mistakenly Starts Selling Windows 8 PCs Early ( PC Magazine 2012-10- 08 )

First Windows 8 PCs appear early, crapware included ( ZDNet: Ed Bott 2012-10- 07 ) *** Original Source ***

( Credit for this story goes to Ed Bott at ZDNet, a detail I missed early this morning when it broke. ) The original HSN page now helpfully says: We were unable to find an item that matched your current selections..

Quote

"Unfortunately, HSN made this offer without the support or authorization of Microsoft.

Microsoft and major retailers are getting ready for general availability of Windows 8 devices on 10/26 and not prior to that date. Once Microsoft learned of the HSN promotion, we contacted them and asked that they discontinue the on-air and online offer since it is not yet 10/26, the date that marks the official availability of Windows 8." --- Microsoft

Another pricing revealed ...

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 to start at $629 ( TechRadar 2012-10- 08 )

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 pricing revealed ( NeoWin 2012-10- 08 )

Quote

"A Lenovo spokesperson has confirmed to TechRadar that the tablet will start at $629 (UK£392, AU$612). That price does not include the keyboard/dock, which the spokesperson said will be available "as an option.""

Not much hard info though. It is a Windows 8 Tablet, and only the tablet. From what I can see it is cannot be the RT retard edition since it is an Intel Atom ( Clover Trail ), so let's really mess things up by calling it WoA - Windows on Atom! Seriously though, $629 at the minimum? The obvious conclusion to me is that all we can expect from the Windows 8 and Metro iteration is higher prices for less functionality, with strong emphasis on LESS. Microsoft has become Apple. MicroApple. Thanks a lot guys. And the desktop will become the last bastion of value for the discerning consumer. All the rest deserve their Darwin awards.



Finally, I would be embarrassingly remiss to not mention this:

Weird But Fun Windows 8 App: Iron Maiden Fan ( NeoWin 2012-10- 08 )

I had nothing to do with it.

[jaclaz]

CharlotteTheHarlot, on 09 October 2012 - 03:49 AM, said:

HSN.com Mistakenly Starts Selling Windows 8 PCs Early ( PC Magazine 2012-10- 08 )

An interesting use of the adverb accidentally :
http://www.pcmag.com...,2410718,00.asp

Quote

The Home Shopping Network accidentally started selling Windows 8 PCs this weekend despite the fact that the new operating system will not officially be released until Oct. 26.

A better one :

Spoiler

jaclaz

[JorgeA]

jaclaz, on 09 October 2012 - 04:43 AM, said:

An interesting use of the adverb accidentally :
http://www.pcmag.com...,2410718,00.asp

Quote

The Home Shopping Network accidentally started selling Windows 8 PCs this weekend despite the fact that the new operating system will not officially be released until Oct. 26.

A better one :

Spoiler

Umm, in that spoiler -- did somebody forget to use a verb? It doesn't actually say a complete thought.

I deliberately the verb in this sentence.

--JorgeA

[JorgeA]

CharlotteTheHarlot, on 09 October 2012 - 03:49 AM, said:

Seriously though, $629 at the minimum? The obvious conclusion to me is that all we can expect from the Windows 8 and Metro iteration is higher prices for less functionality, with strong emphasis on LESS.

My sentiments exactly. There are so few scenarios where a tablet even approaches the usefulness of a laptop with a similarly sized screen, that I've gone bald scratching my head as to why tablets are so popular.

BTW, in the Iron Maiden app post, did you notice the following troll:

Quote

I hope they don't think they'll sell more Windows 8 licenses with this kind of crap-apps...

I'm still waiting to see a useful app on the store... an app, you know, that will replace what I can already do, on the desktop...

I mean, "modern apps" are supposed to replace the desktop judging by what I read everyday on Neowin... I don't think an Iron Maiden app is a good substitute to Autocad or Photoshop?!

--JorgeA

This post has been edited by JorgeA: 09 October 2012 - 09:26 AM

[jaclaz]

JorgeA, on 09 October 2012 - 09:09 AM, said:

Umm, in that spoiler -- did somebody forget to use a verb? It doesn't actually say a complete thought.

I deliberately the verb in this sentence.

You <missing verb> casually unaware of this meme
http://ohinternet.com/I_accidentally

Spoiler

jaclaz

[JorgeA]

jaclaz, on 09 October 2012 - 09:32 AM, said:

You <missing verb> casually unaware of this meme
http://ohinternet.com/I_accidentally

Ahh, thanks for filling me in. What a strange Internet phenomenon.

--JorgeA

[jaclaz]

JorgeA, on 09 October 2012 - 10:24 AM, said:

Ahh, thanks for filling me in. What a strange Internet phenomenon.

All your verb are belong to us.

Meanwhile in Cupertino and China:

Spoiler

http://globalgrind.c...ed-apple-rumors

Meanwhile in http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/

Spoiler

jaclaz

[JorgeA]

Oh, the joys of living in The Cloud! A few months ago it was a German photographer whose seminude pictures got deleted, now it's another user whose account was actually closed for uploading comics.

As one commenter wrote,

Quote

It's a worrying trend. How long until a version of Windows defaults to saving all your content in the cloud? Windows 8 already comes bundled with SkyDrive and the default login method is via a Microsoft account. Soon Microsoft will dictate what you are and aren't allowed to view. Good times.

And yet we have all these cretins visionaries touting The Cloud as the future.

Is all of your PC stuff approved by meddlers and busybodies and Internet police? How can you even know, 'til it's too late?

Insure against the future -- stock up on your 1TB and 2TB HDDs now!

EDIT: More details on this new case.

--JorgeA

This post has been edited by JorgeA: 09 October 2012 - 11:02 AM

[JorgeA]

jaclaz, on 09 October 2012 - 10:41 AM, said:

Meanwhile in Cupertino and China:

Spoiler

http://globalgrind.c...ed-apple-rumors

Really?!! Apple trying to steal MS's thunder, maybe?

For the sake of the Desktop's future, I'm actually rooting for the fruit people to clean MS's clock in the tablet market. Let all of MS's efforts in that sphere flop completely. The two Steves could use a good spanking to set them straight.

--JorgeA

This post has been edited by JorgeA: 09 October 2012 - 11:02 AM

[JorgeA]

Another forum has published the results of a poll of Windows 8 users. Details of the survey methodology were not released, but if the numbers bear any relation to the broader Windows public, it's not good news for Windows 8.

Quote

Although Windows 8 Beta has been released with great expectations, unfortunately, it seems that users are not as enthusiastic about Windows 8 as Microsoft had hoped. According to the survey, the most popular Windows system is still Windows 7 (53%), with only 25% users voting Windows 8 as their favorite.

Features distinctive to Win8 or which are being aggressively pushed in the new OS -- such as the app store, Metro UI, SkyDrive, and the Charms bar -- all finished at the low end of the scale in respondents' rankings.

Curiously, although the respondents were (said to be) Win8 users, by a 3-2 plurality they reported that they would rather purchase an Android-based mobile OS than "Windows 8 Mobile," and almost as many (33%) would prefer to buy an Android tablet as would choose a Surface (35%).

Take this for what it's worth. (Survey methodology needs to be published!) Still, it's a conversation piece.

Anybody seen any other opinion surveys covering Windows 8?

--JorgeA

[jaclaz]

If I may, I would set aside the topic of Skydrive.
If - for any reason - the images that created the closing of the account were - even remotely - connected to or similar to or viewable as any form of child pornography, I do understand the MS policy, and while I understand how it could be a nuisance for the casual innocent user that sees his/her account shut down, I personally find that it's relevance, when compared with the crime that is supposedly being committed, justifies it.

The only observation I can do is that the 48 hours time to provide justifications is too short a time.

BTW there is also a procedural issue, under US Law, even if you are a forensic investigator, as soon as you see an item that could be associated to CP, you should stop and call the Police or the Feds, compare with:
http://www.forensicf...er=asc/start=0/

jaclaz

[CharlotteTheHarlot]

At least a dozen fluff pieces at Fanboy Central on Windows 8 today. This one shows four different spit and polished commercial advertisements ( videos ) apparently created by Microsoft for use in the coming campaign.

Four Windows 8 video ads leak, show you how to use the OS ( NeoWin 2012-10-09 )

I watched all four and I am sure they won't help. They will miss the mark ironically because they are fast and fluid, and that does not match the attention span of the average Joe. Something else featured prominently that really jumps out of these videos is the fact that by design right on the Metro start screen, potential customers would have their private information jumping out of animated live tiles for anybody to see. And with a few swipes a stranger or a child could really do some damage. The Live Tiles are seen as the next big thing by Redmond, and they might be right if it were 3-5 years ago. But the customers are now well practiced and familiar with normal Windows, or Android or Mac/iOS on all manner of devices and to my knowledge were not clamoring for a company to design a GUI that removes more privacy. This splatting of your details on the screen has hardly been mentioned in the past year, but it is the biggest setback to personal privacy and we can thank the fads of the 'real world' or 'twitter' or 'facebook' paving the way for this. These gadgets will make fine toys, but no real adults will like this direction.


Microsoft Board of Directors punishes Ballmer and Sinofsky for mis-steps. Not. ...

Steve Ballmer still not paid as much as other Microsoft execs ( NeoWin 2012-10-09 )

Quote

Combined with a base salary of $685,000 and other compensation of $13,128, Ballmer's annual compensation came out to $1,318,128. The biggest reason for this relatively low number is that Ballmer did not receive any new Microsoft stock awards as part of his salary.

By contrast, Microsoft's Windows head man Steven Sinofsky got $8,583,732 in compensation from the company, combining a base salary, bonuses, and a nice amount in Microsoft stock bonus holdings.

One interesting thing in the proxy statement is that both Ballmer and Sinofsky didn't get all of the bonus money they could have received. That was due in part to "the Windows division failure to provide a browser choice screen on certain Windows PCs in Europe as required by its 2009 commitment with the European Commission."

Yep, the Board is really on it's toes. Imagine if they did a good job!