Wednesday, October 31st 2012

4 Million Windows 8 Licenses Sold: Ballmer

Microsoft sold over 4 million licenses to its Windows 8 operating system, which was launched last Friday worldwide. The figure was announced by CEO Steve Ballmer, speaking at the Build conference, attended by over 2,000 developers. Ballmer cited these numbers to encourage developers to build apps for the new operating system, and its fundamentally changed user-interface. Microsoft claimed that there are over 120,000 apps in its Windows App Store, a number catching up with the roughly 700,000 apps on similar established distribution platforms such as Apple App Store and Google Play. "Windows 8 is the best opportunity for software development today," Ballmer stated. "Hundreds of millions of people are aching to use your apps, just dying to use your application."
Source: Tom's Hardware
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79 Comments on 4 Million Windows 8 Licenses Sold: Ballmer

#26
3870x2
KreijWindows 8 is selling better than Windows 7 did in the same time period.
Just thought I'd throw that in.
People were still touchy about windows vista. After that debacle, I am surprised anyone pulled the trigger on 7 that year, if not just to get away from vista.
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#27
Dos101
This news doesn't surprise me, since there was a ton of buzz abut Windows 8 before release. The public betas really helped as well (1.2 billion hours of public testing). No matter how much certain media outlets want people to believe Windows 8 is a failure and has no public appeal, people will see for themselves.
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#28
Melvis
I wonder how many of those million are now asking for a upgrade back to Windows 7 after down grading to windows 8 :laugh:
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#29
Sir B. Fannybottom
You people bitch and moan about how it's going to be terrible and you will never get it, and yet most of you have purchased it. Why can't anyone on the Internet stick to their guns?
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#30
Drone
3870x2Does this include those sold to PC/laptop/tablet/phone manufacturers, or just private buyers?
it's 4M upgraded licenses. Obviously it's pc/laptop users only.
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#31
Solidstate89
MelvisI wonder how many of those million are now asking for a upgrade back to Windows 7 after down grading to windows 8 :laugh:
Why would I want to downgrade to Windows 7? :nutkick:
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#32
T4C Fantasy
CPU & GPU DB Maintainer
TacoTownYou people bitch and moan about how it's going to be terrible and you will never get it, and yet most of you have purchased it. Why can't anyone on the Internet stick to their guns?
because everyone on the internet is a critic and even though you're free to criticize whatever you want, it doesn't mean it makes it justified. Windows 8 is awesome anyone who disagrees has not used it with the latest patch and hasn't used it correctly, also if you miss the start button and don't want to spend money just download pokki it works just fine.
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#33
Peter1986C
Install Gentoo

(with LXDE, XFCE KDE or Openbox/IceWM/etc.) --> Profit!

LOl, j/k of course.
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#34
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
Droneit's 4M upgraded licenses. Obviously it's pc/laptop users only.
Where does it say "upgraded" licenses? All the OP says is that they've sold 4M licenses.
T4C Fantasybecause everyone on the internet is a critic and even though you're free to criticize whatever you want, it doesn't mean it makes it justified. Windows 8 is awesome anyone who disagrees has not used it with the latest patch and hasn't used it correctly, also if you miss the start button and don't want to spend money just download pokki it works just fine.
Windows 8 works fine.
I don't miss the start menu. To be honest, when MS switched from the fly-out menus (XP) to the way it works in 7, I found it to be a PITA anyway and rarely used it.
If you want something readily available either add an icon, or pin it as a quick launch in the task bar.
If you don't want a lot of icons on your desktop, get Stardock's Fences and hide them.
There are lots of options to make the desktop look and do whatever you want. It's no different than tweaking any OS the way you want.

I am rather ambivalent to Win 8. On one hand it does not really do more for me than Win 7, but on the other hand, having it (and learning how it works) allows me to help other people who get it and run into problems. Spending $15 to be able to help people is a good investment in my book.

My 2 cents. :)
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#35
ShiBDiB
You guys realize vista sold 180mil+ licenses.. this 4mil by no means justifies anything


Edit..

I was off... "roughly 400 million (At the time of 7's release) according to the same statistical sources"
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#37
T4C Fantasy
CPU & GPU DB Maintainer
ShiBDiBYou guys realize vista sold 180mil+ licenses.. this 4mil by no means justifies anything


Edit..

I was off... "roughly 400 million (At the time of 7's release) according to the same statistical sources"
its only been 4 days.... compare how many 7 and vista had on their 4th day then its fair to compare, more people probably already have windows 8 then all mac versions combined for "desktop" os' and I find that hilarious
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#38
tacosRcool
Yea! Not bad for the OS to be available for $39.99!
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#39
Crap Daddy
Don't really care how much they sell. They'll survive. I gave them my money... again.
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#40
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
Dos101At BUILD that's what Steve Ballmer said, and that's what many are reporting arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/10/microsoft-sold-4-million-windows-8-upgrades-in-three-days/
Thanks for the link, Dos. That would imply that if you include sales to OEMs for new builds that the distribution is even higher (although I've not seen any sales figures for new Win 8 PCs or other devices).
Crap DaddyDon't really care how much they sell. They'll survive. I gave them my money... again.
Good boy, CD. We can't let the Linux fanatics take over. :p
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#41
Crap Daddy
KreijGood boy, CD. We can't let the Linux fanatics take over.
And that guy, Gabe.
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#42
T4C Fantasy
CPU & GPU DB Maintainer
ive been a windows fan ever since I watched that movie silicon valley and found out what bill gates did to steve jobs.. only a gangsta can do that wearing nerd glasses
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#43
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
So lets break down the numbers.

Desktop without touch
Laptops without touch

Phones
Tablets
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#44
Melvis
Solidstate89Why would I want to downgrade to Windows 7? :nutkick:
You wouldn't be, you be upgrading to Windows 7 :nutkick: :laugh:
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#45
Lazzer408
Only 666 million more copies to reach the current number of Windows 7 copies sold.
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#46
hhumas
maybe all these 4 million are purchased by computer companies and mobile companies ... becoz i didn't see anyone appreciating windows 8
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#47
T4C Fantasy
CPU & GPU DB Maintainer
hhumasmaybe all these 4 million are purchased by computer companies and mobile companies ... becoz i didn't see anyone appreciating windows 8
I know 3 people already who love windows 8 all you have to do is spend an hour with it with an incentive to actually learn how to use it and you'll appreciate it too. the apps were a genius idea to implement into a desktop os, way better than gadgets
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#48
aayman_farzand
T4C FantasyI know 3 people already who love windows 8 all you have to do is spend an hour with it with an incentive to actually learn how to use it and you'll appreciate it too. the apps were a genius idea to implement into a desktop os, way better than gadgets
I've spent substantially more time than an hour and I find those said apps to be nothing more than a PITA. They are extremely intrusive and disrupt workflow. Do you always need full screen mail, reader, messenger and Skype? Full screen should've been an option instead. Needless to say I uninstalled them all and replaced them with their desktop counter parts. Much more efficient experience now.

Win8's performance is great, which is the only reason I haven't formatted back to 7 and took the time to find workarounds. But I am never using Metro apps again unless they make substantial redesigns.
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#49
trickson
OH, I have such a headache
I am proud not to be one of the 4 million.
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#50
manofthem
WCG-TPU Team All-Star!
hhumasmaybe all these 4 million are purchased by computer companies and mobile companies ... becoz i didn't see anyone appreciating windows 8
I'm quite content with it. Other than having to learn a couple of things, it's been great all together. My games run nicely, drivers installed without issue, and joined WCG today and running BOINC on my Win8. :toast:
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