“Microsoft blames PC makers for underwhelming Windows 8 sales over Christmas, The Register has learned,” Gavin Clarke reports for The Register. “The software giant accused manufacturers of not building enough attractive Win 8-powered touchscreen tablets.”
“But the computer makers are fighting back: they claimed that if they’d followed Microsoft’s hardware requirements and ramped up production, they’d have ended up building a lot of high-end expensive slabs that consumers didn’t understand nor want,” Clarke reports. “Gartner said last week that during Q4 2012 Windows 8 didn’t make a “significant impact” on PC shipments and other analysts said sales of Windows 8 are lagging Windows 7.”
Clarke reports, “Our well-placed source said that bad sales combined with PC makers “ignoring” Microsoft’s advice has left Redmond executives fuming. ‘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,’ our insider said.”
MacDailyNews Take: You know, because Microsoft is so good at building hardware/knowing what to build: $1+ billion Red Ring of Death charges, Big Ass Table, Zune, Kin, Surface tablet, etc.
Clarke reports, “The PC makers also blame Microsoft for sowing confusion with its Surface tablet. Among the manufacturers, it is perceived that the Microsoft-branded slab failed to educate users about the new touch user interface and distracted the software giant – leading to its failure to put adequate marketing muscle behind the launch of ordinary Windows 8 PCs.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Windows 8ista.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Tayster” for the heads up.]
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