“Microsoft Corp is bringing back the Windows ‘start’ button, offering a stripped-down version among a slew of improvements aimed at winning over tablet users and placating PC customers alienated by Windows 8,” Bill Rigby reports for Reuters. “The world’s largest software company is looking to re-energize sales of its latest Windows version, which has not made the splash with computer users it was hoping for.”
MacDailyNews Take: What makes Microsoft “the world’s largest software company,” exactly? Apple is worth more than Microsoft, makes more money than Microsoft, and Apple makes software. Add up Apple’s iTunes software alone on OS X, Windows, and iOS devices and its install base is larger than any piece of software (POS) that Microsoft has ever excreted.
Rigby reports, “Shipments of traditional PCs – the most reliable gauge of Windows’ popularity – are expected to fall almost 8 percent this year, while Microsoft’s Surface has taken less than 2 percent of the tablet market… Confirming speculation, Microsoft said the Windows 8.1 update will have a button in the bottom left corner of the screen that acts like the ‘start’ button in previous versions of Windows. Although it will not be labelled ‘start,’ it features the Windows logo and takes the user straight to a grid of applications.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft. Mired in the past, with no idea how to move forward.
Excellent timing for Microsoft’s details about Windows 8.1. I’m giving a talk about it this Monday! 😀
HOIST!!!! For as long as it starts… er… takes
Microsoft foreknew about customer complaints from the beta phase, but went ahead with removing the start button etc because their arrogance assumed that customers would just have to suck it up, learn the new way and accept it. Now that customer disgust has translated into lower sales, Microsoft has to grovel and accept customer demands. I wish that’d be the way with Apple, except the problem is, Apple customers keep buying even though they have complaints against Apple.
Just another reason to leave the disease that is Microsoft behind. They are a slow behemoth lagging behind in innovation but leading in bug ridden software.
Windows is what a Commodore 64 was ten years ago – useless, except that a Commodore 64 was drastically more fun.
“Microsoft. Mired in the past, with no idea how to move forward…”
Thank god!
They should add a ‘Stop and order a Mac’ button.
And the Communist State of China thanks you for yours.
A button called but not marked START is THE thing that will save Microsoft? Are they kidding.
Perhaps if they put a button there with an apple icon on it! It wouldn’t save them either but it would be the most clicked button in their OS!!!!!!!
I have not tied Windows 8 yet.
Guess I might have to download a demo version and give it a try.