14 DAY TRIAL // We’re only a few days away from the public launch of Windows 8.1 Preview, the first major Windows 8 overhaul that’s expected to stir up interest in Microsoft’s own operating system.
And still, there are some analysts who believe that Windows 8.1 won’t make such a big difference when it hits the market, as Microsoft should focus a bit more on the overall price of its products.
"Recent rumours have circulated about the possibility of smaller screen Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets hitting the market. However, the notion that this will be the saving grace is flawed,” Ryan Reith, program manager for IDC's Mobility Tracker project, was quoted as saying by ITProPortal.
“Clearly the market is moving toward smart 7-8 inch devices, but Microsoft's larger challenges centre around consumer messaging and lower cost competition,” he added.
Marie-Christine Pygott, senior analyst at Context, shares the same opinion and believes that Windows 8.1 won’t be a “miracle cure” for Microsoft, pointing to the economic recession as the main cause for the continuous decline of the PC market.