14 DAY TRIAL // Even though Microsoft has revealed that it had managed to sell a total of 60 million Windows 8 copies in just two months after launch, it appears that company executives are actually very disappointed with the overall sales performance of its new operating system.
Citing insiders, The Register reports that Microsoft is accusing PC manufacturers during its internal meetings for the lack of devices equipped with touchscreen displays that would basically allow Windows 8 to show its full potential.
Microsoft has reportedly collaborated with manufactures on the hardware it wanted on Windows 8 computers, clearly mentioning that touchscreens are a must-have.
What’s more, the software titan tested multiple configurations and created two separate categories, Hero PCs and Features PCs, both supposed to be used in its marketing blitz for the new operating system.
The results are rather disappointing, analysts have reported, with Windows 8 having only a minimal impact on the overall PC sales during the holiday season.
Now Microsoft is blaming manufacturers for the lack of touchscreen computers, with the company using PowerPoint presentations to demonstrate during internal meetings that such hardware is mandatory in order to help Windows 8 become a hit.
“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,” an insider told The Register.
Hardware makers, on the other hand, explain that building touchscreen computers in high numbers represented a huge risk, mostly because people were still afraid to migrate to Windows 8 because of the confusion created by its UI changes.
“There was a big debate, and we said: ‘It’s not like that.’ We couldn’t afford to make lots of products, lots of high-priced touch. We found people would look at nice high-end products and buy £299 devices instead,” the source added.
Microsoft is yet to comment on this report, but this isn’t the first time when the company is reportedly blaming the PC industry for the poor sales recorded by its operating system.
Back in November, it emerged that Windows 8 had missed internal sales projections, with Steve Ballmer and the other executives accusing manufacturers for not supporting the new operating system. The lack of Windows 8-compatible systems hurt sales of the software, officials claimed, thus denying all reports suggesting that people are staying away from Windows 8 because of the GUI changes.