14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 8 has indeed failed to excite, but the number one drawback wasn't necessarily the new interface, but the high price, an analyst said today.
As a result, Microsoft should consider making Windows 8 free for all users, following Apple's example and trying to bring more consumers to its modern platform.
IHS analyst Clifford Leimbach explained that Microsoft "isn't likely to lose its dominant position in traditional PC operating systems anytime soon," but this doesn't mean that Redmond doesn't need to react quickly in the Windows 8 saga.
"While price-conscious consumers are likely to stay with Microsoft because of its less expensive PCs, a struggle of sorts may yet emerge in the market for consumers currently on the fence for premium-priced computers," he said according to PC Pro.
"A Mac could become more appealing to this receptive segment of buyers, especially when free upgrades now — and for the future — are considered in the overall calculations of a new purchase," Leimbach added.
Research firm IDC, on the other hand, says that performance could be an issue, even though Microsoft has said with several occasions that Windows 8 was designed to be faster and more reliable than its predecessors.
"I don't think consumers carry out lifecycle cost analyses when deciding which equipment to purchase," said Chris Ingle, IDC analyst. “Performance is the top issue in the most recent research we have done. I'm not sure how much the balance of purchase price and upgrade costs weighs upon purchasing decisions."
While Windows 8 isn't free, Microsoft is actually offering the 8.1 update free of charge, but only to those who first migrated to the modern platform.
Windows 8.1 is offered as a free update via the integrated store, while those who want to purchase it separately need to pay at least $119 (€90) for a core license.