Microsoft: Windows 8 Is Aimed at Young Users

Windows 8 will go on sale on Friday, but it remains one of the most criticized Microsoft products ever for the only reason that it dumps the Start Menu and the Start button.

Getting used to the reworked GUI is just a matter of time, Microsoft says, and Windows 8 is aimed at all user categories.

The “colorful” advertising is targeting a younger audience, so this particular consumer segment is a priority for the new Windows 8, Ron Markezich, head of Microsoft's Enterprise & Partner Group said, according to Newsday.

At the same time however, Microsoft is heavily promoting Windows 8 as the right solution for all businesses, as it bundles a professional business package that could easily replace previous software applications.

Peter Han, vice president, Microsoft U.S. OEM Division, said at Tech Data Channel Link in September that more than 50 percent of the US businesses still rely on Windows XP, so convincing them to migrate to the last Windows contraption is a priority for the company.

“We are primed; there is a huge base of devices that are waiting to be refreshed,” he said.

Microsoft has already urged Windows XP users to make the move to Windows 8 several times, explaining that this old version of the operating system is not a secure working environment anymore.

“This could affect your internal network security and regulatory compliance and potentially expose secure employee and organisational information. That’s why we recommend that your school, college or university updates its operating system,” Microsoft said in a statement released earlier this month.