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January 9th, 2013, 07:52 GMT · By

Valve’s CEO Finds Windows 8 Unusable

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Gabe Newell is still disappointed with Windows 8
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Valve’s CEO Gabe Newell has already criticized Windows 8 with several occasions, but this time he calls Microsoft’s latest operating system an “unusable” software.

Newell said in an interview with The Verge that Windows 8 is like a giant sadness that does nothing more than to affect sales of everyone in the PC industry.

“The thing about Windows 8 wasn’t just [Microsoft's] distribution. As somebody who participates in the overall PC ecosystem, it’s totally great when faster wireless networks and standards come out, or when graphics get faster. Windows 8 was like this giant sadness. It just hurts everybody in the PC business,” he said.

Newell says that Windows 8 has completely changed the way consumers see the operating system and, consequently, the PC industry.

People no longer want to purchase new computers because Windows 8 doesn’t bring anything exciting, so they prefer to stay with their old hardware running Windows 7. That’s affecting both Microsoft and the other companies in the industry.

“Rather than everybody being all excited to go buy a new PC, buying new software to run on it, we’ve had a 20+ percent decline in PC sales — it’s like ‘holy cow that’s not what the new generation of the operating system is supposed to do.’ There’s supposed to be a 40 percent uptake, not a 20 percent decline, so that’s what really scares me. When I started using it I was like ‘oh my god...’ I find [Windows 8] unusable,” Newell continued.

This isn’t the first time when Gabe Newell blasts Windows 8, as the Valve CEO called Microsoft’s new operating system a “gaming catastrophe” back in July.

Newell explained that the integrated Windows Store may actually drive gamers and companies away from its very own Steam platform, especially because Microsoft would provide its very own store available at one-click distance.


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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Wolfram on 09 Jan 2013, 08:37 UTC reply to this comment

What Valve's CEO wants to say is: "Hey, Microsoft, stop STEAMing us!"

Maybe it is the right time, for the Redmondians, to start selling, in their "Windows-8 App Store", copies... of OS X (with, let's say, a 10% discount); and some Linux distros, too!


Comment #2 by: Danwash on 09 Jan 2013, 10:09 UTC reply to this comment

If you can not learn new tricks say so, and don't blame it on Microsoft and windows it. My 4 year old and my grandma are happy with it.

Comment #2.1 by: mez on 09 Jan 2013, 13:04 GMT

You can distribute apps/games via the MS app store and take 100% if you do not use MS payment services. You can role your own. PayPal is working to providing an alternative. This is within the terms of usage. Valve should take advantage of this distribution platform and stop generating bad press. My family loves windows 8 and it consists of everyone from a programmer to a 2 year old.

Comment #2.2 by: Twayne on 09 Jan 2013, 20:06 GMT

This s a situation where a 4 year old and grandma might be better off with free Linux and Linux applicatioins. They're great for a free office app, e-mail and possibly newsgroups and forums.

You must either be a heavy user or have enough money that progress for the sake of progress (which iis not useful progress) is great. Good for you. But don't criticize other thinkng people.

I have a dual XP / Win 7 capable machine plus a Win 7 laptop. XP has it all over most any other OS, especially ncluding Linux if you're any kind of serious user.

Comment #2.3 by: danerd on 01 Apr 2013, 03:20 GMT

yeah well you must have a super grandma and a genius 4 year old, i started out with dos went through windows95 etc and windows 8 is user UNFRIENDLY unless of course you are super grandma or 4year old genius, face it windows 8 is a flop.


Comment #3 by: nycmale on 09 Jan 2013, 12:26 UTC reply to this comment

Valve's & Steam's days are numbered... and they know it.

Comment #3.1 by: Twayne on 09 Jan 2013, 20:00 GMT

"Microsoft Fights Back: We’ve Sold 60 Million "

Not too hard to do when they have about that many companies locked into contracts that let MS tell them what they can and cannot sell. BFD MS; bring back a Bill G or you're going all the way down the tubes with your exhorbitant prices and relying on contracts of yore to keep you alive. All you are anymore MS, is a money-grubbing marketing department; no meat, no real new content.


Comment #4 by: Jeff on 09 Jan 2013, 15:32 UTC reply to this comment

Gabe Newell's an idiot

Comment #4.1 by: Paul C on 21 Mar 2013, 20:52 GMT

What on earth is Newell complaining about? Apparently a lot of users of Steam are upgrading to Windows 8 because they prefer it as a platform for running Newell's products.

His negativity about Windows 8 sounds like so much of the negativity expressed daily, a lot of it from people who are clueless, although I would have thought that he would not be one of them.

There are desktop apps in the Windows 8 store, and if he is willing to stop firing bullets at his foot, he could add one there himself. He has no one to blame but himself.

Comment #4.2 by: danerd on 01 Apr 2013, 03:21 GMT

youre a bigger idiot


Comment #5 by: Twayne on 09 Jan 2013, 19:55 UTC reply to this comment

I have to agree about Wn 8; it's progress for the sake or progress and at first neatly hides all the thiings it has taken away from you! AFAIK it has absolutely nothing over XP, a now stable end very reliable OS. Win 98 has the same history ini fact, but MS found an easy way to get everyone (but me) to get rid of it.

MS is no longer the shining star it was in the Bll G days; Bill sold out and sold out to the wrong people! I still think he abandoned us and blame him for a good part of the mess MS has become. My laptop has win-7 and I'm not all that crazy about it, either, but at least it's just an MS re-arranged design based on XP.


Comment #6 by: Utter confusion on 11 Feb 2013, 12:07 UTC reply to this comment

As a general purpose user (ie: no interest in games etc...other things in the real world to do) Windows 8 is an utter failure.
I can not even find basic programs like notepad etc. there are no folders no directions for anything at all. I can't even find anyone who CAN get it to work to help me. The pityful end for microsoft!

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