AfterDawn: News

Microsoft: Over 200 million Windows 8 licenses sold

Microsoft's EVP Tami Reller has announced today that the company has sold over 200 million Windows 8.x licenses, despite the struggles of the operating system.

The company says the figure does "not include volume license sales to enterprise," but does include upgrades to Windows 8 from older OS.



Back in May of last year, the company announced 100 million units sold, so the pace of sales is about 350,000 licenses per day since then. During its launch period, that average was over 450,000 per day.

Windows 7, in its comparable period from launch, had a stronger start seeing 240 million licenses sold as many were happy and excited to move away from the old Windows XP and the globally hated Vista.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Feb 2014 21:26

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• 14 comments

• xnonsuchx

  But what percentage of the sales were upgrades from older versions of Windows or non-bundled new copies? Microsoft never reveals how many people PURPOSELY chose a Windows OS.

  14.2.2014 07:21 #1

• molsen

  I did purposely chose Win 8 to try out on a boot camp partition on my mac. I guess I count as 1.
  

  14.2.2014 09:01 #2

• Interestx

  I think the idea that so many do not 'purposely' choose Windows is a myth.
  You can say what you like about 7 or 8 (& I don't see any real annoying differences between 7 and 8 - with Start Menu etc) but there simply isn't another OS out there as user friendly and easily able to cope with almost anything pointed its way.
  
  I know I'd be asking for Windows if I had to.
  

  14.2.2014 10:05 #3

• nchantim

  "The company says the figure does "not include volume license sales to enterprise," - that's because it's zero.

  14.2.2014 11:49 #4

• seths

  Originally posted by xnonsuchx: But what percentage of the sales were upgrades from older versions of Windows or non-bundled new copies? Microsoft never reveals how many people PURPOSELY chose a Windows OS. Exactly. I have windows 8 by default, which actually doesn't even work. There are many things wrong with windows 8, to the point that some things actually DONT work, which is because Microsoft is full of a bunch of stupid edited by ddp morons that apparently didnt try using their shitty OS before they put it out to market. I just had to make a partition to run windows XP because not one single program I use in business will work on a windows 8 computer. So in closing, Microsoft is full of edited by ddp retards, kinda like their inbred cousins at crapple. Im so close to just going back to my trusty old TRS80, lol

  14.2.2014 14:32 #5

• mightyzog

  What Microsoft doesn't report is that 150 million of those licenses are sitting on store shelves or in warehouses waiting for suckers to buy the surface tabs. I know I just made up that number but I can't be that far off. Companies always count that way.... If it's on a piece of hardware then they count it even if no one is using it.

  15.2.2014 06:21 #6

• hearme0

  And what MS isn't saying much is that PCs no longer are sold with Windows7......which EVERYONE prefers!!
  
  The consumer has been strong-armed into NOT buying 7 and therefore, MS is taking the credit???.............I don't think so MS!

  15.2.2014 11:14 #7

• hearme0

  Originally posted by seths: Originally posted by xnonsuchx: But what percentage of the sales were upgrades from older versions of Windows or non-bundled new copies? Microsoft never reveals how many people PURPOSELY chose a Windows OS. Exactly. I have windows 8 by default, which actually doesn't even work. There are many things wrong with windows 8, to the point that some things actually DONT work, which is because Microsoft is full of a bunch of stupid edited by ddp morons that apparently didnt try using their shitty OS before they put it out to market. I just had to make a partition to run windows XP because not one single program I use in business will work on a windows 8 computer. So in closing, Microsoft is full of edited by ddp retards, kinda like their inbred cousins at crapple. Im so close to just going back to my trusty old TRS80, lol And you have no clue how to use a computer!
  
  Windows 8 is ALMOST fully compatible with all programs (business and pleasure) as 7 and therefore XP. I do this for a living and would be happy to work on your computer for a premium fee because you're a technomoron.
  
  I noticed that your claim of "doesn't even work" is NOT backed up by examples???
  
  What programs did you try? Name them
  
  What problems did you see?
  
  What didn't happen that you expected to?
  
  
  
  Again....I will teach you young grasshopper

  15.2.2014 11:16 #8

• GryphB

  I bought a new pc last year and it is still new in the box unopened. It came with windows 8. No chance in hell I'm running that thing with win 8. I use win 8 at work and I'm not happy with it or have plans to upgrade to 8.1.
  
  A lot of problems occurred with the whole unsigned driver thing and the work arounds for that. Then 8.1 came around and created more problems around that same issue causing our company to be forced in paying for a certificate for our usb driver install on our product.
  
  I'll stick to Linux.

  15.2.2014 13:26 #9

• Bozobub

  Originally posted by hearme0: Originally posted by seths: Originally posted by xnonsuchx: But what percentage of the sales were upgrades from older versions of Windows or non-bundled new copies? Microsoft never reveals how many people PURPOSELY chose a Windows OS. Exactly. I have windows 8 by default, which actually doesn't even work. There are many things wrong with windows 8, to the point that some things actually DONT work, which is because Microsoft is full of a bunch of stupid edited by ddp morons that apparently didnt try using their shitty OS before they put it out to market. I just had to make a partition to run windows XP because not one single program I use in business will work on a windows 8 computer. So in closing, Microsoft is full of edited by ddp retards, kinda like their inbred cousins at crapple. Im so close to just going back to my trusty old TRS80, lol And you have no clue how to use a computer!
  
  Windows 8 is ALMOST fully compatible with all programs (business and pleasure) as 7 and therefore XP. I do this for a living and would be happy to work on your computer for a premium fee because you're a technomoron.
  
  I noticed that your claim of "doesn't even work" is NOT backed up by examples???
  
  What programs did you try? Name them
  
  What problems did you see?
  
  What didn't happen that you expected to?
  
  
  
  Again....I will teach you young grasshopper Fail. Yes, many older Windows programs, especially those written for businesses, simply will not run in Windows 8. Point of fact, quite a few Windows applications in general DO NOT work (or simply do not exist) in Win8. Need an example? Codecs and media players. Need another example? Native DVD support. I can go on and on and on, if you care to be drowned in examples.
  
  Point of fact, Win8 introduces a steep learning curve for both users and IT staff, for very little in the way of an advantage. Sure, the vast majority of complaints are about the interface and aesthetics, but guess what? A GUI is mostly about the interface, and M$ made a lot of boneheaded decisions when designing Win8. For example,removing and/or downgrading much of the functionality of windows, themselves.
  
  Additionally, many applications will NEVER be adapted to Win8, because the entire development workflow has been completely altered; it's not free, learning and implementing an entirely new application design process, nor should it be necessary, considering Win8 is supposed to be a COMPATIBLE OS.

  15.2.2014 14:32 #10

• ronhondo

  Windows 8 is not just ugly and crazy to use .. It does not work with a couple of important programs I use. Microsoft is the worse company in existence. They could care less about their customers. Windows 8 and Obamacare. Same thing !
  

  15.2.2014 15:56 #11

• xtago

  its just the new PC sales boosting win 8 sales

  16.2.2014 08:56 #12

• Interestx

  Business moves so slowly (or to put it another way, cheaply) it's little wonder they throw a fit every time a new OS appears that won't work easily with their ancient systems.
  
  Originally posted by ronhondo: Windows 8 and Obamacare. Same thing ! Bha ha ha ha ha ha. Jeez, some people really do have issues.
  You should have mentioned climate change & the global scientific communities' marxist conspiracy to destroy capitalism & civilisation as we know it too.
  They're all out to get you :P
  
  Love the tin foil hat tho.
  
  
  

  16.2.2014 09:09 #13

• BobShaft

  Microsoft's Policy includes free downgrades with the Pro and Server versions of Windows.
  

  18.2.2014 09:12 #14