Upgrading Windows 8
Microsoft is trying to reap both criticism and benefits in the consumer operating system market by offering Windows 7, XP and Vista users a discounted upgrade to Windows 8. Giving this incentive to PC owners to install Windows 8 on their PC surely helps Microsoft because, once people use it, it is less likely that they will switch to a competing platform like Apple’s Mac OS.
Exciting features of Windows 8
However, after Windows 8 installation now, consumers would be greatly disappointed if in their machines they can’t take advantage of the greatest innovation, that is, the Metro UI designed with touch screens in mind.
Microsoft announced two offers for customers to upgrade their existing PCs to the new OS. A Forrester Research analyst, David Johnson said, “The low-cost upgrade to Windows 8 is a wise strategy for Microsoft. The cost of upgrading is the main reason people stay on outdated versions of Windows”. This shows how Microsoft understands the strategic costs of having huge number of consumers on old versions of Windows. “Being forced by their employers to work on Windows XP has been driving people toward Macs and tablets,” Johnson said. “Microsoft’s future viability depends on how fast it can get new value in the hands of users. A high cost of upgrading has been slowing them down.”
According to Gartner analyst Michael Silver, these upgrade incentives can be a double edged sword as the touchpad, touch screens,
Upgrading Windows 8
and pointing devices that support gestures are important for a good Windows 8 experience. “Most PCs that will really make Windows 8 work well won’t ship until the OS does. People upgrading older PCs are actually a risk for Microsoft because they may not be as happy as users that have new PCs tuned for Windows 8,” Silver said. “Users that upgrade should ensure they have either a touchscreen or a touchpad or touch mouse that supports gestures in Windows 8.”
Microsoft should make users understand better how the new OS can run smoothly with their old computers too. But it’s unlikely that Microsoft will go advising users to reconsider their input devices during Windows 8 compatibility check.
So that’s something you should think about before doing a Windows 8 installation. Thank you for your time, have a great day!
