Almost ten months after Microsoft Windows 8 was launched, the new operating system was still behind Windows 7, its predecessor. Motley Fool's Chris Neiger cited reasons why the latest OS was struggling. Motley Fool currently owns shares of MIcrosoft.
Windows 8 only owned 5.4% of the whole market share pie of Windows OS. In July, it increased by only 0.3%. According to International Data Corporation, a market research firm, corporations were taking their time in upgrading their systems and most of them were actually switching to Windows 7 and not to Windows 8. IDC further said that Dell and HP's customers also decided to move to Windows 7. Using a new operating system was believed to result to drastic alterations in the user interface. Also, adapting to the latest OS would cost businesses so much time and could potentially hurt the productivity.
Due to the customers' shift to tablets instead of their personal computers, the adoption rates of Windows 8 declined even more. The international PC units' shipment dropped five consecutive quartiles in a row. The PC industry also said that during the second quarter alone, 10.9% decrease was recorded. Moreover, Microsoft's Surface RT tablets failed to get the interest of iOS and Android users and recorded a revenue of only US$835 million. Analysts said that Microsoft must listen to its clients and make the necessary adjustments to its softwares and gadgets. It should also focus on its enterprise resolutions and consumer products.
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