Windows 8, also known as “Metro” is about to launch in less than a month.
Time for some news portals to make a comparison of the pre-launch
acceptance. And according to that, it looks rather grim for Windows 8.
So what’s the actual acceptance factor of Windows 8 compared to Seven?

Windows Seven had a pre-launch acceptance level of approx 1.6% one month before the release. The current stand for Windows 8 however is only approx. 0.4% at the moment and thus one one fourth of the Windows 7 pre-installations.

So let’s have a comparison chart for a 6-months time period:

(click to enlarge)

As you can see: 2 months before the official release of the corresponding OS, Windows 7 has been installed 5 times more than actual Windows 8.

According to these numbers, the acceptance of Windows 8 seems anything else than good. Most people don’t like the tablet-oriented OS desktop which is also subject to be implemented on new computers running Windows 8.

Don’t get me wrong: Windows 8 has some nice features over Windows 7 but the eye is also eating with us. And if you compare Aero against the rather dull Metro window style, then there’s a clear setback. Windows 7 has a real modern touch and runs good even on rather old hardware also. For all purists, the Aero surface can be easily disabled if one likes plain window frames.

I wonder why Microsoft took the decision to prescribe people how their desktop has to look like. many users like a desktop with icons on them, others prefer a squeaky-clean desktop with a categorized start menu and then there are the users who would prefer a tile-based surface where portions of information is visible.

Also the same for the window design. Some prefer a crystal-like window frame that is sort of translucent and others are purists and say “let’s have Windows 95 look’n’Feel!”
Microsoft would have better looked at the very successful Window 7 (in my opinion THE Windows that CAN compete with XP!) where the user can decide how his windows installation does look like! Not always does Simplicity rule over individuality.

There are users who want to stick to what’s already good for them. So is my Windows 7 definitely running as long as possible as it allows me to use my computer the way I want and NOT the way, Microsoft thinks I should or would use it.

Well… for now it’s too late to change anything in Windows 8 anymore as the production of the installation media is already at full speed to deliver Windows 8 at the end of October. But Microsoft would do well to listen to what customers say about the Metro surface and other design changes over Windows 7. And believe me: Many people dislike Windows 8 already.

There’s a funny but striking picture for the Windows evolution:
it’s not difficult here what comes next… honestly!

What will Microsoft do for Windows 8 lately? Maybe SP1 will bring back the classic desktop view as we know it from 7 and maybe Aero will be brought back also…

What do you think?