Windows 8 sells 60 million licenses

Most of these figures are for sales to OEM manufacturers who probably already signed the deal to buy Windows 8 before they knew anything about it. Then  you have companies buying W8 license inventories. Microsoft can sell millions of licenses like this without farting, because they are Microsoft.

Now we are down to people buying new laptops which come with Windows 8 licenses, many of whom will have downgraded it to Windows 7 (yes, you can do that). And finally, of all those who have bought Windows 8 for their PC and kept it, how many are "luvvin it" really? Most have reservations, and probably only about half (or less) think it's wonderful. But I bet by now we're down to 10 million if that. Of course, in February the Surface Pro comes into play so that will keep the numbers running. Success will depend much on that device, in my opinion.

But just in case anyone has forgotten, a solemn reminder. Windows 8 is the first step towards a closed OS platform. It's been changed architectually to deprecate the desktop, and to try and force users to use the tiles and therefore the  Microsoft cloud services available in the App Store. Ok, we can still use the desktop now but what about the next version? Windows 9 or Windows 10? If you value the freedom to develop, and to install what you want on your PC, without being answerable to a large, greedy corporation who only want to take your money, then it's time to protest now!!

selling well but I've heard they have gaming issues. until those are fixed i'll stick to 7

I've had it since launch day (originally just to test it out) but now i actually like it a lot. I don't even use windows 7 anymore, since win8 is just overall faster.  There is a learning curve to finding some of the panels you sometimes use, but having all my settings sync between my desktop and laptop so the OS looks the same is pretty slick. All my games work perfectly on it too.

Windows 7 and Windows 8 will probally always be around. I don't think MS will dump support for 7 for a while. Hope not I'm buliding 2 gaming PC for me and my son using Windows 7 on both.

Windows 8 does have a purpose. Obviously it's not ideal for power users... but for novices it's a good first OS.

When I was at best buy last week I used windows 8 quickly and it wasn't too bad.  I didn't fully get it but nothing I couldn't learn given time plus I saw how it also has a windows 7 desk top minus the star menu.  My friend who is also an avid PC gamer like has a windows 8 lap top and says there i nothing wrong with it but without a touch screen it is a pain.  I still don't like how Microsoft made windows 8 closed though.  

I am proudly NOT one of these 60 millions.

Leave the touching of screens to tabs and phones please.  Thanks.

i see bill gets richer and richer by the day

I recently purchased a laptop (not touch screen) for Uni which has Win8. I was very skeptical about it at first, but it's actually not bad. That said, I don't plan on upgrading my desktop from 7 to 8.

And to those who are skeptical about The Metro interface, it just replaces the Start menu really. The standard Win7 desktop is still there.

60 million sold, 50 million yet to be used because manufacturers bought cheap in bulk during a fire sale for the systems that they will build over the next 3+years.

Anyone smell Bacon? 

I still use my Windows 7 and see no reason to change for the simple fact i don't have a touchscreen PC. However a friend of mine has a touch screen pc with windows 8 and iv'e seen how it works and all the new stuff u can do with it, and I have to say i'm impressed but imo it looks like u really do need a touchscreen PC to use it to it's full potential. But it dose look better and it runs better as well so I don't see why people give win 8 such harsh criticism unless i'm missing the point but imo it looks pretty good. 

Don't forget to note in these figures that all of this is due to the fact that so many homes have multiple computers...ALL needing separate licensed copies of this operating system...

Windows 8 is a really good OS as long as you're using it with a touchscreen. The endless complaints about the Start screen are coming from people who are just using mouse + keyboard; the touchscreen makes the Start screen and apps seem perfectly natural and useable.

Though a problem is that, if Windows 8 doesn't find any success on tablets, it'll have no reason to exist on desktops in its current form.

That's because you can get Windows 8 Pro for $40 until the 31st of this month from the Microsoft website. And don't be fooled it may say its an "upgrade" version, but it is in fact a full blown version. I know this because I got it. After it downloads it gives you an option to install via media. It then creates an ISO which you can burn to disc. I did this and used the disc to do a clean install on 2 home PCs and my laptop with no problems at all. Of course I did have to purchase 2 more licence keys to activate the other 2. So essentially I have 3 legal copies at $40 each and a ISO to do a clean install anytime I want. If you ask me that's a screamin deal. Also a note to add if you want the 64 bit version make sure you run the Windows 8 download assistant from a PC with 64 bit windows installed, because it doesn't give you a choice it just scans what your currently running and gives you the appropriate download.

Surely it should be outselling windows 7 because of the tablet market that didn't exist when windows 7 was released.

Staying with Win7 until I see a game I want that is Win8 only... aka, not for a few years.

I got 8 on my computer.  Install Classic Shell and it puts the Start Button back where it was and automatically skips the Start Screen going right to the desktop.  Making it work like a much faster more efficient Windows 7.  No complaints from me.

Anyone who has complaints about this over windows 7 is an idiot.  It took me two minutes to fix the only problem I saw.  Now it works exactly as I want it to.

I have a windows 8 computer- and it runs very well. Though it is a touch screen, and I can't imagine that it would be very usefull on computers that don't have touch-screens- it would be too cumbersome.

Frankly, I simply do not like the new UI in windows 8, I cannot stand it.