James Delahunty
6 Dec 2011 8:17
Users unlikely to want to upgrade, IDC says.
As part of its "Worldwide System Infrastructure Software 2012 Top 10 Predictions," research group IDC examined the Windows 8 operating system, and what it could expect from the market next year.
The group expects that Microsoft will have Windows 8 available to be installed in new PCs by August 2012, but it does not expect it to gain much attention from potential upgraders. "Windows 8 will be largely irrelevant to the users of traditional PCs, and we expect effectively no upgrade activity from Windows 7 to Windows 8 in that form factor," IDC predicted.
It also predicted that while Microsoft might expect some success with the Windows Server 8 software, it will be another disappointed year for it in the tablet PC space, despite the Windows 8 launch with the Metro touch-screen user interface.
"This is a tall order for Microsoft, and while the x86 tablet strategy makes sense as a transitional solution for today?s PC users, it will be the ARM-based devices that need to shine and clear a high bar already set by Apple."