Microsoft Aims to Stem Apple's Tide with Windows 8

Microsoft Corp handed out 5,000 sleek Samsung tablet computers running a test version of Windows 8 at its annual developer conference on Tuesday, in an attempt to generate excitement over its new operating system. The devices, powered by Intel Corp i5 chips, offer the first chance for people outside Microsoft to play with Windows 8, which features tailored applications for touchscreens and tablets. The company hopes to stem the tide of consumers switching to Apple Inc's iPad and appeal to a younger, tech-savvy audience.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft distributed 5,000 Samsung tablet computers running a test version of Windows 8 at its annual developer conference on Tuesday.
• The devices are powered by Intel Corp i5 chips, the first chance for people outside Microsoft to play with Windows 8, which includes features tailored for touchscreens and tablets.
• Microsoft aims to appeal to developers and attract users to its new system, which needs to stem the tide of consumers switching to Apple's iPad.
• The company hopes to woo an applications development community that has already taken to Google's Android and Apple.
• Windows 8 will feature a home page filled with colorful tiles, taking the user directly into applications such as Facebook and news feeds.
• The new system boots up in seconds and uses less memory to run than Windows 7, freeing up space for apps.
• Analysts said Microsoft wants to get Windows 8 devices in stores for the "back-to-school" season next year, starting around July, or the holiday shopping season at the latest.
• The company stressed that the free tablet distributed at the conference is a development machine only, and will not appear in stores.
• Analysts said Windows 8 is less likely to appeal to business users, given that many companies are still working their way toward switching to Windows 7, released in 2009.
• Microsoft still runs more than 90 per cent of personal computers, but needs its new system to attract users.

Statistics:

• 5,000: The number of Samsung tablet computers running a test version of Windows 8 handed out by Microsoft at its annual developer conference.
• 90 per cent: The percentage of personal computers still running Microsoft software.
• 450 million: The number of Windows 7 licenses sold by Microsoft in two years since its introduction.
• July: The earliest expected start date for the release of Windows 8 devices for the "back-to-school" season.
• 30: The number of different apps written over the summer by Microsoft interns for the Samsung tablet computer.

Sources:

• "Kids today are seeing more Apple logos than Microsoft logos, and Microsoft needs to change that if they are going to continue being the force that they have been," said Michael Silver, an analyst at tech research firm Gartner.
• "Clearly this is pre-beta, but all things considered, I was impressed with the speed and responsiveness of the user interface and also the IE 10 browser," said Al Hilwa, an analyst at tech research firm IDC.
• Microsoft has sold almost 450 million Windows 7 licenses in two years since it was introduced.
• The company hopes to get Windows 8 devices in stores for the "back-to-school" season next year, starting around July, or the holiday shopping season at the latest.
• Microsoft itself has not set a schedule publicly for the release of Windows 8, with Sinofsky saying on Tuesday the process would be "driven by quality, not by a date."
• I Media LLC 2011 Provided by Syndicate and Albawaba.com