Last week PC Advisor held a poll to find out which device people would prefer to use Windows 8 on. After 3,004 votes, the result was pretty evenly spread between desktop PCs, laptops and tablets. See Poll: On which types(s) of device would you prefer to use Windows 8?
7% plan to use Windows 8 on multiple devices
The majority of the votes went to the traditional PCs, with desktops receiving 17 percent of the vote and laptops picking up 14 percent. This is an intriguing result as the Windows 8 OS is designed to be controlled by multiple touch gestures - an input method that is new to Windows PC operating systems, thus a bold step away from the basic mouse and keyboard familiarities that Windows users have enjoyed to date. See also Microsoft Windows 8 review.
Microsoft's comparatively poor performance in the smartphone market up till now, has been reflected in the poll, with the smartphone option only receiving three percent of the vote - the lowest by some way. Existing Windows Phone users won't be filled with confidence as they have been told by Microsoft that upgrades won't be available to any Windows Phone 7 devices, but a new Windows 8 handset will have to been bought separately.
On a worrying note, 38 percent of respondents made it clear that they would not be using Windows 8. However, this figure has slightly improved since April, when PC Advisor ran a poll to discover whether people were planning on upgrading to Windows or not, the figure in April stood at 44 percent.
The poll produced yet more uninspiring results with just seven percent of respondents selecting the 'multiple devices' option, as Microsoft designed Windows 8 with the idea that it should work seamlessly across PCs, tablets and smartphones.
When you couple the remaining four percent who voted for the 'Don't know' option with the 38 percent who claimed they were not going to use Windows 8, it is fair to say that Microsoft still has a lot of work to do on convincing the public to make the switch to the Windows 8 way of thinking.
Comments
Matt Egan said: Damn you with your book learning A very astute point We took the view that this would give us a broad view of peoples intentions but it certainly wouldnt stand up to scientific analysis
WP7Mango said: Matt EganI have noticed another flaw in your analysisThe 7 who voted for multiple devices - this percentage could potentially be added to the other options For example you claim that only 3 are interesting in running a Window 8 style UI on the phone but that could actually be 10 if youinclude the 7 from the multiple-devices optionThe sameapplies for the desktop laptop and tablet options which could also increase by 7 each resulting in potentially 24 on desktops 21 on laptop and 23 on tabletsThe only way you are going to get an accurate represention is to create a poll with all the various permutations of device combinations or offer a tick-box foreach type of device
WP7Mango said: In terms of the user interface then yes the point is to have a unified platform across devices If that is what the question was asking in the poll then it makes sense
Matt Egan said: Okay Youre taking an oddly pedantic view but you are technically correct I still think the whole point about Windows 8 is that its a unified platform across multiple devices - and most users will see only a single interface referring to it as Windows 8
WP7Mango said: The newplatform might encompass all these devices but Windows 8 as an operating system does not include phones Microsoft has made that very clearIf you were talking about the entire platform you should have stated that you are including Windows RT and Windows Phone 8Windows RT could fall under Tablet PC in the poll but it doesnt apply to phones either
Matt Egan said: I disagree Windows 8 as a platform will include x86 computers Arm tablets and Arm smartphones Were asking our users which of those devices they intend to use with Windows
WP7Mango said: Sure the question is valid - but that 3 who voted for Phone should not be included in any post-poll analysis because its not something that will exist
Matt Egan said: Windows Phone 8 is indeed separate So I Windows RT for Arm-based tablets I think the question in its current form is valid
WP7Mango said: There is a flaw in the poll -Windows 8 is NOT going to be available on the phone The phone has a seperate opertating system called Windows PHONE 8Microsoft have already stated that they have drawn a line between tablets and phones which is why phones will have a seperate operating system even though the UI may be similar to Windows 8Anyone who voted Phone in that poll is clueless