Enterprises spurn Windows 8, but there's emerging market hope
Summary: Corporations in developed markets aren't planning to flock to Microsoft's Windows 8, according to a TechRepublic and ZDNet survey. China, India and Southeast Asia, however, are more open to the operating system.
Enterprises generally are viewing an upgrade to Microsoft's Windows 8 as a non-starter, but there are a lot of nuances to consider. Perhaps the biggest item to ponder is whether Windows 8 has more legs in emerging markets such as India, China and Southeast Asia than developed countries.
TechRepublic's Bill Detwiler and ZDNet's Angus Macaskill have completed a Windows 8 business intentions survey and highlighted a few moving parts. Here's the drilldown (download report, registration required):
- 73.7 percent of more than 1,200 IT buyers said they have no plan to deploy Windows 8.
- But 49.9 percent of respondents had no current plans to deploy Windows 8 but may reconsider it in the future.
In other words, enterprises don't see the business case for Windows 8 yet. That take isn't surprising since Microsoft has largely pitched Windows 8 to consumers.
Related: Microsoft's Windows 8: The enterprise case | TechRepublic: Does Windows 8 make sense on business desktops? Tech chiefs are split
Here's where things get tricky. Of those companies planning to upgrade to Windows 8 security was the top reason followed by mobility and tablet integration. Upgrade was the No. 3 top reason to upgrade to Windows 8.
The reasons for not upgrading to Windows 8 revolved around the lack of a business need for a new OS, application compatibility, user training and the interface.
From the report:
The Windows 8 style UI and associated end-user training requirements are off-putting to many respondents. For companies with current Windows 8 deployment plans, tablet integration is a driving factor. But the dramatic changes (mostly the new user interface) required to make Window 8 a successful tablet OS are also a barrier to adoption. 41.4 percent of respondents rated the Metro user interface (now called the Windows 8 style or Modern style UI) as very important to their company’s decision not to deploy Windows 8.
As far as the Windows 8 upgrade decision goes, the CIO and CEO are the two most influential decision makers. Senior leadership and line of business heads are No. 3 and No. 4.
Overall, this report is an early snapshot in the Windows 8 upgrade cycle. Simply put, Microsoft has some convincing to do and it has a tall order in developed markets.
In fact, Windows 8 momentum could be best gauged in emerging markets.
Consider that Windows 8 has its best deployment hopes in China, India and Southeast Asia. It's also no coincidence that those countries are about mobility first---and that gives Microsoft's Windows 8 some hope.
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Talkback
43% in India
Really? Why single out India? Why don't you furnish some proof
It frustrates me when people like you make such blatant and baseless remarks.
Since most IT depts have just moved to Windows 7
That doesn't mean they won't be looking at Windows 8 pro tablets, as those I've talked to are excited to test them on the domain.
WoW. I'm not sure whom they're talking to for this survey !
Enterprises spurn Windows 8, but there's emerging market hope
Any company that is not deploying Microsoft Windows 8 because of the UI is foolish. The UI is their to make it much faster to get to your apps. Pin the app and then its right in front of you. There is very little training involved. If they can click with the mouse they can use Windows 8.
Larry...
Just Curious.
33% of China's enterprise
I'm guessing of course, but I would imagine that 33% of China's enterprise market is going to be a huge number just on it's own.
I don't know if my comment will go through or not
Or, more likely it's a reflection of cultural values ...
In any case, in even the most optimistic business setting, and even assuming it's correct, less than half are thinking they'll upgrade. Hmm ...
Thats a stunning success for W8. In the largely already moved to W7 US
sound like you are on a religious crusade,
BTW how those surface ReTards are selling? Not even rama.net wants to answer, seems they keep it very secret...
You know Apple pumps around 3/5 millions of 1st weekend of sales per launch, more or less.
What about Windows 8 Server?
Are planning or will be forced
Consultants take note: You think the Y2K made people money? Wait till XP gets the pink slip from the enterprise.
windows xp
What I'd like to see is
I expect, that first 8 implementations will be on a server side and after a good consideration, enterpise W8 on a desktop will slowly start to move on. It is a recession and conservative approach together, so one can expect slow start in the enterpises. And of course, W8 offers many options, that should be studied and tested thorougly first, before beeing implemented.
enterprise flock?
but me personally
my 6 year old dell laptop loves it
it has literally gave new life to this machine
boots faster and out performs many newer windows 7 machines
and I was a big fan of windows 7
......
Enterprise and Windows 8
Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 vs. XP/Win 7 is a good indicator.
Windows 7 is being widely deployed in enterprise right now, and predictably, Windows 8 will be nowhere to be found anytime soon. However, on the back-end, we're already planning deployments of Windows Server 2012 systems for new clients.
Half baked
- RT was Windows - it isn't, it's an excuse-for-Windows (and Office)
- developing Metro apps. was anything but a complex Apple App Store clone, completely at odds with the flexibility and interoperability Windows users have enjoyed in the past.
Of course cooking is not yet finished ... but the chefs need to get a move on before Apple wakes up to the Enterprise opportunity (if I were Tim Cook, that would be my focus - the consumer play is over after the mini IPad, unless another new idea is waiting in the wings).