Windows 10
It's probably a safe bet to say that the first year of Windows 8 didn't go as Microsoft had hoped or planned. So what went wrong? It wasn't just one mistake. Instead, a series of strategic missteps and bad bets got Microsoft's flashy new OS off to a very rocky start.
Throughout the preview process and even after Windows 8 was released to the public last October, Microsoft stubbornly refused to include any online help or orientation for new users. Driven by telemetry and test results, they seemed convinced that people would learn how to use Windows 8 as quickly and easily as a kid learning to ride a bicycle.
Uh, no.
A few third-party partners, including HP and Dell (shown above), tried to pick up the slack with training modules that were included on the Start screen of new PCs. But most people just had to muddle through, with predictable results.
The Start screen for the Windows 8.1 Preview includes a placeholder tile for a new Help & Tips app. That's a good sign, but I'll reserve judgment until I see the final content that goes with that app. In the case of Windows 8, Microsoft has some serious explaining to do.
Caption by: Ed Bott
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