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Toshiba Says Users Confused by Two Versions of Windows 8

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The fact that Microsoft offers two operating systems confuses most users looking to purchase a Windows tablet, Toshiba says.

Mark Whittard, managing director of Toshiba Australia, spoke candidly about his feelings on Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Windows RT initiative at a product launch in Sydney earlier today, according to CNet and The Australian.

“I think one of the challenges is, there was a lot of confusion with Windows 8, my personal view is that they, [Microsoft] confused the market with a couple of different flavors.” Starting with the release of Windows 8, Microsoft now offers two operating systems for tablet devices: Windows 8 and Windows RT.

Toshiba U925t Ultrabook Convertible Hands On - 4

The Toshiba U925T running Windows 8

Windows 8 is geared at high-end tablets with Intel or AMD processors. Of the two, it’s this version that is closest to what comes to mind when users think of Windows. It also the version that powers more traditional form factors, like tablets and desktop computers.

On the other hand, Windows RT runs on the ARM processors used in tablets in smartphones. The operating system’s switch from x86 and x64 processors like those of Intel and AMD, to ARM processors, means that Microsoft and its partners can create Windows devices that are thinner and have better battery life. It’s Windows RT that competes the closest with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android devices.

Whittard also believes that PC vendors may have harmed themselves by offering their Windows 7 based PCs at prices that confused buyers:

“They [Windows 7 machines] were going even cheaper than the traditional RRP [recommended retail price], so the gap wasn’t just the $100 or $200 from non-touch to touch, it was $400”. He believes that the price differential and the newness of Windows 8 caused users to think twice. Microsoft had previously stated that it found that users switching to Windows 8 took two weeks to get acclimated with the way the operating system works.

While it’s still unclear if Whittard’s beliefs are correct, according to Microsoft sales of Windows 8 recently reached 100 million licenses, a figure that mirrors the sales of its predecessor Windows 7.

Read: Microsoft Announces It Has Sold 100 Million Windows 8 Licenses

It should be noted that the launch of Windows RT isn’t the first time Microsoft has offered more than one version of Windows to consumers. Historically, the company has released its Windows operating systems in different versions designed to address different markets.

Its Windows XP operating system shipped in Home, Professional, Starter, Media Center and Tablet PC flavors. More recently, Microsoft released Windows 7 in six different versions including Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. However each different version was able to run the same applications, something that isn’t true with Windows 8 and Windows RT.

It may be more likely that the difference in application compatibility and the identical interfaces of Windows 8 and Windows RT are to blame for any confusion with consumers.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Susan R. Brown

    05/09/2013 at 3:38 am

    what Roger replied I didnt even know that a mother able to profit $7585 in 4 weeks on the internet. have you seen this link… http://www.Jax3.cℴm

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