Microsoft 60 Million Windows 8 Licenses Sold: Reality Check

red hat reality check

First, the latest Microsoft anecdote: Tami Reller, Chief Financial and Chief Marketing Officer for Windows, shared the Windows 8 sales figure at the JP Morgan Tech Forum at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 8, noted Mary Jo Foley. The figure basically involves sales to OEMs (PC makers) and upgrades to consumers.

How about sales into enterprise and small business accounts? Microsoft hasn’t said much.

NDP, a research firm, has constantly been ahead of the curve with Windows 8 sales data — suggesting that the operating system is not doing much to boost PC sales.

Is Windows 8 truly hot or not? Perhaps the true answer will arrive when PC vendors start announcing their quarterly results. Surely, during the associated earnings calls PC leaders will offer their thoughts on Windows 8 uptake. According to each company’s investor relations website, The VAR Guy expects earnings from:

Until each of those PC companies and Microsoft itself more fully discuss Windows 8-related revenue trends, The VAR Guy will keep a cautious eye on research firms and Microsoft’s own perspectives.