Gartner Research Says Enterprise Not Warming To Windows 8, But Does It Matter?

Gartner’s research reveals a negative reaction towards Microsoft’s newest operating system from the enterprise sector. Does it matter? We don’t think so.

Research firm Gartner has asked enterprise what it thinks of Windows 8, and the responses were mixed

Just because enterprise might not adopt Windows 8 immediately, it’s hardly a bad sign: they won’t adopt Windows 8 on day one, because of the probable bugs and need for a Service Pack. It’s not new news for Windows and Microsoft, and therefore it shouldn’t be surprising enterprises are skeptical over Windows 8. In general, most enterprises are very cautious and do not upgrade their operating systems until a first Service Pack has been released.

Gartner loaned Gunnar Berger a Windows 8 tablet, from Samsung according to The Register, and Berger found Windows 8 avoids problems created from other enterprise apps on the tablet. Praised also came for the drivers being installed and working, a super-fast boot time (we’ve seen that on videos, and it’s amazing), while Berger even felt the laptop-tablet struggle can be cured: it would use a Windows 8 device for boths functions.

Touch Good, When Using Metro

However, Berger criticized the OS as enterprise users are readying for Windows 7. It didn’t say enterprise is against Windows 8 – even if interviewees did laugh at the mention of the operating system -, but said the sector isn’t ready for the OS. The non-touch experience of Windows 8 is described as bad by Berger, which isn’t unfair or unexpected because using a touch screen with an OS designed for keyboard and mouse isn’t going to work. The buttons are too precise, because they’re small, which is why Metro on Windows 8 works: you’re pressing massive, colorful tiles. It’s simple.

Berger explained the comments: extra menus in the Metro side of Windows 8 are brought in from the side by swiping, which isn’t carried over using a mouse. The remote client access received criticism also, with the Windows key not working on the software side.

Berger concluded by saying the OS is solid for touch devices, and gives Microsoft a chance at the tablet market. Again, it’s not surprising: Microsoft has been building Windows 8 for touch devices, even if publicly the company insists this is an operating system for desktop and tablet machines. The lack of a keyboard and mouse is a key failing, according to Berger.

Windows 8 releases late October.

Additional note by oliversk: Windows 8 is not an operating system for enterprises per se, it’s an OS for mobile devices. Sure, enterprises have loads of mobile devices, but the consumer market is a lot bigger. There is still a great demand for Ultrabooks and tablets and people are still very much used to Windows – that alone should allow Microsoft to snag a lot of market share and help to boost MSFT’s stock price even if their Windows Phone 8 will remain unsuccessful.

If you are interested in Gartner’s predictions on tablet sales by 2016, download our pie chart PDF