A rather long article that appeared today clearly indicates that Microsoft "still doesn't get it" but maybe they're gonna try again ... ???

Microsoft retools Windows 8 to address gripes

Michael Liedtke , The Associated Press – 07 May 2013.

Microsoft is retooling the latest version of its Windows operating system to address complaints and confusion that have been blamed for deepening a slump in personal computer sales.

The tune up announced Tuesday won't be released to consumers and businesses until later this year. The changes, part of a software package given the codename "Blue," are a tacit acknowledgment of the shortcomings in Windows 8, a radical overhaul of Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous operating system.

With the makeover it released last October, Microsoft hoped to play a more prominent role in the growing mobile device market while still maintaining its dominance in PCs. But Windows 8's design, which emphasizes interactive tiles and touch controls, seems to have befuddled as many people as it has impressed. One leading research firm, International Data Corp., says Windows 8 contributed to a 14 percent decline in worldwide PC sales during the first three months of the year — the biggest year-over-year drop ever. ...

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The article is too long to post here, even if edited to the most glaring indications of "what they ain't got yet."

A clear separation between desktop computers still used and very much needed by large numbers of people, and return to menu driven software without all the pachinko and pinball bullshit could possibly maintain or recover most of the customer base that built them - if it's not already too late.

The current management who obviously discovered "you can't beat a pinball machine if you don't shake your ass right and everybody has an ass" should be permitted to create a new product line absolutely and completely separated from thir prior base products for the pinball/pachinko and the tweet/twitter/twat business where Win8 might be competitive with the competing products in that distinctly different kind of product.

Wiggling, waggling, swiping, and waving probably actually work for the new customers they seem to think are the only ones that matter (because there's a lot of them and they've got money).

Comments at the link on the effect Win8 has had on computer manufacturers should be noted by the 3 people who actually click the link. It's easy to predict that many (more) hardware sellers will soon be pushing a 'nix OS with gimme bundles to replace all of what most people want of what Microsoft used to offer very soon, and Microsoft will be just another smart(-a**)phone pimp.

(Of course that's just one opinion.)

John