Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): How Windows 8 Can Still Be a Success

Before Windows 8, Windows was basically nonexistent in the tablet market. This growth in market share in tablets is a big success for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) because the company needs to be present in the exploding mobile market. There are still big challenges in tablets for Windows. Android is proving to be a juggernaut in tablets just like it is in smartphones. Android tablet shipments grew 248% year-over-year. Those numbers are even more impressive because the OS went from 39% to 57% market share and surpassed iOS for the lead.

In addition, Android is free to license so that negates Windows’ advantage of being licensable. Windows still holds that advantage over iOS. Still, Windows 8 has a good chance to succeed in tablets because it can run legacy Windows programs and is licensable. As was previously stated, this is a big plus because it can attract the large number of desktop users.

Windows 8.1

Finally, it should be noted that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) will be releasing Windows 8.1, a Windows 8 update. While there are many things that are being added or changed, the most important additions are the start button and the rumored boot to desktop option. Now granted this will not satisfy users who hate Windows 8 because of the replacement of the start menu with Metro/Modern UI. However, the option to boot to desktop and the addition of the start button should drastically lower the learning curve and make the OS more familiar. Many new users were confused when Windows 8 booted to Metro and found the start button missing. The return of these features should help Windows 8 adoption in the desktop market. Overall, Windows 8 could end up making Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) a ton of money.

The article How Windows 8 Can Still be a Success originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Alvin Gonzales.

Alvin Gonzales owns shares of Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Alvin is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

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