Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Needs Consumers to Adopt Windows 8… Fast

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)‘s Windows 8 may be a better product than all of the other Windows offerings before it, but the company needs consumers to believe that — and to buy it. As tablet sales climb and the number of mobile devices overtake PCs later this year, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is betting that consumers will use Windows 8 on PCs, tablets, and hybrids of the two.

Better, faster, cheaper
This week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) had cut the cost of its Windows 8 and Office 2013 bundle for original equipment manufacturers. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) hasn’t confirmed or denied the report, but if Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is selling the bundle for $30, as opposed to the normal $120, it could be a great move by the Redmond company. Here’s why.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is more than a few steps behind in the mobile game. Surface tablet sales have been “modest” (according to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer) in a world dominated by Android and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)‘s iPad. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) took too long to adapt to mobile, and it’s now playing a huge came of catch-up to stay relevant in this market. Windows 8 is a scalable OS that can be used on laptops and tablets and newer offerings like touchscreen laptops.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) dominates PC OS market share overall, but Windows 8 currently falls behind Apple’s latest Mac OS X.

Source: Net Applications.

Windows 8 only had 1.72% market share back in December, so the OS is moving its way up the OS ladder, but it still falls far behind the growth rate of its predecessor.

Source: CNET.