[rbanffy]

The fact is almost every HP, Acer, Dell and Toshiba will come with it pre-installed. There is basically no way it will be labeled a failure, even if nobody uses it.

Remember Windows Vista was considered a great success (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2130290,00.asp).

When you buy a generic x86 computer (any non-Apple x86, that is) you have 3 choices of OS: you can leave whatever came on the machine (most likely Windows), you can install a previous version of Windows you already had floating around or you can install any of the fine *nix-based OSs that will run on it. Most people opt for #1, some resent change (or just dislike what came with the machine) and opt for #2 and a tiny minority goes with #3 (me included).

That means I am part of Vista's and 7's success stories - I bought computers with them installed and never bothered to return the licenses, although I never used either. From a sales perspective, I'm a happy Windows user.

[WiseWeasel]

But if people delay purchases or go with competing products instead of buying an HP, Acer, Dell, Toshiba, etc. with Windows 8 pre-installed, then they've all got a problem on their hands.

Also, do you remember how long manufacturers were offering laptops with Windows XP pre-installed? I think you may still be able to buy one somewhere.

[sixothree]

That's great for the desktop and notebook market. But now you have to convince people to buy Windows based tablets.

[rbanffy]

Microsoft OEMs will build them in order to qualify for discounts in desktop and laptop W8 licenses. And x86-based tablets will be able to go into classic mode (and JIT JavaScript) and run current x86 apps.

Why would anyone desire a W8 ARM tablet instead of a much cheaper (as in "you can buy two of them") Android-based one or an iPad is an excellent question, but we should never underestimate the power of advertising.