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Microsoft responds to Windows 8 criticism, defends upcoming changes as 'a good thing'

Microsoft responds to Windows 8 criticism, defends upcoming changes as 'a good thing'

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windows 8 765

Windows 8 has had its share of detractors since its launch, and today Microsoft's vice president of corporate communications responded to recent reports that paint the operating system as a failure. In a blog post Frank X. Shaw points to two pieces in particular — one by the Financial Times and the other by The Economist — that use the likely return of the Start button as evidence that the company is backtracking on its initial vision. Stating that the articles are examples of "sensationalism" and "hyperbole" intended to drive traffic rather than provide "nuanced analysis," Shaw writes that Microsoft's reaction to user complaints is actually a positive for the company.

"In the center, listening to feedback and improving a product is a good thing," Shaw writes. "Heck, there was even a time when acknowledging that you were listening to feedback and acting on it was considered a good thing."

He goes on to tout that Microsoft has sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses, and while those numbers are in line with what Microsoft saw with Windows 7 the company itself has admitted it hasn't seen the surge of touch-enabled Windows 8 devices it had hoped for. With some of Microsoft's hardware partners already expecting that Windows 8.1 will be the return to form they're looking for, there seems to be little doubt that Microsoft is responding to user feedback. However, that doesn't negate criticism that the Windows 8 bet itself hasn't quite paid off as Redmond had hoped.