Microsoft's Windows 8 Beta Launch To Gather Feedback, Win Converts - Wall Street Journal (blog)

By Steve D. Jones

The goal of the forthcoming beta release of Windows 8 is to gather consumer feedback on the new operating system, Microsoft Corp.'s chief financial officer said Wednesday.

Peter Klein told the audience at a Goldman Sachs technology conference in San Francisco that Microsoft gave developers a preview of the new operating system in fall and will add consumers to the audience with a so-called "consumer release" later this month. The staged introduction will allow users to "absorb what is new in Windows 8 and why it really builds on traditional value," Mr. Klein said.

Windows 8, which isn't expected to go into commercial release until late this year, is designed to position Microsoft in the fast-growing tablet market dominated by Apple Inc.'s iPad and devices that run Google Inc.'s Android software. Windows 8 is critical to Microsoft's mobile future, and insiders say it represents the most dramatic overhaul of the operating system since the release of Windows 95, 16 years ago.

Feedback from developers and soon consumers will help Microsoft create the best user experience with the device at home and at work, "and potentially get traction for Windows in both places," Mr. Klein said.

Mr. Klein said the "explosion" of consumer technology devices obscures the fact that communication is at the core of the trend. Cloud services that move software and data storage onto remote computer servers are making it possible to connect various devices more easily. Web search, cloud services and entertainment all contribute to communication and all are areas Microsoft is investing in.

"These are the factors that are causing growth over the next three to five years, and where we see really double-digit growth across the board," he said.