- Title: JAPAN: Windows 8 launches
- Date: 25th October 2012
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 26, 2012) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) (NIGHT SHOTS) PEOPLE COUNTING DOWN TO LAUNCH OF WINDOWS 8 OPERATING SYSTEM CUSTOMERS ENTERING STORE TO BUY WINDOWS 8 VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS BUYING WINDOWS 8 TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 25, 2012) (REUTERS) SIGN IN ENGLISH READING "MEET THE NEW WINDOWS" PEOPLE TESTING OUT DEVICES WITH NEW WINDOWS 8 OPERATING SYSTEM PERSON USING TABLET DEVICE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MICROSOFT JAPAN PRESIDENT AND CEO, YASUYUKI HIGUCHI, SAYING: "What we are trying to do with Windows 8 is to market it as a cool and hip product. That's our message we're trying to get across. At the same time, of course, we want to satisfy the needs of all our corporate clients." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AND TOUCHING DEVICES INSTALLED WITH WINDOWS 8 (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 26-YEAR-OLD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY WORKER, MOMOE MORITA, SAYING: "The operating system itself seems user-friendly but after testing it I felt it was slightly clunky so I don't know whether I'll use it for my tablet." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 41-YEAR-OLD COMPANY EMPLOYEE, TAKASHI OKADA, SAYING: "It would be good if it reacted better to human touch. It keeps on playing up and the icons don't really follow your finger. I think Microsoft still has a way to go." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TRYING DEVICES
- Embargoed: 9th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Technology
- Reuters ID: LVABJWSHYC581LIBWYKY6R57K4FS
- Story Text: This is the countdown Microsoft has been waiting for.
As the clock struck midnight on Friday (October 26) in Tokyo, sales kicked off for its latest flag-ship product, Windows 8.
Japan is one of the first time zones to see the release of Microsoft's new operating system.
The company is hoping Windows 8 will resuscitate its fortunes after losing ground to Apple and Google in mobile computing.
"What we are trying to do with Windows 8 is to market it as a cool and hip product. That's our message we're trying to get across. At the same time, of course, we want to satisfy the needs of all our corporate clients," Microsoft Japan President, Yasuyuki Higuchi, told Reuters at a pre-launch event in the Japanese capital.
Windows 8 is designed to run on both personal computers and tablets.
Microsoft is betting that the new software will break its heavy reliance on PC sales which are expected to dip for the first time this year since 2001.
The Redmond, Washington-based company's main goal is to show it can master the new touch-optimized mobile forms of computing pioneered by Apple and Google.
But customers in Japan at least aren't giving the nod just yet.
"The operating system itself seems user-friendly but after testing it I felt it was slightly clunky so I don't know whether I'll use it for my tablet," said 26-year-old Momoe Morita.
"It would be good if it reacted better to human touch. It keeps on playing up and the icons don't really follow your finger. I think Microsoft still has a way to go," 41-year-old Takashi Okada said.
The new design dispenses with the start button and features square tiles for apps.
Microsoft is desperate for the new look, touch-friendly Windows 8 to grip customers' imaginations and shake up the moribund PC market. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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