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What to Make of Windows 8?

The number of reviews of Microsoft Corp.’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows 8 OS has increased rapidly, with its release only days away. The earnings of the world’s largest software company, hurt by low sales of Windows 7 while people wait for…

By Trey Thoelcke
Published October 19, 2012, 6:53am ET · 1 min read

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The number of reviews of Microsoft Corp.’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows 8 OS has increased rapidly, with its release only days away. The earnings of the world’s largest software company, hurt by low sales of Windows 7 while people wait for the new version, obviously rides on the success of the latest version. The barrier to its success may be more the “death of the PC” than a few reviews about it features. People and companies who need Windows, which is almost everyone with a PC, will get it whatever experts say.

According to ZDNet:

The PC industry just isn’t sure what to make of Windows 8. Intel CEO Paul Otellini noted there are many form factors and it’s unclear which one will win. Otellini said what hardware ultimately wins with Windows 8 may not be known for a year.

Couple Windows 8 — an OS that will have a new interface and learning curve — with slowing PC sales and Microsoft’s big launch has a series of unknowns. Those uncertainties will be reflected in Microsoft’s quarter as well as the commentary that follows the results.

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Trey Thoelcke

Trey has been an editor and author at 24/7 Wall St. for more than a decade, where he has published thousands of articles analyzing corporate earnings, dividend stocks, short interest, insider buying, private equity, and market trends. His comprehensive coverage spans the full spectrum of financial markets, from blue-chip stalwarts to emerging growth companies.

Beyond 24/7 Wall St., Trey has created and edited financial content for Benzinga and AOL's BloggingStocks, contributing additional hundreds of articles to the investment community. He previously oversaw the 24/7 Climate Insights site, managing editorial operations and content strategy, and currently oversees and creates content for My Investing News.

Trey's editorial expertise extends across multiple publishing environments. He served as production editor at Dearborn Financial Publishing and development editor at Kaplan, where he helped shape financial education materials. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer-producer at SVE. His freelance editing portfolio includes work for prestigious clients such as Sage Publications, Rand McNally, the Institute for Supply Management, the American Library Association, Eggplant Literary Productions, and Spiegel.

Outside of financial journalism, Trey writes fiction and has been an active member of the writing community for years, overseeing a long-running critique group and moderating workshop sessions at regional conventions. He lives with his family in an old house in the Midwest.

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