

Windows 10 would pass that percentage within a year. According to NetMarketshare, by spring 2015, right before Windows 10 released, 8 and 8.1 combined had only 14% of the PC market. It made Windows 8.1 more usable, but it was still an awkward blend of desktop and tablet interface. Microsoft tried to solve Windows 8's most egregious UI issues with Windows 8.1 in 2013, backpedaling to bring back the taskbar Start button. An OS that wanted to control (and sell) all applications through the new Microsoft Store, despite Windows' legacy as an open platform.

Microsoft looked at the enormous success of Apple's combined software and hardware businesses, specifically the App Store, and said "We want that."Īnd so was born the worst version of Windows: an OS built for both desktops and touchscreen laptops that didn't excel on either. Everything needed to have a touch screen. The early 2010s were a time of huge and rapid change for the tech industry, mostly because the success of smartphones and tablets (specifically, iPhones and iPads) broke everyone's brains. Windows 8's obvious missteps make a lot of sense in hindsight.

