Microsoft releases Windows 8 software in Pakistan

By: Ayesha Siddiqui 

KARACHI: With the introduction of smartphones and tablets Microsoft slid in with their latest product, the highly-anticipated Windows 8 software launch in Pakistan. 

Sherif Morsi, Windows Client Business Group Lead, North Africa, Middle East and Pakistan emphasized the new version is more user-friendly and lighter to run, which makes it more optimized for “work and play at the same time on the same device.” 

Morsi justified the introduction of the new software by stating “research showed a shift of traditional PC users moving onto tablets and smart phones,” which gave way to the idea of creating a software compatible for all devices. 

Windows 8 offers new concepts where the home screen is replaced with “live tiles” which keep updating the status of apps with new notifications or messages. Users can also group and rename the tiles as per their individual preferences. “Snap” is a new multi-tasking option where users can run two applications like word and excel side by side on the same screen. In addition, Windows 8 is also “cloud-connected” offering Sky drive through which users can access files from any device and any location in the world. 

“The switch from touch to non-touch will be effortless,” claims Morsi, stating that all new modifications were based on consumer feedback. He then went on to explain that the newer version would not take a user more than a week or so to get accustomed to. 

Windows 8 also engaged Pakistani application developers to create apps for the new software, Morsi gave the example of the GMaps app which received the highest numbers of downloads to date. He highlighted that Microsoft is working on introducing Urdu as a language option on the latest software and the company hopes to have it introduced by the end of the year. 

To counter the ever-evolving problem of piracy particularly in the Asian markets, Microsoft is working on educating consumers about benefits gained from genuine Windows products and providing colleges and universities with comprehensive Microsoft solutions. 

Adopting Windows 8 starts with basic hardware requirements from 1 GHz processor. The upgrade for current Windows users is priced at $15 special promotion so that loyal users aren’t hesitant to shift to the newer platform. In addition, the Full Package Product (valued at $69.99) can also be downloaded at an introductory price of $39.99. 

“With Windows 8, there are no compromises, its fast and fluid.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012