Computers:
People hated Vista and Windows 8 because they were both unfinished products when released.
That DID push many to go to Mac computers. I work at Apple and I can not tell you how many people came in and said:
"I am ready to buy my first mac" and I of course ask them what got them interested in Macs. Their reply 100% of the time is "Windows 8 is horrible and they are tired of getting Viruses."
I love OSX. It's an awesome OS. But, I have been using Windows forever and I had Windows 8 beta soon as I possible could. I love Windows 8 and 8.1 update made it even better.
However, MS should have delayed Windows 8 until it released with all the features that are in 8.1 update. They lost Many many people to OSX because of rushing half baked software out the door.
I blame Ballmer for that crap. Ballmer is a COMPLETE *****.
Tablets:
RT sucks, sorry, but it does. and ipad or android tablet is better.
Surface Tablets. Love them, they are just awesome, but they cost too much.
If I want a "laptop" and I am going to spend $900+ on one, I am getting a Mac.
If I am a normal person just looking for a laptop, I am going to buy a traditional $500 dell. Half the price of the tablet.
Phones: App Gap. WP only issue after 8.1 hits. Unless they figure out something there, the phone division will crash and burn within the next 2-3 years. MS isn't going to keep pumping money into the phone market if they can't get above 2% market share.
Games: don't do Xbox or PS4. I game on Windows 8.1 Desktop.
Services:
again, MS screwed the pooch here as well. Outlook ( from Office ) is the biggest piece of trash ever invented.
I have Outlook from office on my Mac. and I also have Windows 8.1 running on bootcamp partition.
Contacts won't even sync from outlook to outlook. I even have an Outlook.com email address. The only way to get contacts into outlook.com email was to import them from Google Gmail or enter them each one at a time ... LAME.
And again, I am sorry, but i.e. does suck pretty bad. I use Chrome on OSX AND Windows 8.
I tried to love i.e. honestly, but every time I try to like it, it crumbles and I hate it even more.
Not that chrome is the worlds best or anything, but it IS better than i.e. (safari is also better than i.e)
I use chrome a lot because of the android phones I get from time to time. (right this minute I have a Nokia 520, iPhone 5s and LG G2 android phones) Chrome syncs my mail contacts and calendar super easy, and it works on all 3 platforms.
I love outlook.com email. I have tried to get EVERYONE to get an outlook.com email address over gmail.
I have 2 outlook.com email address and I am no longer using gmail or anything other than a place to store contacts and browser favs.
Bing. I look at the pictures each day, use google to search...
OneDrive is the BEST. I have it on all 3 of my phones. LOVE IT!!!!
MS isn't going anywhere any time soon. but they need to pull their heads out of their butts and FIX some crap.