Microsoft Windows 8 off to slow start: report

 SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A report released on Thursday showed that Microsoft's Windows 8 gets to a slow start, as sales of devices running on Windows system have fallen 21 percent year-on-year during the initial four weeks after the debut¹ of Windows 8.

Since Windows 8's launch on Oct. 26, sales of notebook computer running on Windows operating system fell 24 percent and desktop² computer sales dropped 9 percent, compared to the same period last year, market research firm The NPD Group said in the report.

According to the report, consumer Windows personal computer (PC) and tablet computer market did not get the boost it needed from the launch of Windows 8 in the United States.

"After just four weeks on the market, it's still early to place blame on Windows 8 for the ongoing³ weakness in the PC market," said the report.

"We still have the holiday selling season ahead of us, but clearly Windows 8 did not prove to be the impetus⁴ for a sales turnaround some had hoped for," it noted⁵.

Meanwhile, the report found that the Windows 8 tablet sales have been "almost non-existent, with unit sales representing less than 1 percent of all Windows 8 device sales to date."

Microsoft announced on Tuesday that 40 million Windows 8 licenses⁶ have been sold one month after the new system was officially launched.

Analysts⁷ pointed⁸ out that the number include all sales, including those to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other partners and it's possible that quite a few of the licenses haven't actually found their way to consumers yet.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 desktop   

n.桌面管理系统程序；台式

参考例句：

• My computer is a desktop computer of excellent quality.我的计算机是品质卓越的台式计算机。
• Do you know which one is better,a laptop or a desktop?你知道哪一种更好，笔记本还是台式机？

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 impetus   

n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力

参考例句：

• This is the primary impetus behind the economic recovery.这是促使经济复苏的主要动力。
• Her speech gave an impetus to my ideas.她的讲话激发了我的思绪。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。