We can certainly speculate about it, and I think the answer is pretty obvious. MS was out of touch and greedy. They thought the new Metro (aka Modern) interface was the answer to a maiden's prayer. And they wanted to believe that because they thought they'd make fortunes with the likes of their Surface tablets and Windows phones, and everyone would be tickled to death with Windows 8. It just shows how out of touch and greedy they were. And it isn't obvious to this observer that they've got the right solution yet. I've been running the 8.1 preview since it was available, and THAT sure isn't the answer. They're starting to learn though, now that they've been hit in the pocketbook. If they can get a really good new CEO (like the rumors they're trying to talk Ford's CEO, Mulally into it), there's hope they could turn it around. But they'd better do it within the next year or two or they could end up like Chrysler and GM while the likes of Google, Apple and Linux slowly eat away at their market share.