The lack of any number -- the last time Microsoft touted Windows 8 licenses sold was in early January, when it said it had dealt out 60 million -- wasn't surprising to some.

"They'll wait until the end of the fiscal year to show a more impressive number," said Wes Miller, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, in a Thursday interview. "And they'll do that again in October, on the anniversary of Windows 8's launch."