In a curious turn of events, Microsoft’s (MSFT) new desktop and tablet operating system is reportedly missing internal sales projections while Windows Phone 8, a mobile platform many industry watchers expected to flounder as its predecessors have, may be off to a stronger than expected start. Paul Thorrott’s Supersite for Windows reported late last week that Windows 8 is not off to a good start, claiming “sales of Windows 8 PCs are well below Microsoft’s internal projections and have been described inside the company as disappointing.”

According to Thurrott’s often reliable sources, Microsoft is blaming the early slow sales on “lackluster” products from PC vendors, though weak demand for Windows 8 PCs in 2012 was all too expected. But on the mobile side of Microsoft’s business where the company has struggled tremendously for the past two years, things may be looking up.

We won’t have any numbers to review until Nokia (NOK) reports its results for the holiday quarter, but initial sales of the company’s highly anticipated Lumia 920 smartphone powered by Windows Phone 8 are looking solid. For one thing, Amazon (AMZN) currently lists the 920 as its best-selling AT&T (T) smartphone, beating out the Galaxy Note II, Galaxy S III and One X. BGR’s own sources state that in-store sales of the Lumia 920 have been “better than we expected” in at least some U.S. regions, further suggesting a relatively strong start for Nokia’s new $99 flagship phone.