News story about Windows 8

[datagirl]

This was on today's CNN Money page:

Microsoft unveils a radically redesigned Windows 8
http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/13/technology/microsoft_build_windows_8/index.htm?hpt=hp_t2

Given their history of every-other-version-is-crap, I'll probably hold out for Windows 9, or whatever they decide to call it... if I'm not doing everything on an Android Smart-Phone-Mini-Tablet-Built-Into-My-3D-Bifocals by then. 

I didn't watch the embedded Ballmer video.

Regards,
-DG

[Peter Gibbons]

There are some good reviews and Microsoft has been able to come back from behind ...

But honestly Google and today's Apple will not let it happen.

They are just more agile and do not carry as much baggage.

The fact that Windows 8 is being demoed on i5 based tablet tells a lot about their mindset.

If Samsung demoes Tab II with Win 8 that is as responsive as Android - then MS has something ...

[Slinky]

The fact that Windows 8 is being demoed on i5 based tablet tells a lot about their mindset.

If Samsung demoes Tab II with Win 8 that is as responsive as Android - then MS has something ...

The BUILD presentation today demoed Windows 8 on a very broad range of hardware. I stopped counting after the 12th system. The systems were both PCs and Tablets (NVidia Tegra, ARM, and Intel Atom). The reference system, that was given out at the BUILD conference to every one in attendance, is a Samsung ARM tablet with a docking station. I highly recommend that you guys watch the presentation, or at least as much of it as you can. I believe it's almost 3 hours long.

[PhilFromNY]

I highly recommend that you guys watch the presentation, or at least as much of it as you can. I believe it's almost 3 hours long.

I had the keynote playing in the background while I was working yesterday. It didn't get my whole attention but what I got out of it was entirely consumer focused.

I think businesses will skip Windows 8. I wonder if many will let their Software Assurance agreements lapse for that reason. If so then Microsoft will take a big hit financially.

I understand why they felt the need to freshen their product but I can only imagine the confusion the new interface will cause in businesses. You can default Windows 8 to the Windows 7 GUI but at that point what's the reason to upgrade?

[benali72]

I think MS is making a strategic mistake in trying to adapt their dominant desktop/laptop software for the tablet/smartphone market. They're two different markets with two different interface needs. This is why -- thus far -- the tablet/smartphone market has viewed the Window brand name as a negative rather than a positive. And as PhilFromNY implies, trying to jam the two interfaces together could even threaten MS's secure hold on the business desktop/laptop market. Note to MS -- Windows may rule your world, but it doesn't rule the world.

[pxsant]

I think businesses will skip Windows 8. I wonder if many will let their Software Assurance agreements lapse for that reason. If so then Microsoft will take a big hit financially.

Many large corporations are either still on XP or slowly and carefully moving to Windows 7.   By the time Windows 8 comes out, corporations will have just completed the migration to 7.  No chance they will jump on the bandwagon again to force yet another adjustment to a different interface.  Microsoft is kidding themselves.

[The Gorn]

I think MS is making a strategic mistake in trying to adapt their dominant desktop/laptop software for the tablet/smartphone market. They're two different markets with two different interface needs.

Thanks for the excellent summary.

Yesteryear it was Dot Net everything - and - what the hell was the online credentialing/login system that MS was pushing that was wedded to Dot Net. Hailstorm... some bullshit like that?

A while back it was Silverlight, now discredited, and I remember earnest discussions on this board about adopting Silverlight as a Flash killer and it simply did not happen.

Also WPF was a hot ticket a couple of years ago, I remember discussing it with my client as a solution to the problem of writing a GUI that could be used alternatively in high resolution gaming modes. Now WPF seems to be on the way out.

A move like this on MS's part may unwittingly push adoption of Linux in corporations. MS seems to be getting very untrustworthy (even more so today) about maintaining backward compatibility and about sacrificing strategically important platforms.

[Peter Gibbons]

A while back it was Silverlight, now discredited, and I remember earnest discussions on this board about adopting Silverlight as a Flash killer and it simply did not happen.

I started that discussion based on my idea about leapfrogging.
Eventually I discarded the idea because Silverlight was simply an MS only technology.

I like multiplatform stuff.

Later I did some work with Flash but now I think that HTML5/Javascript is the way to go.
It works everywhere.

[Slinky]

I think MS is making a strategic mistake in trying to adapt their dominant desktop/laptop software for the tablet/smartphone market. They're two different markets with two different interface needs. This is why -- thus far -- the tablet/smartphone market has viewed the Window brand name as a negative rather than a positive. And as PhilFromNY implies, trying to jam the two interfaces together could even threaten MS's secure hold on the business desktop/laptop market. Note to MS -- Windows may rule your world, but it doesn't rule the world.

I have to disagree. There's a pent up demand for alternatives to iPad. Android on tablets is just not there yet. The current tablet battle is for second place, and it's going to be fierce. While I agree that businesses will probably skip it, consumers are going to eat it up. As a consumer, Apple hardware products just turn me off. They are still too expensive, and any minor breakage requires to send your device back to Apple. It infuriates me that I have to send a device in, if the stupid battery dies. That's a no go in my book. 

I think many people are underestimating Microsoft on Windows 8. They have inertia with Windows on the PC, and it will continue forward. Most consumers want comfort, and Microsoft will now provide that feeling across many devices. But as always, the market will decide with their wallets. 

[Peter Gibbons]

There's a pent up demand for alternatives to iPad.

I agree.

Android on tablets is just not there yet.

I would have agreed a few weeks ago but after playing with the Samsung Tab II at BestBuy I changed my opinion.

I honestly think that the Tab II is in many aspects better than the iPad2 that I have.

Microsoft's marketing of Windows Phone and Tablets is absolutely pathetic.

I am going to go to a MS sponsored event soon and I may actually tell their representatives what I think:

Just one point - there are plenty of places I could go tomorrow and play with the iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, RIM phones and tablets. There is not a single place where I could go and play with live Windows Phone. The demo units all have a fake screen with piece of paper under the plastic. All the Windows Tablets in BestBuy have been locked.

In contrast iPads are always unlocked and have WiFi connection. I think it's a requirement by Apple. "You want to carry our products? You have to have real and working units."

[Walter Mitty]

It's not clear to me that Ballmer's vision has ever been the same as Gates'. 

I remember the three stage evolution of an enterprise.  The model is "innovators", "operators", and "undertakers". 

I see Gates as an innovator.  (NOT technical innovator.  On the tech level he was a consolidator, never an innovator).

I see Ballmer as an operator.  The next guy will be the undertaker.

DEC went directly from innovator to undertaker. 

[PhilFromNY]

It's worth it to remember that this product won't be released until late 2012; roughly a year from now. Any product comparisons will need to wait for then when the iPad will be at version 3 and Android will be more polished (or killed by patents).

I think Microsoft made a mistake in announcing and demoing Windows 8 so early.

• Now competition knows where Microsoft products will be in a year.
• Customers will be fatigued by a year of waiting.

Microsoft is also repeating a marketing mistake they made with Vista. With Vista they missed the holiday selling season. Now with Windows 8 it looks like they'll miss at least the back to school selling season.

[Peter Gibbons]

Android will be more polished (or killed by patents).

It's not going to happen.

Not only is Google buying Motorola, they recently purchased 1000 patents from IBM to specifically defend Android.

Their partners - HTC for example have some very important patents from S3 that they are using to counterattack Apple - not only iPhone but the Mac as well.

Eventually all the big players will be in a stalemate position and will have to get back to business.

[Walter Mitty]

It's worth it to remember that this product won't be released until late 2012;

I guess they won't be using the Mayan Calendar.