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It seems that Microsoft can't stay out of the headlines recently …. but for all the wrong reasons. With Windows 8 and their Surface tablet just around the corner, we have to ask the question. Do they really know what they are doing?
Before I go any further, I need to make it clear that I am a Windows fanboy. I am not a Macintosh user with a grudge to bear. I also cannot get on with any Linux distro and have failed miserably now for years to adopt one as my primary operating system. The main reason is that I like to game and don't want a multi boot system. I also like the huge range of software for the Windows Platform.
Yes, I am not cool enough to use Linux, I admit it.
When Windows 8 was first released into the public domain I spent weeks with it, and ended up hating the changes and the overall interface. I never have before, even when Vista was released. Thinking it might be better later, I tried the latest W8 build, same deal im afraid.
I don't want an operating system that is designed for Microsoft to launch an attack into the tablet sector …. and certainly not when im using a Core i7 desktop computer.
By now, all of us know the concerns. If you search on Google there are literally millions of discussions across the globe. A small percentage of users like Windows 8 already, but I would confidently say that Microsoft have a real problem on their hands. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4boTbv9_nU']
Above, a funny video of a father using Windows 8 for the first time. Sure its tongue in cheek, but is it that far from the truth?As we reported yesterday, Gabe Newell shares some of the same views. He basically wants to shift some of the Valve's gaming focus to Linux now. He said “I think that Windows 8 is kind of a catastrophe for everybody in the PC space.”
Let's make it clear. In the gaming community Gabe Newell has a lot of impact. He can help developers code their games on Linux. Valve have already got code available for Linux and are focusing their efforts on improving the situation. It seems a shame it has taken so long but perhaps in a few years time we will have a Linux distro which is designed for ‘Windows users' who want an easy install with full support for current games.
The primary reason for releasing Windows 8, isn't for gamers, it isn't for the enthusiast user that generally reads Kitguru. It is for the user who wants a Microsoft tablet because Microsoft are losing millions in revenue to Apple right now. Microsoft want that to change but I am not so sure we really need a Windows tablet anymore. The market is flooded with tablet computers as we stand.
But will it change? Will millions of happy Apple or Google users ditch their tablet to buy the new Surface? I am not even sure that ‘anti Apple' users will buy the Microsoft Surface.
We discussed the price concerns yesterday. According to currency conversion, the entry level model looks to be priced at over $1,000. Much more than the iPad. Even if we factor in additional Swedish costs, it looks as if the Surface will cost more than the iPad. Here is a scary fact for you – the iPad right now in Sweden doesn't cost any more than in the United Kingdom. What can UK punters expect the ‘entry level' Surface to cost ? £800?
Microsoft are hoping that a prospective tablet punter will not only want the Surface, but they are willing to pay more into the deal. Even if the touch screen may be lower quality and their App Store will be much weaker? ermm.
To compound the problems, Microsoft are going up against their partners who will also be releasing Windows 8 based tablet computers, using the same Windows 8 operating system. Microsoft will sell their partners licenses of the Windows 8 operating system that they themselves will be using on the Surface (and they won't charge themselves a license, obviously).
Microsoft stated openly in their annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that “our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform.”
No, re-reading that sentence a few times doesn't help, trust me.
We already know that some of Microsoft's partners are miffed with the ‘direct competition', but this open statement is sure to cause bad feeling and may even push some prospective partners to move to the Google Android platform.
So there you have it. Windows 8 sucks, the Surface tablet will be priced too high and Microsoft partners may abandon ship to move to Android. Me? Im just about to install another Linux distro. I have had my fill of Microsoft.
Kitguru says: Microsoft – clueless or on the right path?
You are going on about this as if it is a forced change, windows 7 is great and you can stick with it and it will still get full support until the release of Win9 which should hopefully be designed for desktops
Really? thats all you get from that article?
‘its ok cause we can still use the last generation OS?’
I think its a disaster on many levels. firstly we all know Microsoft put their primary focus into the new operating system, so we will find that it gets updated more regularly and that gaming performance will be better than Windows 7 within the first year. This means we are forced to use a terrible UI if we want the best new drivers and game performance?
From Microsofts viewpoint its also a disaster as so many people are complaining, yet they just ignore everyone and go with what they want. I hope sales are terrible and most people are like us – and ‘dont install it’.
You can be sure if that happens they will start a system internally of offering bonus patches and performance tweaks for gamers, meaning people will have to buy it if they want the best gaming results. they did it with Xp too.
People said the same about vista, then two years later they are using windows 7, which is so similar to vista that you can’t tell the difference, and saying how great it is. Me?, I use windows XP for flight sims, and windows 7 at work. The rest of the time android. Actually no, I’ve got a windows 98 machine over there that I use for configuring cisco switches. It boots faster than all the others too.
Wow because metro interface takes what 30 seconds to turn off permanently off. This such lazy sensationalist journalism you should be disappointed in yourself. This is like people whined at the start button being gone big deal what’s important is that how it performs now the improvements in multi core functionality that’s interesting.
not hard to spot the plonker who preordered Windows 8 :p
It seems that Microsoft is following in the steps of Apple once again, as they had 20 years ago. Apple is going towards mobile devices like the iPhone, iPad and iMac but ignoring desktop users – how are you supposed to change screens if you can’t flick with 3 fingers on a touchpad? Microsoft should stick with desktop machines – many people still use desktops including businesses. I am thinking of switching from a laptop to a compact gaming desktop pretty soon.
The previous comment should say “how are you supposed to flick the screen over if you don’t have a touchpad?”
I haven’t pre ordered 8, fyi dont buy any Os’s on launch. The point is windows always has required a little bit effort on behalf of the user. All the windows stuff is all there just one slight edition which is easily altered permanently. The metro function is one feature not deal breaker when so easily permanently ignored. Whining about a change in windows which is basically optional might be better off buying mac if your that simplistic of a user.
There is actually nothing ‘simplistic’ about a mac. Unix, the core kernal of osx is much more advanced than anything microsoft have ever made, as is linux, so the same term could be applied to you. Are you an idiot because you use the most mainstream os and decide that you have to fix a handful of glaring issues that microsoft fuck up everytime they release a new os? Look at microsofts reliance on the archaic, inefficient use of dlls and multi locations for system files. It is abysmal and its why i use linux.
Windows 8 is designed for tablet computers. They are following apple as usual and making a complete dogs dinner. They have some solid coders in their ranks, but their ui team have never had a clue. Its not likely to change anytime soon,