(Honest) Personal thoughts about windows 8 and MS in general

[chrisj1968]

We have been ranting about Windows 8 for sometime, either pro or con Windows 8. These thoughts are purely my own.

This whole issue with Windows 8 being the future is relative. We must think about the fact that, Windows 8 is supposed to be the future of computing. irregardless of how you look at it, Windows 8, the surface pro & RT systems are purely Microsofts(MS here on out) own "vision" of what they perceive as the future while, at the same time, trying to stay relevant to the PC and now tablet markets. I've used Windows 8 on a high end performance laptop from Toshiba, a firm that manufactures more professional lines of laptops for businesses. at any rate, Windows 8 is trying to be "everything to everyone" but is everything to the tablet crowd. They have left out the Laptop and PC crowd. Yes, we can install the several "apps" to have a start button yes, the issue in the greater sense is that, they left it out on purpose because MS thought honestly that, they could shift their market and their loyalty crowd to "fit" into what MS envisions as the "future of computing." Above all else, this is just a gamble with hopes that this vision catches on.

MS did not count on such backlash as OEM builders, lack of enthusiasm and lack of systems that support touchscreen technology. I've heard OEM's might regard the Windows 8 system touchscreens as "not cost productive." OEM's are businesses themselves and have a bottom line to protect and not bowing down to MS means that; 1.) OEM's weren't consulted with about getting on board or about what it would cost these companies to produce end user systems. or.. 2.) MS did consult OEM's and they felt it wasn't cost effective to produce touchscreen systems due to cost issues. Or any other plethora of reasons. they are not embracing Windows 8 as MS probably had hoped.

Another perspective we must consider is that, MS is trying to play catch up and in the bigger picture, are trying to guide the market to a direction in which makes MS competitive again. Wasn't until recently that, MS got on board with cloud computing and storage and are relatively new on the street in that regard. The next issue is Apples iPAD. Microsoft had to make a move of some kind against Apple to garner some of the market since no one really challenged Apple except those producing Android tablets. there was NO MS product to challenge Apple. So MS felt they could bring to fruition, a product that was uni-platform capable that, desktop,laptop and tablet markets could be brought to bare down and take charge. So as OEM's didn't help windows 8 sales, MS developed and hoped somewhere along the line that, Surface PRO and RT would pickup the slack. so attribute that lack luster PC sales means the market is in decline. I disagree. we must not forget, this global market is in tatters. people don't have expendable income to buy that new system as they did before. this goes for businesses too. they too, are trimming costs by using systems already in house or are waiting for a viable cost effective alternative. Alot of companies are trimming staff in the US to save money and running on skeleton crews just to get out of being within the cross hairs of obamacare's mandates(that's a whole different subjectnot for here).

Windows 8 is PURELY MS's vision of what they perceive as their idea of the future of computing. nothing more. Just because MS says this is the future doesn't mean it is, alot of companies find the product isn't the future "catch all" and "product for all" and go back and develop a product based upon sound research by sampling everyday people and their needs and wants, after all... these people are the ones MS is trying to sell their product to.

Windows 8, being a tablet oriented OS, offers nothing to say CAD drafters, or people who used mouse centric systems. I can't imagine how MS can sell windows 8 to a company based on an OS using the Surface Pro and RT in mind

I know alot may say, windows 8 works on my laptop or any desktop, but it is hard to sell a niche OS(it is tablet centered) to a CAD-CAM company based upon the picture above. Companies don't want to waste time buying a product to put a start button or if free, install a start menu in windows 8, let alone, retrain their whole staff on how to use Windows 8. Firms are trying to save money and make money and time IS money. hospitals might benefit from windows 8 and surface systems as doctors and nurses can carry around job related tablets and view xray and medical data and records in one tablet. Some markets as this might benefit.

Some people may have a different take or view but this is what I'm seeing going on around me on this subject. This is just what I see as a possible reason why Windows 8 isn't a game changer as some might have thought. It is a nice OS but it doesn't fulfill the PC markets needs as it does for tablets

Just my insight and opinion!

[+Warwagon MVC]

I don't know why they couldn't have put WP7 / WP8 on tablets. The foundation was already there. Why reinvent the wheel? This is what Apple did, and it's worked pretty well for them.

[fusi0n]

I don't know why they couldn't have put WP7 / WP8 on tablets.

My thoughts exactly..

[Dot Matrix]

I don't know why they couldn't have put WP7 / WP8 on tablets.

Really? Look at the iPad and iPhone. What does the iPad offer me if I have an iPhone? Besides a bigger screen, absolutely nothing. Windows 8 is a more productive OS than Windows Phone 8. I already have a Lumia, why spend $500 on devices that's not going to offer me anything new?

[fusi0n]

Really? Look at the iPad and iPhone. What does the iPad offer me if I have an iPhone? Besides a bigger screen, absolutely nothing. Windows 8 is a more productive OS than Windows Phone 8. I already have a Lumia, why spend $500 on devices that's not going to offer me anything new?

Tell that to the millions of people who bought the iPad.. guess they think different..

[+Warwagon MVC]

Really? Look at the iPad and iPhone. What does the iPad offer me if I have an iPhone? Besides a bigger screen, absolutely nothing. Windows 8 is a more productive OS than Windows Phone 8. I already have a Lumia, why spend $500 on devices that's not going to offer me anything new?

Only when you drop onto the desktop. At that point it's not touch friendly and if you spend all of your time there you might as well buy a laptop. When you are in Metro it's like using the WP8 OS.

[fusi0n]

Only when you drop onto the desktop. At that point it's not touch friendly and if you spend all of your time there you might as well buy a laptop. When you are in Metro it's like using the WP8 OS.

Yep. Microsoft is just confusing people.. They should have never released the RT and just put the WinMo OS on that.. Surface Pro could have Windows 8.. but on a desktop.. it is like a step back

[chrisj1968]

Only when you drop onto the desktop. At that point it's not touch friendly and if you spend all of your time there you might as well buy a laptop. When you are in Metro it's like using the WP8 OS.

which is why I made the comment they are trying to make a uni-platform system for everyone (in their own eyes).. meaning MS

[+Warwagon MVC]

Yep. Microsoft is just confusing people.. They should have never released the RT and just put the WinMo OS on that.. Surface Pro could have Windows 8.. but on a desktop.. it is like a step back

In fact if WP8 OS was on a tablet, that would be pretty sweet. I would probably buy one.

[fusi0n]

which is why I made the comment they are trying to make a uni-platform system for everyone (in their own eyes).. meaning MS

Not a bad move.. but don't go full derp about it.. Windows RT. Windows Phone 7\8, WIndows 8.. should have just made it much simpler..

In fact if WP8 OS was on a tablet, that would be pretty sweet. I would probably buy one.

Same here, I would't mind trying that out..

[Ph1b3r0pt1c]

I agree with the OP also. I wish instead of Microsoft releaseing Windows 8, they would have instead placed those resources into Windows 7, and waited another 4-5 years before dropping 8. Maybe by then more people would have touch enabled monitors and the metro interface would have made more sence. I rolled back to 7 on all of my machines partially because I couldnt get used to not having aero, and I did not like the charms bar at all. Overall, 8 is not a BAD OS per say, its just not something I currently want.

[chrisj1968]

Not a bad move.. but don't go full derp about it.. Windows RT. Windows Phone 7\8, WIndows 8.. should have just made it much simpler..

Same here, I would't mind trying that out..

full derp.... that's something no one has ever said to me before.. congrats!, you are the first..

[Dot Matrix]

Only when you drop onto the desktop. At that point it's not touch friendly and if you spend all of your time there you might as well buy a laptop. When you are in Metro it's like using the WP8 OS.

But Metro apps on Windows 8 are far more productive than WP8, and hold more features. While a tablet is a mobile device, it is still far more powerful than a phone, and should be treated as such.

[fusi0n]

full derp.... that's something no one has ever said to me before.. congrats!, you are the first..

that was not directed at you but to MS..

[+Warwagon MVC]

But Metro apps on Windows 8 are far more productive than WP8, and hold more features.

I'm quite sure they could have made the tablet version of WP8 hold the same features.

[techbeck]

Think Windows 8 has a ways to go and Blue is the first step. I do think that what they are including in Blue, should of been included in the initial release. But MS couldnt of delayed the release any longer.

As far as MS in general, they seem to be lagging behind a lot. Late to the smart phone market, tablet, and others. I do not like their marketing strategy either and do not think its doing them any good. But these days, it seems that whoever is behind uses bad marketing tactics to try and gain some ground.

[fusi0n]

I'm quite sure they could have made the tablet version of WP8 hold the same features.

Yep! Android has some amazing features and app support.. Surely MS could figure it out

[chrisj1968]

I applaud MS's ambition however. But perhaps the execution... was the problem?

[Emon]

Also it is a cluster **** for devs .. Let's say you make an app for Windows Phone 8 by following the design guidelines so it's scalable to fit small to big screens. But no .. you can't take the same app and run it in Windows 8! You have to port it .. wtf is that.

[fusi0n]

I applaud MS's ambition however. But perhaps the execution... was the problem?

Lack of management.. Maybe that is why they fired Sinfkery or whatever his name was..

[Azies]

Microsoft? Let's see, increasingly irrelevant, and out of touch. They make really bizarre decisions with their products, and might end up hemorrhaging money sooner or later. What I'd like to see? I'd like to see Microsoft go the way of IBM.

[Dot Matrix]

Also it is a cluster **** for devs .. Let's say you make an app for Windows Phone 8 by following the design guidelines so it's scalable to fit small to big screens. But no .. you can't take the same app and run it in Windows 8! You have to port it .. wtf is that.

You don't have to port it, unless it's a WP7 app, as WP8 and W8 share the same kernel. You can move apps to either platform by changing just a few lines of code.

[fusi0n]

You don't have to port is unless it's a WP7 app, WP8 and W8 share the same kernel. You can move it to either platform by changing just a few lines of code.

That was a good move for MS.

[freak180]

I'm a desktop user and honestly it hasnt bothered me in the slightest. I honestly dont see whats the big deal at this point.

[chrisj1968]

I'm a desktop user and honestly it hasnt bothered me in the slightest. I honestly dont see whats the big deal at this point.

and some of us have said we like it. but another point being, MS calling out OEM builders because sales of THEIR product are dismal isn't an OEM's fault. It shows MS has taken notice, something is wrong and heads are turning since investors want their dividends when they are due at money time