“There was a time in the tech business when your company could be as slow as molasses in January yet still prevail based on shear market size,” John R. Quain writes for FOX News. “That day disappeared in the rear view mirror many years ago, as Microsoft is about to learn as it prepares to introduce a major Windows upgrade.”
Quain writes, “Windows 8 will feature more tablet and touch-like features, as well as erase the interminable boot up time that it currently takes a PC to start up. And Windows 8 will be available for desktops, laptops, and tablets. It will also look remarkably like the company’s mobile phone software, which uses customized tiles you flip through — and the Xbox 360 will follow suit with a changed interface to match… Windows 8 may be dead on arrival.”
3 reasons why Windows 8 may be dead on arrival:
• Compatibility Headaches
• A Whole New World
• Microsoft’s Lost Clout
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Pirate” and “Jayson Martell” for the heads up.]
Just three?
Since new green puzzle Windows is going to be pushed on desktop versions, too, Microsoft is obviously has this measure as main way to force developers to switch to this “Metro” APIs/interface even though they could not care less about new Microsoft’s OS per se.
So if Microsoft will succeed with forcing desktop developers to move to this green puzzle, then this means that these applications will work on Microsoft’s mobile Windows 8 (this time MS will outline strict compatibility policy for this Metro framework) — and this is exactly what MS wants; lets see.
Not at all sure what it is you’re trying to say, your syntax is hopelessly garbled, but if you mean that desktop apps on Win8 will also run on Win8 Metro, then you’re totally wrong. An MS exec corrected that assumption several days ago.
Sorry, I am too tired, so my writing skills are falling apart.
I meant that MS wants to force developers develop applications for The Green Puzzle UI. So while developers would usually continue their regular WIn-32 development for classic Blue desktop, they will be pressed to make also Green Puzzle version, since that UI is going to be pushed even on desktop versions of Windows 8 — let alone mobile/tablet version of this OS.
This way MS is going to make sure that their tablet will have lots of applications even though usual desktop develops initially would make it only for the sake of desktop version of Windows 8.
There will be compatibility between Windows 8 Metro desktop and Windows 8 Metro mobile applications. So this approach is going to do the trick, as MS hopes; lets see.
Problem is the applications will not be compatible between the desktop and the mobile, developers will have to write different versions for each medium they wish the app to work on….not very smart thinking
I don’t see how that is a problem, thats a normal ordeal for any developer. I can’t write one program and target os x, ipad and iphone either.
Windows 8 on the desktop should technically run metro mobile apps. Its wanting to run windows 8 desktop apps when using windows metro on an ARM based tablet that is problem.
I think its going to bomb regardles myself. Apple is going to be on ipad3 or 4 when windows 8 tablet vista extreme ballmer limited autographed ultimate edition finally ships.
I dont even think service pack 1 will slow the exodus
ok
Windows 8, a “view to a kill.” instead of Bond, James Bond, that is.
It will be Jobs, Steve Jobs pulling that pistol.
And Tanya Roberts holding the shotgun.
Man I honestly don’t know and could see it going either way.
I mean if they delivered something really great and x86 was low power enough to do it in a tablet without melting your hands or needing a fan I’d say they might have a shot at a new gravy train.
However the way things are shaping up it just does not look good for MS.
Windows 8 needs a massive amount of work to be a good tablet OS , hell it needs a massive amount of work to be a good Desktop OS since if you remove “Metro” all you really have left is a Windows 7 look alike with the Office Ribbon applied to the Explorer shell.
I’m not waiting around.. I moved to the mac… and if by some freak of nature , space-time worm hole phenomenon MS actually delivers a robust, feature rich operating system that is better than what Apple is offering … well then I guess my Mac can run Windows… but really… I’m not expecting them to win this round… Apple has it in the bag.
Blimey…that was a larf…
Only – if you insert Apple for MS and Mac OS for Windows 8, something you all remember from a thousand such pieces, we’d all be jumping up and down and howling at the moon…
Jus sayin
How about because it will still take at least one year before it is even here?
On the desktop front, its new user interface will alienate current Windows users, many still using Windows XP. Windows users typically do not like change. They will find Mac OS X Lion to be more familiar than the upcoming version of Windows (which doesn’t use “windows” anymore).
On the mobile front, Windows Phone 7 is not successful. I was actually hoping it would provide a viable option to Android for phone makers who are too lazy to create an in-house OS. Why would anyone expect a tablet OS based on the same interface to do any better…?
If anyone wants to downgrade from an iPad to a POS OS they can grab one of the fragmented versions of Android today and still be better off that the first three versions of Win 8 Metro.
Who needs that kind of pain?
Windows 8 is a “good idea” but years too late. Windows 8 will be finishing touch to MS’s slow-motion hari kari. They are no longer the de-facto computing interface. They are now competing with other entrenched ententes in Android, iOS and Lion. They can no longer just waltz in with a new product and expect to have every one join the fold any more. Those days a long gone. It will give customers another pause to question whether they really need to commit to a new Windows.
If you work with lots of programs and utilities, tiles and icons don’t work for most uses.
I have nearly 100 applications and utilities on my Mac and I honestly only recognize less than half the icons.
Most access is either from a document opening an app or a text list in the Finder. Same on my Windows work.
Icons are only a partial answer for laptop and desktop machines. I agree that icons are good on iPhones.
Tiles? I don’t see it. Sorry MS.
Did I read correctly? XBox360 is switching to the Metro interface? Won’t that cause about a gajillion gamer-nerd tantrums?
——RM
He forgot the most important reason of all. Apple.
I know that answer… Just change the words to the song, “Developers!, Developers!, Developers!” to “Microsoft!, Microsoft!, Microsoft!” and you have your reasons!
The best test of a UI is how soon before you want to dump it due to it being a pain to use… Can see it with limited icons etc like on a Zune or a phone but trust me… on a desk top will be a major nightmare.
A good UI get out of your way! Not in it!
Public restrooms have Tiles. There you go.
Here’s a good to best scenario for Microsoft.
– Initially the masses are slow to adopt Win8, but because the Win7 familiar desktop is there as an app, the masses eventually, after 1-1.5 years, eventually adopt Win8. Within 3 years (2015) most of the desktop computers in the world run Win8. At that stage, Apple still only has 13% marketshare in the desktop.
With the large uptake of Win8 on the desktop, the overwhelmingly larger developer base meant that the number of Metro apps very quickly creates an massive number of apps for the Metro app store. Maybe not yet as sizeable as Apple’s – but to the point where every function you want is covered by a few apps – such that the actually total number of apps in the store is irrelevant by then.
WindowsPhone – which never was a bad OS, but which lacked the 1st and 2nd mover advantage – now starts to have its own halo effect. People that own Win8 kinda like the way tiles are used. Tiles are more functional than icons since they can display information. So WindowsPhone starts to gain marketshare. Nokia is saved from total oblivion, and even becomes a player in the tablet market.
Andoid – with its slavish copying of iOS icons – is too similar to iOS, and people like something different. Back in 2011, iPads were still being bought by early adopters. By 2015 the vast majority of society – the late adopters, are starting to get tablets, and because they have Win8 desktops, they’re getting Win8 tablets, and some even trying WindowsPhone.
Microsoft is not the dominant player in 2015, but it’s a more even race than it was in 2012. Apple 40%, Android 25%, Win8 25%, others 5%.
Sure, the alternative could happen and MS could tank – but, in terms of crystal ball gazing, we need to acknowledge different scenarios – and the people that leave posts on MDN tend to be one-eyes Mac supporters with little interest in examining scenarios where Apple does not totally stomp on the competition.
Fools, I’m already writing an awesome registry cleaner in Metro that’s goin to be the bomb. Then I’m going to write ac metro based task killer. Finally a metro based over-clocking tool with a bad ass speedometer tile. Windows 8 users will rule!
Don’t forget anti-virus programs and apps for each device, too. And mal-ware, spy-ware… Let’s face it, be-ware!
Microsoft has already tanked; they just won’t acknowledge the truth.
“If you work with lots of programs and utilities, tiles and icons don’t work for most uses.”
Hence the main reason I’ve disabled LaunchPad. It’s useless.
I agree with you there. I don’t know anyone who uses LaunchPad. It’s just pointless IMO.
I think it was year 2001 when I told my Microsoft buddy that it’s stupid idea to use a desktop OS on a tablet. He insisted it will work, but after I played with his tablet for awhile I told him to go back to his Redmond campus and come out when they figure out the right way. Desktop OS on a tablet, can you believe… stupid…
Looks like they finally figured it out by taking a mobile phone OS and putting it on desktop and tablet. Yipee! I knew I could trust those guys. But…where is my buddy Nick?
The whole Windows Industry just became “Windows Classic” with a cloud over its future.
Sure, Windows Classic may be supported in Windows 8-9, but beyond that, even if Windows Classic is included, Metro will get all the updates and attention.
If Metro’s Web apps are HTML/JavaScript based then they should run on Mac/iOS/Android. If not, no developer will want it.
Note to Balmer:
Ignore all the bad mouthing here. Windows 8 is d’bomb. Just remember how everyone stick their tongue at iOS and said Big Fail. Just stay the course and you will rule the world again. 😉
That’s sheer market size not shear market size. Mr Quain spelled it correctly. MDN misspelled it.
No need for all that explanation.. ONE WORD sums it all up… it’s WINDERS!
‘nuf said??