4 ms·
Wow, Microsoft still doesn't get it. Most people don't want stock Windows on a tablet! This is the reason MS has failed in tablets for a decade already; they re
by cryptoz 16y ago
Wow, Microsoft still doesn't get it. Most people don't want stock Windows on a tablet! This is the reason MS has failed in tablets for a decade already; they refuse to change the OS to fit the tablet form factor.
Sure, there are a few devs and nerds who'd like Windows on a tablet, but the casual user definitely does not. That's why iPad won so early: nobody would have bought one if it ran stock OS X. The buttons would be too small and the whole thing would feel clunky.
The price of this thing doesn't matter, really. It'll fail as a mass-market device, while it'll probably sell a few to businesses and nerds.
- skymt 16y agoMicrosoft has changed Windows to fit tablets. Many of the UI changes in Windows 7 are touch-centric: * The big buttons and slide-to-expand of the new Taskbar * Multi-touch gestures in Explorer, IE and more * Aero Snap and Shake to make window management less fiddly * A redesigned on-screen keyboard It's not a total redesign, so obviously it will never be as smooth as iOS or Android, but I'd say they did a decent job without breaking compatibility.
- glhaynes 16y agoIs there still a mouse pointer?
- deleted 16y ago[deleted]
- eli 16y agoIt's optional. Instead you get this funky water droplet effect when you tap the screen, I guess to let you know that a click registered.
- regularfry 16y agoIndeed, the slogan I was hearing before launch was "Touch me, I'm 7!"
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- rahoulb 16y agoTwo of my favourite points about the iPad are the battery life and the instant-on (including connecting to Wifi - OSX on my MBA is crap by comparison). Arguably hardware features, but ones that won't work without deep software support. Windows 7 tablets without those two features will still be a poor imitation.
- jbrennan 16y agoExactly. And what's really sad is all this talk of "Windows on ARM" when they've already got a new ARM-based OS that's quite nice for phones (WP7). I just don't understand why WP7 isn't their flagship "mobile" OS (phones, tablets, and beyond). It just seems like a no-brainer.
- skymt 16y agoI'm guessing the ARM development focus started around the time smartbooks[1] were the Next Big Thing. Smartbooks have a form factor closer to netbooks than smartphones, so it would make sense for MS to try squeezing proper Windows onto them. Now that the iPad has stolen that market segment, MS has re-purposed the already-started ARM port for tablets. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartbook http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartbook
- contextfree 16y agoIIRC they get something like $15 for each Windows Phone OEM license and something like $50 for each full Windows OEM license. That's probably a big part of the reason they'd prefer to stick with full Windows in as many markets as possible.
- rbanffy 16y agoI think it's important to note they could sell more than 3x more $15 licenses than $50 licenses. You have a potential success with a low margin and certain doom with a high margin. Which one would you choose?
- cstross 16y agoApple: 12% of the total personal computer market in the USA. 92% of the high-end (over $999) personal computer market, which is around 10% of the total. If you're going to have 10% of the market, which would you rather have -- the bottom 10% or the top 10%? (I'll concede your point about the choice between potential success/certain doom for Microsoft in the tablet field, but Microsoft obviously doesn't see it that way: they see it as a choice between success and success, and obviously they want the more lucrative version.)
- guywithabike 16y agoI think John Gruber nailed it in a recent Talk Show podcast: The problem with Microsoft is that they went from a "Microsoft everywhere" philosophy to a "Windows everywhere" one.
- alex_c 16y agoIt's not even as "simple" as changing Windows to work well on a tablet. Look at what it took to make the iPad a success: 1) Release a really slick smartphone that is a huge hit 2) Release arguably the most seamless and well integrated app marketplace in history 3) Get boatloads of developers to develop for the new platform 4) Release the iPad to a willing, educated audience, with a huge catalog of existing apps That's a lot of moves to be behind. Changing the OS is a start, but far from sufficient.
- binarymax 16y agoAt one point I thought they were going somewhere with Xbox live on WP7 and then move that strategy to a tablet. It could be a huge platform if there was a gaming phone/tablet linked with the titles on your xbox. But of course they shot themselves in the foot a couple months back when they crippled indie game developers.
- revorad 16y agoWell then that explains why Microsoft is not changing the OS. They are hoping to go straight to #4.
- roc 16y agoTo be fair, MS was seemingly riding the CE-train into the grave up until the day they pulled back the curtain on Metro. So it's not unthinkable that they might have another tablet group either adapting Metro or starting fresh and this is just the choked sputters of work that was started back before it was obviated by modern tablets.
- borism 16y agoI would have bought OSX iPad and many in tech circles hoped that there will at least be choice between iOS and OSX. Granted, we're totally irrelevant market for AAPL...
- rahoulb 16y agoTry using Airdisplay on an ipad. Traditional OSX is awful as a touch interface.