Microsoft moving towards cloud based software and making hardware!

icet

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Beginning from Windows 8 Microsoft has begun moving towards cloud based software and making its own hardware. In an interview to the Seattle Times Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer indicated that Microsoft would move away from traditional software towards cloud based software delivery model as well as Microsoft would make their own hardware. Following are his related answer as well as the link:




"Q: Where do you see Microsoft's position in five years, 10 years?


A: First of all, I'd say: pre-eminent technology company. I think that in a back-looking view, people would say we were a software company. That's kind of how we were born.


I think when you look forward, our core capability will be software, (but) you'll probably think of us more as a devices-and-services company. Which is a little different. Software powers devices and software powers these cloud services, but it's a different form of delivery....


Doesn't mean we have to make every device. I don't want you to leap to that conclusion. We'll have partners who make devices with our software in it and our services built in. ... We're going to be a leader at that."




Ballmer trumpets Microsoft's 'epic year' | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times






That means a lot of drastic changes in Microsoft's policies which would impact us all. As far as I can think, according to my limited knowledge, there would be the following changes:




1- Microsoft would slowly strip down Windows from being a full fledged operating system to a browser based (cloud based) operating system, just like Google's Chrome OS.


Xbox, Not Windows, Is The Future Of Microsoft - Says Steve Ballmer


2- Local storage based software, games would be replaced by cloud based software, games.


(Microsoft has teamed up with Agawi, a cloud based gaming company which has adopted Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud hosting to stream games to Windows 8 devices as well as upcoming Xbox 720.)


Agawi to use Microsoft’s Windows Azure to bring cloud-gaming services to Windows 8 | VentureBeat


Microsoft, Agawi Team Up For Cloud Gaming On Windows 8; Is Xbox 720 Next? - Forbes


Windows 8 gets cloud gaming with Agawi partnership - National Console Gaming | Examiner.com


3- Microsoft is planning to become a big hardware player like Apple. However it would keep its OEM partners with it. Divices with MS services would be sold.


4- The biggest losers would be us. The consumers. Microsoft's cloud based model would put an end to our independence and we would be completely dependent on MS for everything. MS won't sell us the software, games etc. they would rent us their software, games etc.


5- This would also be a huge loss to the enthusiasts who build their own PCs. As because of all the above there would only be compact devices available everywhere and there would no longer be a place for full fledged desktop or full fledged notebook PCs. So desktops and notebooks would vanish. Therefore the parts to build your own PCs would no longer be available in the market.




All this could only change if some Linux distro successfully enters the market. As Valve/Steam are trying to port their games to Linux it could be a possibility. Also it would be a good omen for Microsoft;s OEM partners who must be desperate for an alternative to MS Windows and are fed up of MS policies.:(
 

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I doubt Windows will go cloud based in entirety. Unless if other competitors do that, I don't see it happening. Granted, Windows is licensed whereas android or ios isn't, but this would only happen when EVERYONE and EVERY Windows user is connected to the internet 24/7. There's that hurdle. Also, the other hurdle is how can Windows work if you're in the mountains? I find interesting that no one is thinking about Windows Phone being cloud based. I just don't see it happening. Taking the base OS and not having it natively installed on the device is like a PC with cloud based BIOS, no go and no practicality.

Office and Xbox games I do see being more cloud based. Office already is going there. Xbox games might be next.

My question I ask is where's the practicality purpose? The only thing I see is for app developers to prevent piracy, but there are better methods that don't require app streaming.



We'll see though...
 

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My question I ask is where's the practicality purpose? The only thing I see is for app developers to prevent piracy, but there are better methods that don't require app streaming.
Purpose: All users can be running on the same versions, that are updated, and security patched whenever MS deems it necessary. Users don't really need to lift a finger.
 

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Hi Icet,

I have been posting about this for a while.

Plenty of things not to look forward to.
 

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My question I ask is where's the practicality purpose? The only thing I see is for app developers to prevent piracy, but there are better methods that don't require app streaming.
Purpose: All users can be running on the same versions, that are updated, and security patched whenever MS deems it necessary. Users don't really need to lift a finger.

Doesn't Windows Update already cover all that? The only thing I see here is the availability of updates and the timing of them. You can run Windows 8 and have everything updated and patched up for that, then upgrade to Windows 9. I do see how that could be beneficial to just to have everyone hypothetically just upgrade EVERYONE on Windows 8 to 9 and not deal with people poop scooping it. :)

But to say that a WHOLE software platform can be cloud based is just no. chrome OS hasn't kicked off anywhere at all. There is nothing to it that a phone can't do with the right apps.

For apps running on the same version in unison, this already kind of done with Windows Store and Windows Phone Store and app store and android marketplace. They all update currently installed apps to the latest version when the user gives consent.
 

My Computer

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    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
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    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
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    OCZ 500 watt
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    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
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    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I doubt Windows will go cloud based in entirety. Unless if other competitors do that, I don't see it happening. Granted, Windows is licensed whereas android or ios isn't, but this would only happen when EVERYONE and EVERY Windows user is connected to the internet 24/7. There's that hurdle. Also, the other hurdle is how can Windows work if you're in the mountains? I find interesting that no one is thinking about Windows Phone being cloud based. I just don't see it happening. Taking the base OS and not having it natively installed on the device is like a PC with cloud based BIOS, no go and no practicality.

Office and Xbox games I do see being more cloud based. Office already is going there. Xbox games might be next.

My question I ask is where's the practicality purpose? The only thing I see is for app developers to prevent piracy, but there are better methods that don't require app streaming.



We'll see though...



I wish and hope that you are right and that not all software and games move to the cloud. But it seems that MS may move to the cloud entirely. Also there should also be offline options for office and xbox games now and in the future. What you think?
 

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Hi Icet,

I have been posting about this for a while.

Plenty of things not to look forward to.


Hi SIW2,

It seems you were correct. If all that happens then I think we would have no alternative except Linux. :(
 

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Not going to the cloud.

At all. Ever.

And THAT'S non-negotiable.

Push me to the cloud with no choice, and I WILL
go elsewhere.....

And that's non-negotiable as well....!!!

Windows 8, I like. But the cloud, and pay-per-use
subscription-based software?....NO WAY, Jose!

NOT gonna happen here.....I'd give up computing
as a hobby/interest first.............
 

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Doesn't Windows Update already cover all that?
Well it does for the OS, and it does some for Office..BUT....
1). Some people don't run updates.
2). It won't move you from 1 major release to another. Say from Outlook 2010 to 2013
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
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    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
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    stock
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    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
By default, Windows is set for automatic updates that covers IE, Office if installed, I think Windows Essentials, and Windows itself. And with Windows 8, updates literally don't feel like they happen because they're just that undetectable.

But to move from one version of Office to the next, that might be a hurdle. Some don't like upgrading so much as the next would would be, and Officewould have to be on a subscription so the user would be more inclined to upgrade. Cost and profit is the road block.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I doubt Windows will go cloud based in entirety. Unless if other competitors do that, I don't see it happening. Granted, Windows is licensed whereas android or ios isn't, but this would only happen when EVERYONE and EVERY Windows user is connected to the internet 24/7. There's that hurdle. Also, the other hurdle is how can Windows work if you're in the mountains? I find interesting that no one is thinking about Windows Phone being cloud based. I just don't see it happening. Taking the base OS and not having it natively installed on the device is like a PC with cloud based BIOS, no go and no practicality.

Office and Xbox games I do see being more cloud based. Office already is going there. Xbox games might be next.

My question I ask is where's the practicality purpose? The only thing I see is for app developers to prevent piracy, but there are better methods that don't require app streaming.



We'll see though...



I wish and hope that you are right and that not all software and games move to the cloud. But it seems that MS may move to the cloud entirely. Also there should also be offline options for office and xbox games now and in the future. What you think?
Cloud based app streaming would require constant internet, as of now, not everyone is connected or reliably connected and the internet speeds aren't the fastest here in the US compared to the rest of the developed world. The issue of internet bandwidth and preventing latencies are a challenge. Right now, cloud based storage is a good option for some as huge servers with terabytes upon terabytes in a RAID configuration with multiple copies of data stored to minimize data loss is a nice alternative to an external hard drive that can and will die or a flash drive that gets lost.

For cloud based services like Office, oh yeah there has to be and should be offline support. google dogs recently added offline capabilities, when the service was 100 percent cloud based.

Cloud based gaming is iffy, again latency issues and speed are issues. But it definitely is a good tool to counter piracy. The thing is though that the game itself needs to be locally installed (for offline support) and some type of cloud integration to filter out piracy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
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