Bill Gates Explains Why Microsoft Had To Punch Its PC Partners...

Bill Gates Microsoft Surface - Business Insider

Wow!

 

[mart4494]

....but it'll be nice to feel that you can take your tablet on vacation to Hawaii and still knock out a memo if you have to.

That feels like more options to me, no fewer.

I need to take a laptop with me. Using a tablet, even if it has got a keyboard) to set up or amend a web site is a no go. So I guess it all depends what you need your desktop/laptop combinations for.

All about choice, or options which is why several folks round here (including me) are a little disappointed that choice has been removed regarding the UI at installation time for Win8.

 

[SIW2]

Bill G is on the right track.

MS are trying to kill the portable pc market and replace it with tablets.

Because MS control the pc market, they can do it.

Nobody who buys a MS tablet is going to buy a notebook/netbook as well.

There is no point as the notebook will just have win8 on it.

Not that many who buy a MS tablet are going to buy a laptop as well.

There is no point as the laptop will just have win8 on it.

[Some will still need a laptop - those who type all the way to work on their commuter train in the morning for example.

Far more practical than trying to do it on a tablet.

The laptop will have win8 on it , which is a pain, but at least it is a bit bigger, more robust and much more storage capacity]

 

[SIW2]

There is little choice.

It is looking to me more likely that Apple are going to go for it.

They will be doing a mini ipad at $200 - a big departure for them into the lower price reaches.

That makes it more likely they will go into the lower price bracket with a mini macbook .

Could be very dangerous for MS .

If Apple do that - they might regain dominance across that market as well.

I am not suggesting Apple are beacons of consumer freedom and choice, but at least they offer a proper o/s.

Remember - you read it here first, folks.

 

[Stratos]

C'mon guys

Ms is NOT the evil empire

I guess it all depends on the person's unique point of view. MS may've changed a lot in recent years but their practices back almost 20 years ago could be described as other than honorable. I personally have a lot more respect for MS than I ever have. What has hurt my vision of Microsoft is through Steve Ballmer and him solely.

also Bill Gates via his foundation has given FAR MORE to this planet than 99% of "Failed Bailed out Banks" that almost every govt has bailed out for some reason or another whatever their electorates have said.

From my understanding, Gates' philanthropy is unique to him and not of his company. Gates as CEO has helped keep Apple afloat during their dark period due to his unique relationship with Jobs. The Apple fanbase community would argue that there's no requirement for any company to give and that is a choice. My argument is if MS did the same, it would be considered very dishonorable so Apple folks are quite hypocritical on that topic.

I can't understand why there is so much animosity against BILL GATES -- just look at his bio on google.

It's real simple, many people now days are irresponsible in such that they're either unable or unwilling to accept their share of the blame, however when it comes to everyone else, they expect the lead person (CEO) to take all the blame for the company's faults. Gates have had eggs tossed at him and pies thrown at his face yet I haven't seen anything of the sort when Jobs was discovered to have a "bully-like" attitude towards some of his employees.

Steve Jobs that everybody seems to idolize never gave ONE CENT to any charity -- and his personal habits didn't endear him to his co-workers either.

Jobs once said that they'd be in a better position to give when the company is in better shape financially. Obviously this never came to be and his explanation was that the way Apple gives back to the public is by reinvesting within the company in order to come out with better products and services through true innovation. Personally I think it's plain bull.

I will say this though, Jobs way of "giving" could also be interpreted as how he presents himself to the public. Jobs has an incredible ability to reach people, talk to them in a way everyone can understand and get people to empathize on his passion. Compare to Gates who's not a good speaker and Ballmer who should not be allowed to speak for the company, in public.

 

[Stratos]

Getting back to topic, I also believe in what Gates has said, the PC platform is kind of two-fold where MS has only dealt with the OS while OEM's dealt with the hardware and there seems to be some disconnect as to who's in command.

With MS coming out with Surface, it provides a clear picture of what MS envisions for a Windows 8 tablet device. I see this as a great thing as it provides other OEMs a base reference model to work off of. Let's face it, there's a lot of crappy devices running some version of Windows and it's about time that MS cracks the whip by putting some pressure on these guys.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Getting back to topic, I also believe in what Gates has said, the PC platform is kind of two-fold where MS has only dealt with the OS while OEM's dealt with the hardware and there seems to be some disconnect as to who's in command.

With MS coming out with Surface, it provides a clear picture of what MS envisions for a Windows 8 tablet device. I see this as a great thing as it provides other OEMs a base reference model to work off of. Let's face it, there's a lot of crappy devices running some version of Windows and it's about time that MS cracks the whip by putting some pressure on these guys.

Well stated, Stratos. Back to the subject at hand.

I don't believe M$ is trying to kill the PC. It will be around for many years to come. The PC will die off when consumers quit buying them. Whether 8 pans out on them is another subject, although I'm think they should offer choice of UI at boot and/or installation. They are following up on the market trend. They see the survey results of what people might buy and money spent on which products are being bought and sold. It's us comsumers that set the demand and the demand right now obviously is the ever-hot pad market. I believe as you do that they put there foot down and created the Surface to show OEMs how things should be done. A model to follow as you say. This coincides with 8 final release. After all Apple has had somewhat an advantage with the hardware/software combo.

M$ has somewhat an advantage now in that there are a lot of PC users that have been using their software for many decades. I don't think most are going to change now. They will follow M$'s lead.

Bottom line...It's about aiming at the market trend. They are in a business to make money, satisfy investers, and keep people working.

 

[SIW2]

The crappy devices have to be like that to hit the consumer price points.
.
OEM's want to make machines that sell - that is what they are in business for.

I don't get all this attacking oem's .

They have been hauling MS freight for years - they are why MS even exists.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

The crappy devices have to be like that to hit the consumer price points.
.
OEM's want to make machines that sell - that is what they are in business for.

I don't get all this attacking oem's .

They have been hauling MS freight for years - they are why MS even exists.

I hear you on the attacks of OEMs of which as you see it I am guilty. But, I don't see as an attack as much as M$ wants to make sure 8 flies on a machine built for it. This is a HUGE change with a lot at stake, especially with the market trend aimed that way.

 

[SIW2]

I think they want to position a small range aimed straight at ipad territory.

The oem's would not necessarily do that - more likely they would avoid direct competition with ipad.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I think they want to position a small range aimed straight at ipad territory.

The oem's would not necessarily do that - more likely they would avoid direct competition with ipad.

Great insight! I agree. I'm in business and still learning.

"Small range" - I wonder if the Surface is all M$ will develop? I don't think they're trying to make OEMs angry, otherwise I'd think they would screw themselves in the end. We'll have to see.

 

[Stratos]

I don't think tablets are in any position to wipe out conventional computers (laptops, desktops) as there's always going to be the need for additional capabilities not realistically possible on mobile devices. Users with very light needs may find mobile devices sufficient for their needs however there's always going to be a gap between what they can and can't do vs regular machines. Some are not possible to use without one (for example the iPad needs to connect to a computer via iTunes).

 

[skallal]

Actually iPad no longer needs to sync with iTunes. Now it only needs to sync with iCloud. But I sync with iTunes because I feel a bit safer that way.

Come to think about it, on my Samsung Slate, I don't sync with anything. But that's comparing apples and oranges...

 

[Stratos]

iCloud only offers a small portion of what iTunes can. If you own media (discs, etc.) and want to get them onto your iPad, you can't do that with just iCloud, there's still a need for a regular computer with an optical drive to get the media there in the first place. However if you intend on getting all media off the internet via iTunes, then that's a different story.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

When did this change to an iMe thread?

 

[Dave76]

Talk about "Off topic"

 

[Coke Robot]

Bill G is on the right track.

MS are trying to kill the portable pc market and replace it with tablets.

Because MS control the pc market, they can do it.

Nobody who buys a MS tablet is going to buy a notebook/netbook as well.

There is no point as the notebook will just have win8 on it.

Not that many who buy a MS tablet are going to buy a laptop as well.

There is no point as the laptop will just have win8 on it.

[Some will still need a laptop - those who type all the way to work on their commuter train in the morning for example.

Far more practical than trying to do it on a tablet.

The laptop will have win8 on it , which is a pain, but at least it is a bit bigger, more robust and much more storage capacity]

But what about the laptop/ultrabook that has a touchscreen?.....

 

[Coke Robot]

iRadio, iCloud, iPod, iTouch, iMac, iPhone, iWork, iCalc, iDVD, iTunes, iPad, iBook, iGoogle, iFile, iDevice, iDiot, iOwnu, iCrowd, iMe....

All that apple did was completely ruin CENTURIES of the English language dealing with how to properly capitalize proper nouns.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

LOL!

iI iDon't iThink iSo!

 

[vrosa]

M$ cant simply kill the PC... Windows is not the only way to go. That's why I dont see Windows 8 like a "let's kill the PC" thing. Technical applications play an important role in software market, and that's why desktop is there, side by side with Metro. Althought I still havent adopted Windows 8 as my primary OS I've been quite confortable with it. The only thing that is annoying is the lack of the good old start menu and the ability to boot directly to desktop mode.

LOL!

iI iDon't iThink iSo!

Lol...

 

[Coke Robot]

Actually, I don't believe Microsoft will be really making a dent on their OEMs with Surface. They announced that they will only be selling it on their online store and in their Microsoft Stores, which there aren't a whole lot of them. Unless best buy picks them up, the OEMs will be commanding the retail space.