How Microsoft can salvage Windows 8 before it's too late

This is a tough challenge, given that Windows 8 is only a few months away from release. There's not a lot that Microsoft can do in this time. However, given that the Redmond giant has already gone on the record to say that the UI that we see in the Windows 8 Release Preview is not what will be in the final release, it's safe to say that things are in a certain state of flux.

As I've said on numerous occasions, the biggest problem with Windows 8 is the way that the dumbed-down Metro UI has been unceremoniously bolted onto the mature and well-refined "Classic" user interface. While there's no doubt that the existing UI is flawed, bolting on a UI designed for touch devices is not the answer.

OK, you asked me to keep this concise, so here it is. Here's how I think Microsoft should tweak Windows 8 before it's released:

Read more at:
How Microsoft can salvage Windows 8 before it's too late | ZDNet

 

[Mustang]

That'll never happen. Linux is still regarded as an enthusiast's OS, consumers will either stay on Window 7 or flock to OSX and most enterprises won't touch Linux at the desktop level. Let's not forget that a majority of enterprises use Microsoft backend infrastructure that even OSX still struggles with, can't imagine the cost of implementing Linux desktops in that environment.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

I think you are both forgetting Mart & RobR that Linux's daddy UNIX was in the business world, including at the desktop level With X-Desktop. But when the new kid on the block entered the fray MSDOS/IBMDOS, those mainframes started to disappear replaced with smaller faster x86 machine, then after that the top layer of DOS arrived - Windows. Might as well forget about Linux EVER making an appearance. No business is going to take a water down version of UNIX, or UNIX again for that matter.

 

[mart4494]

I think you are both forgetting Mart & RobR that Linux's daddy UNIX was in the business world, including at the desktop level With X-Desktop. But when the new kid on the block entered the fray MSDOS/IBMDOS, those mainframes started to disappear replaced with smaller faster x86 machine, then after that the top layer of DOS arrived - Windows. Might as well forget about Linux EVER making an appearance. No business is going to take a water down version of UNIX, or UNIX again for that matter.

Remember when Linux was introduced Mike - it was the great hope. Probably over-hyped and I certainly 'bought' into the idea of an open source OS. Depends upon what hardware you're using but it certainly is responsive. That's where it all stops unless you just want to do some basic stuff and of course even after all this time even the media are still writing about Linux being almost ready. Been hearing and reading about that one for goodness knows how long. So in my book it's a no go.

Not sure if there are any OEM's that are still flirting with it like they were some time ago.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

I agree with you Mart, and as we SEE it was a quick tasty treat for computer manufactures that THOUGHT no more license fees to Microsoft. HOW they became disenchanted with Linux when they couldn't get CHEAP help to support it. Atleast with Windows they just had to tell their customers to either call (800)MICROSOFT, or go to http://www.Microsoft.com/support to take care of the O/S they pre-installed onto their computers before shipping them to the retailers.

 

[SIW2]

Not sure if there are any OEM's that are still flirting with it like they were some time ago.

Yes, they are.

They really need to get on with it and develop a more user friendly distro.

It sells great on phones.

No reason why it shouldn't as a full scale o/s - if they pull their fingers and whip it into that kind of shape.

There is more incentive to do that now than there has ever been before.

 

[FSeal]

Not sure if there are any OEM's that are still flirting with it like they were some time ago.

Yes, they are.

They really need to get on with it and develop a more user friendly distro.

It sells great on phones.

No reason why it shouldn't as a full scale o/s - if they pull their fingers and whip it into that kind of shape.

There is more incentive to do that now than there has ever been before.

Well that's exactly what Apple did with OSX (Though not with Linux but another small *nix package). They put a usable desktop on top of a unix core and they got commercial software companies on board so users could still be productive and companies could still make money and it worked out really well.

Google as you mentioned has brought Linux with a usable UI to the masses on phones and tablets and they have a desktop OS going but.. unfortunately it's all centered on trapping you into the google cloud universe so Chrome OS will never take the place of windows as a generic stand alone OS.

It would take some other very large company to do that again, and I think that Apple got away with it because of a built in audience and Google got away with the phones because it was a new universe with flocks of new users. I'm not sure the same CAN be done for the generic desktop universe :/ Mainly because I don't think there is any other company that cares to invest what it would take to try to unseat Windows while competing with Apple and Google all at the same time for a market that so many short sighters seem to think is "disappearing".. :/

 

[tcman50]

Current OS usage as of May 2012:

All Windows 72%
All Apple 18%
All Linux 6%
All Other 4%

So Windows has almost 2 1/2 times the users of all other OS's combined.

 

[SIW2]

Not sure it is going to stay that way.

It may be that Linux will become a big player in tablets as well as phones and Servers.

 

[R0bR]

Current OS usage as of May 2012:

All Windows 72%
All Apple 18%
All Linux 6%
All Other 4%

So Windows has almost 2 1/2 times the users of all other OS's combined.

Apple has managed 18% share of OS usage in 13 years of existance with OSX, for a pretty popular OS that's not very good and explains why their efforts are mostly on iPods, iPads and iPhones. However, their iPads are not PC replacements but compliment their existing PCs (whether Mac or Windows) for certain activities. iPads are used in our global company and we get the same complaints from most of the users, they have to carry both a laptop now and an iPad. Windows 8 has a pretty good potential to do well in the enterprise space with the type of users that require tablets.

 

[TerryE]

Interesting observation, R0bR. Thanks for sharing the insight.

 

[legacy7955]

Windows 8 has a pretty good potential to do well in the enterprise space with the type of users that require tablets.

Those folks must be employees that don't actually get any real work done. It is very hard to be productive with a tablet minus a real keyboard.

 

[pparks1]

It may be that Linux will become a big player in tablets as well as phones and Servers.

Linux already is a big player in the server market. In the grand scheme of thing, many a server room is populated with lots and lots of servers running Linux. I know in the server rooms that I manage, we have far more Linux hosts running web servers...than we have total Windows servers.

 

[R0bR]

It is very hard to be productive with a tablet minus a real keyboard.

That's true but the Surface is trying to address that with their two keyboard options, whether they'll be adequate we won't know until some hands on reviews start to...Surface.

 

[R0bR]

Interesting tidbit of news about Windows 8 on a Windows Phone 8 article...

"This change could be part of the massive shift Microsoft is taking with its entire Windows 8 operating system. The company is moving from a desktop-based to a mobile-centric operating system with its next software upgrade, and is expected to be a radical overhaul from the current Windows 7. Users will have the option of choosing between the Metro-style interface for desktops or a traditional one."

That's the first I've seen of that option being mentioned so perhaps false info? Considering the outcrys about Metro this news would be something everyone would be reporting on.

Windows Phone 8 Release Revealed: Samsung Outs ?Odyssey? and ?Marco? Devices, Features Fans Can Expect [SPECS] - International Business Times

 

[lehnerus2000]

Android

Google somehow screwed up the underlying Linux base of Android.

Android is infested with malware (based on multiple blog reports).

 

[SIW2]

If that is true - it is just the kind of incredibly lucky break that MS must have been praying for.

You might think nothing android is a direct MS competitor - but if it the public gets worried about it - they will be flocking to Windows.

If they have any sense -once they see win8, they will go Apple if they can afford it - or just wait it out.


From a quick google - that seems a bit alarmist , there are some deliberately infected apps. that seem to be the problem.

I don't know how many people bother with an a/v on those devices.

I believe Avast do a frre one.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Android malware families nearly quadruple from 2011 to 2012
Android malware families nearly quadruple from 2011 to 2012 | ZDNet

* There are links to other stories in that article.

Based on that article (and others) I would say that Android has more malware than standard Linux distros.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, I am not surprised.

As android becomes more popular - of course it becomes more worthwhile for malware to target it.

I think you will find the threat comes with things people download.

You can get that with any o/s.

I suspect the typical phone/mini tablet user downloading lots of apps. is not even aware of it.

I don't see that means there is anything wrong the o/s itself.

People need to use the same care - and an a/v - just like with any other o/s.

 

[R0bR]

Based on that article (and others) I would say that Android has more malware than standard Linux distros.

For the longest time Apple, and their users, have said how it's OS doesn't get virus', and successfully used that in their marketing to win over Windows users. I've said for years that they don't get virus' because their isn't a large enough user base to make it worth while to attack but their time will come. With the virus' and trojans that have come out in the past year for OSX Apple has changed it's stance and now recommends installation of AV software. Linux desktop doesn't have a large enough user base to make it worth while however Android does.

 

[Brink]