Windows desktop destined for long slide to oblivion, says Gartner

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Windows desktop destined for long slide to oblivion, says Gartner

Microsoft's biggest technology shift in two decades means traditional Windows will account for just 10% of users' time by 2020

By Gregg Keizer
June 28, 2012 06:48 AM ET

Computerworld - Microsoft will deemphasize the Windows desktop in future releases of its operating system as usage of traditional Windows applications falls to just 10% of users' time by 2020, analysts said this week.
A quartet of Gartner analysts, led by Michael Silver, released a report Tuesday that spelled out the market research firm's prediction for what it described as a Microsoft-initiated "technology shift," the first in nearly two decades.

Read more at.. Windows desktop destined for long slide to oblivion, says Gartner - Computerworld
 

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I would really hate for the desktop to go, because I really don't think Metro is the greatest thing in the world. When I used the Dev Preview before going down to 7, Metro really got on my nerves. I hope when I get the RP, Metro will have improved.
 

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They might as well have said that Microsoft has started their long slide to oblivion if they remove the desktop... Or maybe all productivity with computers which will completely vanish as you cannot do any ACTUAL WORK using metro.
 

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For sure, everything will turn to discontentment for a long time will just turn into usual way we do in desktop.
 

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Well, that settles it then. As we have all no doubt observed over the years, analysts never appear to have agendas, and they are always right.
 

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Gartner is pretty famous all by themselves for being completely wrong in almost all cases...

However this is a true case of "Tragedy of the commons". If in fact 80% of people have no use for desktop hardware at all but 20% need it badly. The 20% will suffer greatly because desktops will go from common, cheap easy to obtain or build yourself to horrendously expensive "professional workstations" with little or no chance of building them yourself due to all the companies going out of business when 4/5ths of their income is gone.

We've already seen some of this in the monitor arena where you can't just go buy a good monitor at the electronics store any more but have to specialty order one on line and pay $$$ for it because its "professional" when really it's just a "decent" monitor :/
 

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We've already seen some of this in the monitor arena where you can't just go buy a good monitor at the electronics store any more but have to specialty order one on line and pay $$$ for it because its "professional" when really it's just a "decent" monitor :/

I know what you mean. Back in 2007 or so, when the writing was on the wall concerning the massive move to TN panels, I bought a second NEC 20WMGX2 to keep in storage as a spare. I'm using it now, and I think it was a good investment, as there still isn't anything quite as good today for what I paid for it, and it wasn't cheap.
 

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Yes, that is the danger.

As the average user is pushed into a never ending spiral of mindless consumption - it becomes more and more difficult for everyone else.

The choice for everyone else diminishes - until there is virtually none at all.
 

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From the time your still young the world is with you. You've grown up they're here for you.Time of competition with your rival they didn't leave you but still they stick with you. Now you've gone so far, you're the one whose not looking back were you have been through.
 

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But this is how Consumer Driven Free Markets work, we the consumers decide, and right or wrong, the majority rules in the free market. How else would AOL have stayed in business for so long?

If the largest number of consumers want big dangling ear ring pieces to be jacked in all the time, that is what the world will get.
However, when they get tired of that and something new comes along, they will switch.

While competition can create great innovative products that we should all be using (HD-DVD <-the right choice- vs BluRay <-the choice of consumers through the over hyped PlayStation).
 

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Until we see the RTM, we cannot jump to the conclusion that the desktop has gone. So far, it is very much alive. Use of the latest release of "Classic" takes you straight there, and you are back in familiar surroundings.
I am not, so far, regarding the metro "interface" as a desktop. If it were so, then why, after using an app, are we returned to the more familiar desktop, and not to the Metro screen?
Very few users actually have a regular need for the mass of applications which were in the old menu, particularly when accompanied by the usual third party applications. I, so far, am regarding the metro screen as a graphical start menu. If you remove those items which are rarely used (they are still available, instantly, - "All Apps"). you have a reasonable, uncluttered, graphical start menu. You even have your start button, but now hidden, should you be returned to the desktop - swish, bottom left corner.
Metro, I agree, in its present form, is not the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. But, hopefully, this is one of the areas of self customisation which MS will improve before the next release.
For reasons connected to my work mode, and multi tasking, I am not comfortable so far, using pure Metro applications which go full screen. This also, is not a problem. There are plenty of suitable standard alternatives to the items, so far, which are in the Metro "Store".
But, going back to my earlier remarks, for Metro to be a true new desktop, a user must be returned there, surely, after using an app.
I see a huge percentage of posters on forums, who offer up incredibly cluttered desktops, or taskbars. Perhaps I have the wrong perspective on this, but how can this possible be an advantage to the straight and direct use of the Metro screen? (Except, of course, for those with that taste, it is no longer possible to have those beautiful picture desktops as a background?)
 

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