The OEMs and Windows 8

whs

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Losing money is one way to make OEMs and ODMs nervous, and my contacts within some of the world's largest OEMs are telling me that they're far from convinced that Windows 8, or Windows RT -- otherwise known as Windows 8 on ARM -- will be any more successful against the iPad than Android was.

If OEMs aren't committed to Windows, where are they to go? | ZDNet

Hi there
some of your contacts must probably be using out of date data -- OK I see Florida as part of your area probably explains why since the latest smartphones we are using in Europe were out a few months earlier than in that part of the USA.

We in Europe had the Galaxy III s a few months before you -- running on ICS (latest release of Android) it's stolen the market by storm --actually DOES what people want it to do without having to go through ITunes / Apple "App" store etc etc and is proving a HUGE winner for Samsung -- plus it connects via Bog standard USB connectors - takes bog standard micro sdHC cards and has a beautiful clear screen.

The latest offering from HTC is also very good -- both these phones make the Iphone look positively Old Fashioned -- and when was the last time could anybody say that about an Apple product -- whatever the cost and irksome restrictions Apple products did have the "Wow" look.

Android ICS has actually morphed into quite a passable OS -- I expect with Google's resources it will only get better too.

Apple's fortunes won't dramatically change overnight -- but these two "New kids on the Block" should certainly give cause for concern over apple's future direction.

These smart phones obviate the need for a tablet anyway since the screen is large enough for most purposes - but Samsung's next generation of tablets will certainly be an "Ipad Killer" and could probably run Windows 8 as well as Android if required.

Even the Ubiquitous Ipod won't IMO be much longer for this world -- the latest generation of smartphones can have removable 32 GB storage cards where you can store your music and play using software on the phone -- I use Winamp just like on a PC. Battery life on these has improved hugely as well.

Why do I need an Ipod any more -- I can just copy music from my PC - no ITunes or whatever needed - and am good to go. The DAC in these phones (Digital to Analog converter) are very good -- the phones have QUAD processors anyway so plenty of muscle for decent DAC conversion and with a pair of proper Cans (Bose / Sennheiser etc) and ability to play Native FLAC as well as most of the other formats -- no need for Ipods any more.

Check again at Apple's results in 6 months and if you include costs of their idiotic and seemingly endless Court battles with Samsung and HTC the results won't make good new year reading for Apple's shareholders for 2013.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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jimbo, I am in Germany right now. In Florida I am only during the winter. Who wants snow, LOL.
 

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jimbo, I am in Germany right now. In Florida I am only during the winter. Who wants snow, LOL.

Hi there - in Brussels at the moment -- was over 33 deg for most of last week -- poor old me nearly baked like a Roast potato -- give me snow any time to being stuck for around 25 mins at over 33 deg on a hot stinky metro train with no air conditioning !!!!. At least in Iceland people dress appropriately and the buildings etc are designed for that type of weather and the snow is hard rather than the wet stuff seen around Xmas time in Europe when temp is around 0 - 1 deg.

Nothing more ridiculous than the people I saw people coming out of the EU commission in Brussels on Thursday afternoon wearing THICK dark grey suits and ties (surely the most ridiculous piece of clothing EVER invented) into the outside daytime temperature of 34 deg !!!.

Anyway back to Apple -- I do think that Apple's dominance over phone / music and tablet market will rapidly erode.

Macbooks are a different issue --people buy those often for just the sheer look of the product but some of the newer INTEL base really thin sleek Ultrabooks are visually stunning too and run Windows 8 -- even though these new laptops are almost the same price as the MacBook.

I'm getting one next week -- with a 250GB SSD and an Intel 7 processor and it's about as thick as a 50 eurocent coin.

It's an Acer aspire S5 - can't wait to start using it and it's EVERYWAY a MacBook killer - even in looks. - I've always had good experience with ACER laptops and the netbook I've been using recently is fantastic -- even with it's tiny processor -- the I7 is a MEGA leap in performance too from the old but trusty netbook which I'm donating to a local charity.

While these are expensive --these type of new ultra thin laptops really do give a new lease of life to the laptop market and I for one won't even THINK of a tablet once I've got my hands on this great machine. (11.2mm==>15mm thick, weighs just over 1.2 Kg, usb 3.0,thunderbolt and HDMI ports too and of course with the excellent Intel I7 processor).


I think this product has even "Out Appled Apple". Even managed to get it with an Icelandic keyboard too (which is why i'm waiting for it to be delivered next week -- I didn't want a French type AZERTY keyboard -- no way !!! but I get it Tax free here in Brussels so it's worth the wait).

Ms provided they can tap some more into this market and make W8 a bit more "Business friendly" as well as keeping the Mobile user in mind shouldn't find themselves too far adrift -- providing they keep their eye on the ball -- Android is rapidly catching up.

Apple's time has come - and they will gradually go back to what they always were -- a "niche" product with a core of devoted fans.

Only revenues from ITunes will keep them alive in the long term -- the whole portable music player market is now dead thanks to the use of smartphones obviating the need for any portable music player any more.

Cheers -- and can't wait to get my new PC.

jimbo
 

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I have never been an Apple fan. iPad is just for showing people off. I don't understand why people buy a device so outrageously priced, just for viewing photos, checking mails, browsing etc. etc. while you can buy a feature-packed machine that can literally do 'WORK' for the same price.

iPod, you had your golden days, but I am afraid its time to go. Bye-bye!! :p

I don't see Apple dominating the market in the years to come especially when the man behind them, Mr. Steve Jobs, is unfortunately no more.
 

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I agree, I think apple is stagnating. They said that ios 6 is going to be the bees knees and every time there's a new iphone, it's so anticipated to the point that people are trying to uncover every piece of anything to find out about it. And when it does come out, it's just average. Nothing over the top, just there. And as they're NOT going to change anything about ios other than little features and not a UI refresh, as has happened with the mac, it's going to stagnate. People are going to realize soon that there isn't anything great about the iphone other than hype. I mean, look what happened with the mac and the OS of it. They never really allowed change or changed the UI so it looks fresh and new, it just gets shiny and more reflective with lighting gradients. It has become WAY too overpriced to do the same as a Windows PC. That might be what will happen soon when Windows Phone 8 arrives...
 

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I have the S3, North American model with the snapdragon cpu. Damn fine device with ics installed, and jellybean is being rolled out which by all accounts is the bomb diggitty.

I would not want to be responsible for trying to gain market share away from ios & android. Would seem to me to be a fool's errand...
 

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I have the S3, North American model with the snapdragon cpu. Damn fine device with ics installed, and jellybean is being rolled out which by all accounts is the bomb diggitty.

I would not want to be responsible for trying to gain market share away from ios & android. Would seem to me to be a fool's errand...

Hi there
Glad you like it-- Brilliant device. As I think people agree Apple's dominance days are over. The Ipod was for its time an amazing piece of kit which freed up the whole way people obtained and listened to music -- however with these new phones separate portable music players aren't really necessary any more. I had a small sandisk portable player -- now I rarely use it any more -- my phone with Winamp installed does the job perfectly.

Since the introduction of the latest Samsung phones I'd be really curious to see what the sales volumes of Ipods are -- I'm sure they must have been DECIMATED.

As for Ipads -- seems to me a huge waste of money for a device that probably has less functionality than your phone.
(But I have to admit I'm not a particular fan of tablets anyway).

However if Windows 8 can be fixed so it is actually PROPERLY fit for purpose on a mobile device it will be interesting to see if some hacks can be done to get W8 to run on a Samsung phone / tablet -- nothing wrong with current version of Android - but it would be a good challenge. !!

Cheers
jimbo
 

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As for Ipads -- seems to me a huge waste of money for a device that probably has less functionality than your phone.
(But I have to admit I'm not a particular fan of tablets anyway).
I too have the same attitude towards tablets and even more towards iPad (due to its unreasonable price). But Windows 8 might succeed in changing that attitude of many (including me and may be you too) for you would be about to run humongous suites like Photoshop on a Win 8 tablet, with a decent hardware.

iPad would cost you more than Surface (Pro version) (when released). But anybody (apart from showing off celebrities) in his right mind should choose ....? Surface.
 
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However if Windows 8 can be fixed so it is actually PROPERLY fit for purpose on a mobile device it will be interesting to see if some hacks can be done to get W8 to run on a Samsung phone / tablet -- nothing wrong with current version of Android - but it would be a good challenge. !! Cheers jimbo
I'm really hoping for something like "root" for surface RT. I don't see metro only going very far, but given that Office and IE will run in desktop and use the win32 API, I'm sure there is a lot more power built into Windows RT that is locked down by Microsoft. Of course, cheaper x86 tablets are going to be rolling out, so there's really no need to mess around with that RT garbage.
 

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The ipad. ipod touch x 4 = ipod touch for older folk. Honestly, it irritates me to bejesus when people consider the ipad a PC. There is a special place in hell for blasphemers as you wouldn't EVER consider the ipod touch a PC. NEVER! EVER! The only reason I see is because of a larger screen.


I kind of want to see if Windows RT can be installed on an android or even an ipad. That would be real interesting to see.
 

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I would think that tablets can be fun. As an on-the-go device, but not for serious work.

I do not own one yet, but I am looking at the new Google tab for $199 to $249. That is an acceptable price for a toy. And it is 7" which makes it easy to carry around.

I don't think that the Win8 tablets will make my cut. They will be far too expensive and defeat the purpose of a toy-on-the-go.
 

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Yes, I agree.

Also, for many people something like the nexus will be all they need.

They won't need any other device at all. Not bad for $199

I would think that tablets can be fun. As an on-the-go device, but not for serious work.

I do not own one yet, but I am looking at the new Google tab for $199 to $249. That is an acceptable price for a toy. And it is 7" which makes it easy to carry around.

I don't think that the Win8 tablets will make my cut. They will be far too expensive and defeat the purpose of a toy-on-the-go.
 
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It irritates me when people describe W8 as a desktop OS. :D
It is a desktop OS. Why else would there be a desktop. Using the metro overlay is optional.
 

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Using the metro overlay is optional.

If it was optional where is the start button? How do you tun off the annoying charms menu? Where has the Aero Theme gone?
 

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I would wait and see for the low end Windows RT tablets. After all, one can get a netbook for roughly the same price as the new android tablet. The main difference is the Intel Atom processor in the netbook. A Windows RT tablet could hit the same price point.
 

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    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
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