Tough Times for Win 8 and MS

On top of fines and taxes, Microsoft got bad news on Windows RT, Windows 8, and Office 2013

...Demand for Windows 8 is also failing to meet expectations...

Microsoft...is looking like "a tired technology corporation scrambling to protect its cash cows on the legacy PC desktop and failing to gain traction in the new markets of note...

Microsoft vs. the world: The punches keep coming | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld


Let's hope they get it right with Blue and it turns around for them.

 

[chrisa]

Yes, it would be better at 7 in.

But the price is crucial. 500 bucks will not sell it.

Correct. It has to compete with the other pure tablets on price.

 

[SIW2]

They seem to be trying to get the prices down generally judging from the new reduced oem pricing efforts.

Bill will be getting his wallet ready.

 

[pparks1]

This is my interpretation.

You were trying to deride the Surface Pro by pointing out that it was next to useless when typing, hence the rubbish above.

Unfortunately it backfired on you by admitting that you can type 72wpm at 94% accuracy.

Please tell me where I've gone wrong.

Anyway this has nothing to do with the Surface Pro, there are women that can type twice as fast as you with their thumbs on a smartphone.

I was not trying to say the surface was horrible, I was just merely stating that without the keyboard attachment its quite hard for me to be efficient with the device. But with the keyboard attachment you need a table surface to use it, unlike a laptop or netbook. So, when I try to use the device like I am now, without the keyboard its quite slow and difficult. Pure surface, I was 44%accurare at 12wpm. That's pretty awful. With a physical keyboard, I get to 72. On a real full size mechanical keyboard, I'm around 85 to 90. Its just part of the reason that tablets don't wow me. Even the surface pro.

My interpretation is:

pparks is trying to show you that he and on-screen keyboard isn't matching with his typing style.

Thanks, much better. On screen selecting and deleting is a bit awkward too. Took me quite a few attempts.

 

[pparks1]

Don't judge the surface pro until you have spent a whole weekend trying to use it exclusively. 

"Go ahead tell us all about it, try not to be too positive."

I might not know English but I know people, that's why I made the above sarcastic comment, I knew what you would do..

And hey, who cares, Ray8 would have been a lot harsher in his criticism.

I'll take it off your hands if you don't like it.

Its ok, but has not increased my interest in touchscreens and tablets at all. On paper, it has lots of potential. But for $1200, give me a real ultrabook or laptop anyday. I'm most likely going to give this device to somebody else at work to play around with. I have no real desire to keep it and use it as my own personal gadget.

 

[BillWindows]

They seem to be trying to get the prices down generally judging from the new reduced oem pricing efforts.

Bill will be getting his wallet ready.

I'll be like a Greyhound waiting for a rabbit.

 

[BillWindows]

"Go ahead tell us all about it, try not to be too positive."

I might not know English but I know people, that's why I made the above sarcastic comment, I knew what you would do..

And hey, who cares, Ray8 would have been a lot harsher in his criticism.

I'll take it off your hands if you don't like it.

Its ok, but has not increased my interest in touchscreens and tablets at all. On paper, it has lots of potential. But for $1200, give me a real ultrabook or laptop anyday. I'm most likely going to give this device to somebody else at work to play around with. I have no real desire to keep it and use it as my own personal gadget.

Me, I find it bizarre that people don't like tablets, for most basic tasks it kills a laptop, for travelling its ideal. But to each his own, that's why I want Microsoft to really succeed with Windows 8 and Surface, more choice.

 

[chrisa]

They seem to be trying to get the prices down generally judging from the new reduced oem pricing efforts.

Bill will be getting his wallet ready.

It won't matter. The OEM's are going to get bounced if they can't come up with better design choices.

I wouldn't have bought an OEM version of a Tablet PC if they didn't charge the OEM's a dime for Windows 8.

People don't tend to buy operating systems, they buy Devices and only depending on if it can solve a problem that they have.

I needed the ability to go mobile while running all my current programs, and I don't really like lugging around Windows laptops. The fact it could act as a tablet, with all the benefits of one was just gravy.

 

[Rickkins]

Me, I find it bizarre that people don't like tablets, for most basic tasks it kills a laptop, for travelling its ideal. But to each his own, that's why I want Microsoft to really succeed with Windows 8 and Surface, more choice.

Seriously..?? I don't get that at all. Why would anyone prefer a device that you have to hold with one hand, over one that is hands free...?? It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

 

[pparks1]

Me, I find it bizarre that people don't like tablets, for most basic tasks it kills a laptop, for travelling its ideal. But to each his own, that's why I want Microsoft to really succeed with Windows 8 and Surface, more choice.

Seriously..?? I don't get that at all. Why would anyone prefer a device that you have to hold with one hand, over one that is hands free...?? It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Exactly. I don't prefer tablets because when I use the internet, I type as much as I read.

I quote a lot here, but I like to go part by part with multiple quotes. On a tablet or my phone with touch, it takes a lot longer to do this. Selecting, cutting, and pasting is just a pain. Give me a mouse and a keyboard, and it is much easier and way faster.

I find I will read the forum on my phone, but if I have to respond, I grab my laptop or chromebook to type up my response. And I find that I am doing the same thing with the surface. I held out great hope for surface because of the keyboard. But without a table, it works poorly. I cannot use it when sitting in a chair, or sitting in bed.

Touch is the future, but the key word is future. Today, it's not ready yet. Often a square peg for a round hole.

I wrote this in my android using Swype. If I had access to my laptop, I would have never done this with my phone, or tablet.

 

[AC]

Oh well, looks like I'll have to brush up on my Linux and hope Apple brings out a $499 MacBook Pro. I wonder how easy it is to build one of those MacIntosh thingies.

Looks like the Windows people are winning.

Off topic, but it's very easy. Done it myself

 

[BillWindows]

Me, I find it bizarre that people don't like tablets, for most basic tasks it kills a laptop, for travelling its ideal. But to each his own, that's why I want Microsoft to really succeed with Windows 8 and Surface, more choice.

Seriously..?? I don't get that at all. Why would anyone prefer a device that you have to hold with one hand, over one that is hands free...?? It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Exactly. I don't prefer tablets because when I use the internet, I type as much as I read.

I quote a lot here, but I like to go part by part with multiple quotes. On a tablet or my phone with touch, it takes a lot longer to do this. Selecting, cutting, and pasting is just a pain. Give me a mouse and a keyboard, and it is much easier and way faster.

I find I will read the forum on my phone, but if I have to respond, I grab my laptop or chromebook to type up my response. And I find that I am doing the same thing with the surface. I held out great hope for surface because of the keyboard. But without a table, it works poorly. I cannot use it when sitting in a chair, or sitting in bed.

Touch is the future, but the key word is future. Today, it's not ready yet. Often a square peg for a round hole.

I wrote this in my android using Swype. If I had access to my laptop, I would have never done this with my phone, or tablet.

Touch is not ready yet, so who's going to tell us when it's ready, you. Millions of people around the world use touch, yet you say it's not ready, what does it need to be ready.
I use a tablet for most of my Internet adventures and my responses on forums, why on earth would I need a laptop. I pick up my tablet in one hand it's on, within one or 2 seconds I'm on Eightforums and reading. Another 2 seconds and I'm reading all Ray8s posts and responding with one finger, what's better than that.

 

[BillWindows]

Oh well, looks like I'll have to brush up on my Linux and hope Apple brings out a $499 MacBook Pro. I wonder how easy it is to build one of those MacIntosh thingies.

Looks like the Windows people are winning.

Off topic, but it's very easy. Done it myself

You know it's funny, I was on another forum yesterday and a guy with a MacBook Pro claimed Windows 8 was just as easy as OSX to learn.

 

[SIW2]

The OEM's are going to get bounced if they can't come up with better design choices.

They didn't seem to have much trouble shifting decent numbers of win7 machines - or phones - or chromebooks, etc. It is is just win8 machines, it seems.

Curious, that.

Fascinating also to see Nokia slipping into bed with Apple - appears to be an attempt to tie Samsung up for a while. I notice the MS scroogled hit and run smear/public awareness campaign - depending on one's gullibilty level - has calmed down for the moment.

Google seem to be handing out plenty of soil and water - let's see what Mr Weicz does next. Throw enough mud and some of it will stick.

Interesting times ahead.

 

[Ray8]

I've just been out camping for the last three days and, while I could get the internet, I decided to enjoy the break, if 35+C heat for days on end could be called enjoyable. But the beer was cold.

It looks like the realists have been giving the defenders of the realm a tough time.

 

[SIW2]

Good to have you back Ray.

 

[BillWindows]

Good to have you back Ray.

Ray Who?

WHORAY.

 

[Ray8]

The confused are still confused.

 

[BillWindows]

The confused are still confused.

It's that MegaPhone Interface that's confusing.

 

[chrisa]

The OEM's are going to get bounced if they can't come up with better design choices.

They didn't seem to have much trouble shifting decent numbers of win7 machines - or phones - or chromebooks, etc. It is is just win8 machines, it seems.

Microsoft doesn't usually make devices. They did in this case, and a wise choice at that, and one that was far beyond the OEM paint-by-numbers design philosophy. OEM's do speed to market. In return.. they put out ugly and often poor quality. And by bounced, I mean bounced from the convertibles market. I'm sure they'll sell win7 machines.. or phones... or chromebooks. But trying to compete with the Surface Pro will be as hard as competing with an iPhone. Harder even, in that OEM's were in from the start and allready made their garbage designs that didn't sell. They won't be able to crib the design of the Surface Pro like Samsung did to Apple with the iPhone.

The simple fact is that the days of the OEM's as the predominent seller of all PC lines may be coming to an end. Even Google is wising up as it pertains to them and looking to put out a flagship machine(Pixel) as a way to better define the quality of the Chromebook. Because all people associate a chromebook with atm is a cheap device you can use if all you need to do is web browse.

 

[Ray8]

My weekend away was with five other families (no kids) and it was interesting to note that there were two iPads, two Android tablets (Samsung and Toshiba) and two Windows 7 tablets (both Gigabyte S1080 series). All were happy with their choice of product/OS and no one bagged the opposition's products, as each product did what was required. All were intelligent people to boot.