Windows 8.1, Microsoft aiming squarely at mobile devices

Don't obsess over the Start button. In a world where desktop PCs are becoming dinosaurs, the real goal of Windows 8.1 is to get Microsoft's operating system onto mobile devices.

If you want a graphic explanation of why Microsoft has focused on mobile devices with Windows 8.1, just study this chart for a while.

The underlying data, gathered by the Pew Internet and American Life Project in a series of studies, shows the percentage of U.S. adults (18 years and older) who own one of five different device types.

Four of those five lines are trending up. It's no accident that those four lines represent mobile devices, while the one line trending sharply down represents the decidedly non-mobile desktop PC. That's the world that Windows 8.1 is going to encounter when it's released later this year (a preview version is due in two weeks).

We are at the very beginning of a revolution in computing. That revolution involves a profound transformation of what we think of as a PC. It's already odd to think you would use just one device in one location to create content, communicate and share with other people, and entertain yourself with music and movies. In a few years that notion will feel as old-fashioned as rotary phones and square TVs, and you’ll judge devices by how well they work together.

So how did we get here?

Read more at: With Windows 8.1, Microsoft is aiming squarely at mobile devices | ZDNet
 
Sounds like a typical response from someone who doesn't work with computers for a living. The desktop PC will be alive and kicking for many, many more years. It's a shame that Microsoft forgot that...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, 2012, 7, 2008R2, 2008, 2003, XP,SUSE
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA 640M 2 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1600X900
    Hard Drives
    Pair of 750 GB
Just what is it with some of these people?

I've never begrudged them their right to use toys instead of computers if they wish.

So why are they so intent on tearing my laptop (which can run rings round any tablet, and will do so for years yet) from my grasp and turfing it onto the scrap-heap?

Could it be that they are both fearful and jealous of those with the skills to actually use a computer to compute, rather than absorb content (which requires no computer literacy or skill at all)? The old 'I can't use it, so I'll make certain you can't either' syndrome?

Or is the over-arching plan to eventually prevent anyone from actually computing, but only be able to consume, not create? To basically take away the ability to compute independently of big companies and this blasted 'cloud'?

Either way, I'll fight to the death against it.

This push by some to get rid of the traditional desktop/laptop is not only short-sighted and naive, but is also incredibly stupid.

Consuming content on a tablet or phone is not computing. And it never will be.


Wenda.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 'Ultimate' RTM 64 bit (Pro/WMC).
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AS8951G 'Desktop Replacement'.
    CPU
    i7-2670QM@2.2/3.1Ghz.
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB@1366Mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT555M 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD w/Dolby 5.1 surround.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in. Non-touch.
    Screen Resolution
    18/4" 1920x1080 full-HD.
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 750GBx2 internal. 1x2TB, 2x640GB, 1x500GB external.
    PSU
    Stock.
    Case
    Laptop.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    Full 101-key
    Mouse
    USB cordless.
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox, Tor.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Pro.
    Other Info
    BD-ROM drive.
Hi there
Think of it like this

Tablets are for CONSUMERS of services and Content
PC's are for CREATORS of services and content.

So Tablets are essentially PASSIVE devices for "Couch Potatoes" etc, whilst Computers are ACTIVE devices for the far more interesting economically active ENTREPRENEURS.

(Some exception but the grouping is essentially correct).

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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