Microsoft Previews Windows 8 for Tablets and PCs

[linux2mac]

But after seeing this early preview of Windows 8, oh man, I almost feel sorry for Apple.

I am having a tough time feeling sorry for a company that has more cash than the government of the United States of America.

Apple Now Has More Cash Than The U.S. Government
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-29/...ment_1_ceo-jobs-apple-cash-balance?_s=PM:TECH

Well I know the whole point in the healthcare world is to have something they can walk around with. Essentially a digital replacement for the clipboards they traditionally used for patent information. So a netbook wouldn't work there.

Albert: iPad has already won healthcare tablet war
http://mobihealthnews.com/10537/albert-ipad-has-already-won-healthcare-tablet-war/

 

[vito]

We'll how the big iPod touch lasts after Windows 8 is released.

nah Apple ain't got anything to worry about.

Windows 8 lol, after spending an hour with it this morning, it errrrm, it's just trying too hard

 

[linux2mac]

nah Apple ain't got anything to worry about.

Windows 8 lol, after spending an hour with it this morning, it errrrm, it's just trying too hard

The only one worried is Microsoft. After all, they rushed Windows 8 to market to compete with iPad 3. I am just wondering why they didn't bother competing with iPad 1 ?

Microsoft Will Rush Windows 8 To Market To Compete With The iPad3
http://www.cultofmac.com/102557/microsoft-will-rush-windows-8-to-market-to-compete-with-the-ipad-3

 

[AppleScruff1]

I hate to disagree

I see Windows 8 on tablets being a 2013 attack on the iPad - if only because the just announced Haswell processor could give the windows 8 tablets more of a competitive edge against the iPad 4. Agreed on the sales predictions.

I guess it never dawned on anybody here that perhaps Microsoft and Intel are exchanging information and maybe Intel uses some input from MS. ? You know, like Intel does with Apple. Maybe Windows 8 is being designed around Haswell, I think it's possible.

 

[AAPLaday]

The only one worried is Microsoft. After all, they rushed Windows 8 to market to compete with iPad 3. I am just wondering why they didn't bother competing with iPad 1 ?

Microsoft Will Rush Windows 8 To Market To Compete With The iPad3
http://www.cultofmac.com/102557/microsoft-will-rush-windows-8-to-market-to-compete-with-the-ipad-3

Why is it being rushed? Because some guy on a mac site says so?

 

[Oletros]

Why is it being rushed? Because some guy on a mac site says so?

http://www.pcworld.com/article/182855/windows_8_release_expected_in_2012.html

http://forum.thewindowsclub.com/technology-news/29530-windows-8-release-date.html

Yap, in 2.009 MS knew about iPad 3

 

[Kissaragi]

I imagine it wont be until the iPad 4 that we see the first really good hardware and app support for windows 8. I love my ipad, but it'll be nice to have the option of a "full" computer in a tablet form.

This thread has also been excellent for enlarging my ignore list, I think it must have trebled in size!

 

[AidenShaw]

you don't need to.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx

what many people don't know that they could legally buy nearly 95% of ALL Microsoft software for a one time fee of $349. it's called technet subscription. renewal is optional at $249/year.

you can "evaluate" for as long as you want at home.

TechNet Standard is $199 yr ($149 renewal), and gives most of what you're likely to need. (It omits datacenter products, Exchange Server and other high end server products.)

 

[linux2mac]

Why is it being rushed? Because some guy on a mac site says so?

Nope.

"Microsoft may be stepping up the schedule for Windows 8 to help counter the iPad, a new tip from a reliable source says. Most have it shipping in late 2012 to keep with Microsoft's usually rigid three-year schedule, but ZDNet has been told Microsoft was pressing for a Release To Manufacturing (RTM) schedule of April 2012."

http://www.electronista.com/article...ng.windows.8.rtm.to.april.2012/#ixzz1XwIWeweF

 

[AAPLaday]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/182855/windows_8_release_expected_in_2012.html

http://forum.thewindowsclub.com/technology-news/29530-windows-8-release-date.html

Image
Yap, in 2.009 MS knew about iPad 3

Exactly. We have known when it was coming years ago.

Nope.

"Microsoft may be stepping up the schedule for Windows 8 to help counter the iPad, a new tip from a reliable source says. Most have it shipping in late 2012 to keep with Microsoft's usually rigid three-year schedule, but ZDNet has been told Microsoft was pressing for a Release To Manufacturing (RTM) schedule of April 2012."

http://www.electronista.com/article...ng.windows.8.rtm.to.april.2012/#ixzz1XwIWeweF

All speculation.

 

[Oletros]

Nope.

"Microsoft may be stepping up the schedule for Windows 8 to help counter the iPad, a new tip from a reliable source says. Most have it shipping in late 2012 to keep with Microsoft's usually rigid three-year schedule, but ZDNet has been told Microsoft was pressing for a Release To Manufacturing (RTM) schedule of April 2012."

http://www.electronista.com/article...ng.windows.8.rtm.to.april.2012/#ixzz1XwIWeweF

From the ZDNet article:

I’ve also heard from my contact that Microsoft’s game plan is to deliver a beta build– not a pre-beta or preview — of Windows 8 around the time of the Build conference in mid-September. This allegedly will be the one and only Windows 8 beta, my contact said.

Uuuupppss, Windows 8 delivered at BUILD is a Developer Preview, is not a beta.

 

[divinox]

That tells you everything you need to know about Windows 8 prospects.

If the noise were the only side-effect, it might not be that much of an impediment. But the fact that the sort of device capable of running Windows 8 on a tablet needs a fan at all speaks volumes about the baggage a hybrid desktop/tablet operating system is dragging with it. And so the tablet device is going to be warm to the touch, its going to have a short battery life (or be unwieldly and heavy). Its also going to cost as much as a good laptop - ie. its going to be at a price disadvantage to the iPad from day one.

Then you get into the practicalities: writing code that can also accept touch-input is going to mean code that going to be that much bulkier.

I applaud Microsoft for making the investment in creating a tablet-capable operating system. But trying to combine it with a desktop operating system is going to fatally compromise both platform's performance. Consumers have shown a willingness to deal with separate Operating Systems on their phones, PCs, and now tablets. Microsoft ought to have the confidence in their abilities and to create a good tablet-only (or tablet/phone) operating system.

Just watching the keynote could've saved you plenty of both embarrassment and time.

----------

Windows 8 may be awesome, and you surely can see their interface is unique, but when will Microsoft stop showing half-baked products before they are done? Why not show people things when they actually exist?

In one year, we will likely be speculating about the iPad 4 and iPhone 6, using iOS 6 betas and who knows what else. Not to mention, how many iPad 3s and iPhone 5s will Apple have sold by then? Windows 8 will no doubt be a huge desktop success, but I have a feeling their repeated attempts at catchup is the mobile world will fall short, no matter how cool Window 8 turns out to be.

This is a conference for developers. Developers like to have development tools, prototypes and what-not BEFORE launch, so that they can have their applications running at launch. MSFT is good that way, they value their developers more than extra hype from staying hush-hush.

 

[ri0ku]

I think Windows 8 is absolutely terrible.... I use windows all the time even more so than OSX (Only because of gaming and using 3DS Max) and windows 8 is just not going to happen on my machines.

If you class yourself as a professional user... for example in my case I need to find files quick and open up 3DS Max and drag my files into the icon to load them etc. You dont get your traditional "My Documents" Tab on the start menu or any other shortcuts there to get you directly to a zone you wish to be in...

Instead you have to right click open windows explorer and find it that way which is stupidly annoying and time wasting and frustrating...

The Metro interface is ridiculous... when the operating system is getting in the way of your work it FAILS as an operating system.. all these stupid pull out setting bars etc that block the app your currently viewing by almost 1/4 of the screen is stupid.

Why on earth would the metro interface be the boot to screen for a none touch screen machine.. I can see it obviously being useful for tablets etc but on a desktop its pointless...its like running 2 Operating systems all the time and popping in and out of the other... totally frustrating for users who want to do work without the operating system jumping at you every 5 seconds like a kid asking "Look at this look at this! Look what I have made!"


I hope they seriously improve the actual real desktop features and bring back the missing parts before release or im sticking with 7.... at the moment running windows 8 is like having a kids V-TECH laptop. The UI is ludicrous.

 

[linux2mac]

Regardless, I will never go back to Windows. I wish Ballmer & Co. all the luck because they will need it. Let's see if Windows 8 will stop HP from getting out of the PC biz.

HP Reportedly To Spin PC Biz, Buy Autonomy For $10B
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsav...dly-to-spin-pc-business-buy-autonomy-for-10b/

 

[linuxcooldude]

It's not being used in any relevant industries such as education, business, healthcare, or entertainment. And it most certainly isn't adequate for our armed forces.

Probably the most inaccurate statement I've seen in a long time. I had someone else state the same thing. But after doing extensive research on the subject it is being adopted in education, business and the military at a phenomenal rate.

http://www.cultofmac.com/112116/why-ipad-is-conquering-the-workplace

http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/12/half-of-all-tablet-pcs-being-used-for-business/

http://www.datamation.com/mobile-wireless/the-ipad-and-enterprise-it.html

I guess I'm just skeptical in general about the tablet form factor but I'm really skeptical that the iPad is having any significant impact on the world. It just doesn't have the specs or a proper OS!

Fine, so some professionals are testing out iPads but how many of them stick with it? Are professionals satisfied with their big iPod touch? Could they have achieved the same or better results using a netbook?

Apparently the work that these entities use with the ipad don't need that much power for what they are used for.

The power and size needed to run a full desktop operating system on a mobile device would have: short battery life, big size, heating issues. With a tablet such as the ipad, it would not have any of these problems.

 

[coldmack]

By the way, it's not completely necessary that Microsoft has to port Windows 8 to the ARM architecture CPU platform.

Remember, Intel is aggressively developing lower and lower power x86 CPU's, and do not be surprised by the time Windows 8 finally arrives on the retail market we'll see tablets powered by the newest super-low power Intel Atom CPU with dual cores and a generous 3-4 MB of on-CPU die cache memory.

Are you hearing yourself? This is Intel you are talking about. This is the company that just 2 years ago promised that by now their chipsets would be fully supporting USB 3.0. Intel doesn't care about anything but squeezing all the money they can out of the consumer, because if they really cared we would have MBA with the power of a 17in MBP running their upcoming Ivy Bridge cpu, and Quad Core Atoms, instead of this piddly single core cpu, that is barely any better than a dual G3 setup.

 

[linux2mac]

I think Windows 8 is absolutely terrible....

I have never heard anyone say Macs are terrible, which is why I eventually left Windows for Mac.

 

[coldmack]

Albert: iPad has already won healthcare tablet war
http://mobihealthnews.com/10537/albert-ipad-has-already-won-healthcare-tablet-war/

I wish that was the case in my area because all I see there is those ruggedized Windows tablets at the Dr. Office(thank goodness I don't have to get near or touch those vile pieces of equipment). I asked the Dr. once why they don't use an iPad, and his answer was simple, iPad lacks the software they need to use(they need a full wind'ohs os, which is disgusting), and the fact the iPad isn't as durable or shock resistant as the models they use.

 

[ri0ku]

I have never heard anyone say Macs are terrible, which is why I eventually left Windows for Mac.

Well look... I actually like using windows to some extent... well windows 7 anyway... it runs fine looks good although yes has some faults and generally crashes more often than OSX.

I really enjoy OSX more as an OS to use but due to programs still not being available on OSX windows is a must for me. So I dont mind using windows 7, however windows 8 is ridiculous. I will never switch to that unless something is drastically done about the actual desktop features.

Looks like Lion and 7 only for me, thats cool though because both work pretty much great for what I use them for.

 

[ct2k7]

I have never heard anyone say Macs are terrible, which is why I eventually left Windows for Mac.

Macs are terrible.

Just for you. Lion keeps crashing, it's getting on my nerves now.

 

[linuxcooldude]

I wish that was the case in my area because all I see there is those ruggedized Windows tablets at the Dr. Office(thank goodness I don't have to get near or touch those vile pieces of equipment). I asked the Dr. once why they don't use an iPad, and his answer was simple, iPad lacks the software they need to use(they need a full wind'ohs os, which is disgusting), and the fact the iPad isn't as durable or shock resistant as the models they use.

I do see for actual medical use they seem to prefer tablets beside the ipad. But if you look on the education side like pre-med, iPads seem to being adapted more as some schools are pre-loading all their text books on the ipad for instance.

The adoption of iPads in medical offices could change in the future.

the fact the iPad isn't as durable or shock resistant as the models they use.

With the right iPad case, I don't really see the issue of durability being a factor.

 

[divinox]

I agree in regard to visual cues being superior than typography, but I can understand why MS has chosen this approach: it's expected that Win8 UI will be plenty of "widgetcons" or "live icons" or whatever name they have. So I think most text-only icons will be static ones opposing live ones.

Moreover, this is the death of "icon" metaphor. There aren't iconic images in its semiological meaning anymore. I don't know if it's better than icons but it's certainly innovative as it breaks an untouchable concept.

1) Live tiles
2) Indeed, icons are now (somewhat) dead.
3) Finally, after over 3 decades we see the first days of life after (the) desktop (paradigm).

Exciting indeed.

 

[coldmack]

I have never heard anyone say Macs are terrible, which is why I eventually left Windows for Mac.

You must not be hanging around real Macheads, because they are always saying how Intel Macs are terrible and like I long for the days of yore when we were still on PPC cpu, or when we move to the next logical step ARM cpus.

 

[*LTD*]

You must not be hanging around real Macheads, because they are always saying how Intel Macs are terrible and like I long for the days of yore when we were still on PPC cpu, or when we move to the next logical step ARM cpus.

Real Macheads don't seem to represent Apple's market, who are buying Macs in record numbers. Nor are the opinions of "real Macheads" better than anyone else's.

 

[greenmeanie]

Windows needs a total rewrite!