Microsoft Previews Windows 8 with Cues from iPad and App Store

[ten-oak-druid]

Didn't Microsoft sell 350 million copies of Windows 7 in 18 months? Smashing all previous records?

Oh, BTW, even if someone is still using XP or Vista... it's still a Microsoft OS. Microsoft got paid for those too.

Not everyone upgrades... it's always like that though.

But... to say Windows 7 sales have been poor... that's just crazy talk.

It's not crazy. Its a slow adoption of Windows 7. Investors would like more sales of 7 for sure. Especially given the large amount of piracy of Windows that MS has complained about.

And so again I wonder will Windows 8 customers be the 1/3 of Windows users who bought 7? Or will XP customers upgrade?

Here is part of the problem as stated back in 2009:

Windows 7 sales leave Microsoft coffers unstuffed

Sales of boxed copies of Windows 7 are thrashing Windows Vista's early history, but at a price - the money that Microsoft is making on them isn't keeping up.

Windows 7 unit sales were 234 per cent higher than Windows Vista's during the first few days of both operating systems' release, according to analyst NPD Group's weekly tracking service.

Revenue, though, is only 82 per cent higher than that earned by Windows Vista.

NPD, correctly, cited the fact that Microsoft has been massively discounting Windows 7 for consumers. The focus for this push has been the low-priced Windows 7 Home Premium SKU at the expense of the more expensive Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate

Microsoft's stated goal has been to kick-start the business and grow Windows 7's market share. The idea is to do what Windows Vista failed to achieve: replace Windows XP.

...

So they went to a lower price to get people to replace XP and got about 1/3 to upgrade so far. But still 1/3 use XP. I do think the sales over the long haul have given MS good income though.

 

[cara0910]

A legitimate competitor

I for one think that Metro UI poses a nice challenge to OS X. I think overall OS X will remain smoother and cleaner, just given the fact that Metro UI will be used on so many different hardware configs, but Metro UI is a huge step up for Microsoft. The font and colors are really nice, and the features shown in the video are definitely cool.

Honestly, although Apple has, more than anyone, pushed forward the adoption of tablet/phone UIs and touch interfaces, I don't see this as a copy of anything put out by Apple. Sure, there may be subtle things here and there. But overall you're talking about a different and developing competitor. I haven't used android, but from what I've seen (such as on the Samsung phone that Apple sued over), it looks WAY more like iOS than anything Windows has put out.

I say good on Microsoft for bringing some good competition to the game. It can only force companies to keep competiting for consumers.

 

[cowcaster88]

Really it seems like a bunch of good ideas put together terribly. It's like part Windows Mobile 7 with Window's 7.

 

[brandnewfunk]

You're right, I sold my AAPL stock a while back for a nice gain
loser
or troll?
As an owner of an iMac 2006 with a failing GPU, I cannot call Apple hardware "superior", at least under the hood. However, I'd take my computer with REALLY horrible parts if it can run the superior Mac OS.

Troll? GTFOH, and get real. Just because someone has an opposing opinion doesn't make him a loser or troll.

Apparently you didn't read my response. I don't have a company "team," the best product at any given time is my "team." I'll have you know that I've been praising Apple products (hardware mainly) for YEARS. I'll have you know that I own an iPhone and am currently awaiting the iPhone 5. I'll have you know that I will be getting an iMac very soon. And I'll have you know I've been visiting MacRumors (9to5mac, etc.) for YEARS! awaiting news of various products.

As far as Apple's having superior hardware, please realize that I wrote that I like Apple's SCREENS (retina display, iPhone; LED IPS on iMac). But that's okay if you don't like their hardware. I won't crucify you. Remember, I don't have your team mentality... Plus, I'm sure non-Apple hardware fails as well. And maybe yours is failing because it's old? Not sure, though.

And I could care less if you characterize your Apple hardware as superior or average or inferior, the Mac OS (as it stands currently) you put on it is indeed INFERIOR.

 

[gmanist1000]

I honestly think that the average consumer will walk up to this thing and think it is too confusing, or complicated to use.

 

[435713]

I like it, I enjoyed Windows mo7 more than Android when I tried it. Windows 7 was unappealing to me since I felt like it needed more done to it. Seemed more like a SP IMO. They apparently did a nice job with the plumbing and the task bar was sweet.

Hopefully they clean up the control panel mess and tweak some things that need fixed still. I really hope Lion is more than what we have seen so far. I guess we shall see really soon.

Good luck MS. Looks like it could be promising.

 

[mozumder]

This is EXACTLY what I was hoping Microsoft would do with Windows.

Metro UI is so much better than anything on Mac. It comes from a device usage model - Zune, XBox, etc.., so it just WORKS.

The Icon-based UI of Apple is so last century. Having a ton of App icons do absolutely nothing on a display. They just sit there taking up space, without providing any useful info.

Additionally, the graphic design of Metro is much better than anything else. Basically, they went with single-shade icons, instead of the ugly gradient-reflective-shaded icons of iOS/MacOSX. With less color information across the screen, the information becomes much clearer and more intuitive. The worst ideas in Mac OS include the reflecting effects on the Dock, and other silly effects.

Keep iconography simple and intuitive. Don't ruin it by too-much coloring.

 

[brandnewfunk]

I'm a pretty big fan of macs, but this windows UI looks innovative and exciting.

I was hoping the OS X after Snow Leopard would bring some revolutionary changes to what is quickly become a stale area of UI design for Apple. They have neglected OS X for years as the iPhone took off.

OS X Lion looks to have yanked a few average ideas from iPad. Windows 8 looks to be a new ballpark and heading towards the OS of the future.

Jobs better have some thing good up his sleeve.

I agree. Very fresh and exciting. Someone called me a "troll" for praising Win8 and expressing complete frustration with Apple zealots who are weirdly jealous/claiming copy-cat-ism (haha) just because MS has produced a drastically different OS. I would venture to say that this OS by MS changes everything. Icon-less. No focus on "wall-paper." Glance at once info like a cockpit. Flat. It's FRESH. And I love it.

 

[Hueyfreeman]

I only upgrade my windows when I get a new motherboard. Otherwise there is no need to upgrade. I never use any of the "windows" features on my computer. I use my PC for games so I don't give a crap about the small things. All I care about is games and steam.

 

[MRU]

Really do not understand the argument that Metro UI it's just a 'layer'.

Isn't the forthcoming Lion update with it's 'iOS' wannabe layer just the same ? In fact the Windows Metro UI looks a lt better than the iOS 'imitation app drawer' of Lion IMHO.

If anything this will push Apple to go that extra step and really develop both iOS and OSX and competition is good.

I've been playing with OSX for 10 years now, I for one would look forward to a more radical GUI overhaul of Mac OS sooner rather than later.

 

[jprocha]

I think Microsoft has a chance to do take some mobile OS market share. I think Android is going to lose its luster as developers get sick of making little money. Yes I know a few do but look a the statistics on developer profits. And of course the malware for android is growing and will continue to grow. Also Nokia is on its last legs. The end is near. Perhaps to save themselves they will go to a narrow product line of smart phones and choose windows OS? Maybe.

I don't see Windows for home computers as a growing product though. Besides Apple, personal computer sales continue to slump. Also Microsoft had it made for a long time. All PC manufacturers besides Apple included Windows. But now some are installing WebOS or Chrome as options. For many users that might be preferable to Windows. You might see Non-Apple vendors no longer all under MS's umbrella in a few years.

Nokia has already stated that they will exclusively use Windows OS instead of their old OS. Nokia makes good hardware and with this software coupled with it, there is actually a product worth considering from them.

 

[HMFIC03]

Looks pretty cool - Love the faster app switching and thumbs keyboard. That would be nice to have on the ipad.

 

[mozumder]

One thing they are good at, and that's wasting space. Whether it's the right border of windows phone 7 or the huge border all around in windows 8.

Empty space is a good thing.

It's addition by subtraction.

The more information you put on screen, the more time it takes to process.

With the negative space, Microsoft is telling developers to calm the hell down and stop putting so much crap on the screen.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; U; CPU OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

It's just a layer, folks.

Tell us more.

It can predicted with 99% certainty that Windoze 8 will be.....AN EPIC FAIL!!!

Just like Windows 7, and Vista-which sold more copies than there OSX machines in use, and XP......

The StatCounter uses only one metric, a clicky web analytics. Try this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems

It uses multiple sources and methodologies, including clicky web analytics and Global Stats, and comes to different figures. The median figure for Apple OS X is 7.54%

But no one knows for sure, as reliable data (especially controlling for desktop OS only) is difficult to get and to analyze.

Regardless, tenoak's claim of 15% of overall market share was pulled from where the sun don't shine.

God forbid a user of a different OS can't comment on a rival OS without being considered biased. The tile system on a desktop computer is a terrible idea. Particularly since it appears to be a layer on top of another layer. Apple is making this same stupid move in incorporating elements of iOS in Lion.

I would think that most users of a particular system would be slightly biased, what's retarded is the close mindedness.

All the anger and mocking in here just reveals that plenty of the fanboys are really freakin' scared. I use both OSes, so I think it looks ok. No final verdict of course, but for the people saying it's "oh so terrible", you're just revealing your fear.

You also have to admit, one operating system for all platforms with an adaptive UI and interface is way way superior to having an iOS and an OSX, none of which are compatible (this could change Monday of course). The iPad will look quite quaint with it's static little icon grid next to a fully powered Windows 8 tablet that can run anything and everything, including full office, and sync up with a keyboard and mouse if so desired. That's assuming, of course, that Apple doesn't bring something major to the table with iOS5, which I sort of expect they will.

The fanboys fear Microsoft the most, closely followed by Google. It's kind of strange considering that Microsoft doesn't sell hardware, isn't it?

There's a registry entry that you can change to set the color of the Screen of Death, if you don't like blue (or black).

It's not that useful, because unlike the "Mac vs. PC ads" (or Apple fans on MacRumours) - BSODs are pretty rare unless you have a hardware problem.

Fans won't admit that, though.

Extremely rare, even on old XP machines.

yeah fail screens aren't super common anymore. back in the '90s however....

Yeah, problems from 20 years ago are so relevant today.

It's not crazy. Its a slow adoption of Windows 7. Investors would like more sales of 7 for sure. Especially given the large amount of piracy of Windows that MS has complained about.

And so again I wonder will Windows 8 customers be the 1/3 of Windows users who bought 7? Or will XP customers upgrade?

Here is part of the problem as stated back in 2009:

Windows 7 sales leave Microsoft coffers unstuffed



So they went to a lower price to get people to replace XP and got about 1/3 to upgrade so far. But still 1/3 use XP. I do think the sales over the long haul have given MS good income though.

Windows 7 has sold 5 times the number of OSX systems in existence in 18 months, so yeah, that's a major failure. That has to be the stupidist statement I have read in this thread. You fanboys can only dream of 350 million Mac machines being sold.

 

[35g700]

Windows is at it again, stealing ideas from Apple.

Windows 8 looks nothing like OS X or iOS, it looks like Windows Phone 7.

 

[asdf542]

http://daringfireball.net/2011/06/windows_8_fundamentally_flawed

 

[boss.king]

Do some research on the history of modern computing and the tech giants.

Nah, not really interested.

If anything Windows 7 is more different from a UI and UX point of view than Vista was. You act like they are so different from XP lol. Oh sorry, the task bar is glossy in Vista and 7 and the windows are glass haha.

Performance wise Vista is far worse. In terms of UI Vista and 7 are similar but not in user experience. You act like they are equally bad but they are not. Also, what you wrote has nothing to do with my point, it's just you hammering your opinion at me again.

So when you buy a PC you can choose which OS comes with it? WOW! Unless you install Linux you are getting Windows, no choice involved. Yes I can choose to buy a Mac but the simple fact is OEM lock-in and many instances of anti-competitive, illegal, and monopolistic business practices are a HUGE part of how Microsoft got to where it is today! If you don't understand this you simply are uninformed or blissfully ignorant.

Again, nothing to do with what I wrote. Yes, they did some anti-competitive stuff, they were punished for it, that doesn't have anything to do with people upgrading to 7 from XP.

Perhaps you could also read up on literary history and punctuation as well. It may be old school but there is nothing incorrect about it._ _ _ _ 4 spaces just for you haha!

I know it's technically correct since you presumably learned to type on a typewriter, I never said it was wrong, just said you don't have to do it. You really need to read before typing, it will help you avoid replies like this in the future.

 

[Žalgiris]

http://daringfireball.net/2011/06/windows_8_fundamentally_flawed

He has a point.

 

[sohelpme]

Yeah, it'll be optimized for touch, mouse, keyboard, thought-control, remote-control.

Hell, it'll be optimized for touchless control. Just wave your arms around in front of the camera and you can do everything.

Just don't be, you know, doing that thing while watching videos, because you just might be initiating the deletion of some system files...

 

[AppleScruff1]

He has a point.

Of course he does, he's an Apple guy.

 

[Žalgiris]

Of course he does, he's an Apple guy.

He is self-loving prick, but if he has a point - HE HAS A POINT.

Windows 7 has sold 5 times the number of OSX systems in existence in 18 months, so yeah, that's a major failure.

And that has nothing to do with Windows 7 being better or worse than Mac OS X. Some don't know any better, smoe have no choice and some will die first than buy a Mac.

 

[petvas]

http://daringfireball.net/2011/06/windows_8_fundamentally_flawed

I agree with most of the things he wrote. Microsoft has still a big chance, if they bring great apps to Windows 8. I guess we all know now what the new Office will look like...
Another thing is that a completely touch based tile interface isn't exactly the best way to go when having desktop computers with big screens. Imagine having a mouse and a keyboard and try to use this interface. It will suck.
As a touch based interface it certainly looks great and I think Microsoft has some pretty good ideas. I would just want them to make two versions, one for desktop computers and one for tablets.
Of course someone could argue that in the future desktop computers will look different. The input devices as we know them won't exist. Touch based interfaces will take over but will not completely replace a mouse, at least not yet. Windows 8 is a step in that direction. I am not sure I like that.
Computers are becoming even more mainstream. People have to be able to use them without any computing skills at all. This is the vision all big companies in the industry have. I know it is the right direction, but as a power user I feel a bit left behind. I don't need all this fancy stuff. On my iPad yes, but on my Mac Pro a touch based interface makes no sense to me. Try using Launchpad on a 27" screen and you will understand what I am saying. Apple is doing almost the same as Microsoft, but at least their approach is considering the differences between a real computer and a tablet device. Microsoft ignores that and tries to build on their legacy...

 

[tblrsa]

It just looks like a layer on top of the OS, not the OS itself...

True, here is hope THIS is not the future of our PCs and Macs. This does look similar to Front Row, a full blown OS should not be designed like this. Gives the feel of a very dumbed down experience.

 

[KingCrimson]

MSFT def needs to put an Expose-like view. I can't imagine swiping through app after app to find the one I want. I figure that just didn't make the cut for this conference, but you have to believe such an important feature is going to be there.

 

[johncarync]

Windows 7 has sold 5 times the number of OSX systems in existence in 18 months, so yeah, that's a major failure. That has to be the stupidist statement I have read in this thread. You fanboys can only dream of 350 million Mac machines being sold.

Of course Windows OS will outsell Mac OS. With 92% of the market, they're going to move more product. I think another important issue is adoption rate...

According to the latest data I could find for Windows usage in the US: 21% use Windows 7; 24% use Vista; 51% use XP; and 4% "other".

The latest data I could find for Apple shows the following: 68% use Snow Leopard; 24% use Leopard; 6% use Tiger; and 2% "other".

With a majority of Windows users still using an OS that they released in 2001, I'm not convinced that Windows 7 was a success.