MSNBC: 10 ways Windows 8 is better than iPad

[onthecouchagain]

I'm with you on that. But it doesn't make it any more interesting.

The tiles in Windows 8 aren't static. They're live tiles that continuously update without the user needing to actually press into the app/tile.

I don't know how anyone can argue that Windows 8 (or Android, for that matter) is more "boring" than iOS. This argument, to me, is incredibly delusional.

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Back to Windows 8...

I also agree with the previous poster in that I can't see Windows 8 being that intuitive on a PC or laptop. This may just be because it's such a drastic change, and that my feelings may change after it's on all PCs/laptops in the future, but to me, the interest in W8 is solely for tablet purposes.

 

[motoleo]

I meant to add that I installed Windows 8 on my laptop. Needless to say, I uninstalled it. I tried to use it but. Um- it just- I didn't want it.

It wasn't even worth having it for the "cool factor" of just showing it off. It has no cool factor

But I bet if they would have just come out with the Courier...it would have.

Two pieces of glass like a book! That's genius. But for some reason they scrapped it. I wonder if the iPad 3 would have something like that.

 

[palpatine]

The problem with the Android tablets are that they are priced too high, in order to be competitive with Apple the price needs to be lowered. They aren't Apple so they shouldn't expect to sell at the same price point as Apple has them at, Apple has a reputation of being more of a premium company vs other companies so people are more willing to spend that kind of cash on Apple products but not others.

I literally laughed when Samsung and Motorola came out with their answer to the iPad with the same friggin pricing.

They are starting to come down in price so perhaps this will make them a better competitor.

asus is priced competitively at more than one hundred less than the iPad 2, but with arguably better specs. android products will continue to eat into apple's market share and get less and less expensive over time. that new samsung tablet is an aberration and not very representative. i am not sure what samsung is thinking this year

as for windows, it will be a great os, and i am sure there will be some great tablets out there for it as well. of course, cost will be a problem, but more than that, they have just 72 apps. good luck convincing and apple or android user to give up their investment in their respective marketplaces and move over to windows for.... what exactly? the windows tablets aren't even going to be any more adapted to enterprise than apple or android.

for the near future at least, i think apple has a pretty solid claim to the lion's share of users and profits. msnbc is right about windows having some pretty cool things. unfortunately for microsoft, it isn't about making the "best" product, but capturing market share and delivering the entire ecosystem. they are too late to the party if you ask me, no matter how spiffy their tiles are.

 

[porcupine8]

Er, I'm assuming they meant iOS but whatever. Windows 8 will have to live up to massive hype. Is it possible? The media keeps looking for "Apple killers": Android, Ultrabooks, Kindle Fire and now Windows 8. Yet Apple keeps selling millions of devices and making tons of money. What will the media do when Apple gets to $600B or $700B in market cap.

http://www.gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/technology/gadgetbox/10-ways-windows-8-beats-ipad-299445

As much as my reflex is to poo-pooh anything by Microsoft, I gotta admit there are a few good points in there. In fact, a couple of those features are things I've put on my iPad via jailbreaking or specifically wished Apple would do.

As always, worthy competition is welcome since it will push Apple to keep improving their top-of-the-line product in order to keep it there.

 

[MythicFrost]

This will fail, as usual. You can't take a desktop OS and make it work on a slate, you need to build a touch based OS from the ground up. Windows 8 won't be power efficient, and using apps designed for a 23 inch display and mouse and keyboard input just doesn't work well on a 10 inch touch screen display.

WinMo 7.5 on the other hand has potential. They could put it on a slate and do what Apple's done, and it'd work out quite well.

 

[Blue Monkey]

This will fail, as usual. You can't take a desktop OS and make it work on a slate, you need to build a touch based OS from the ground up. Windows 8 won't be power efficient, and using apps designed for a 23 inch display and mouse and keyboard input just doesn't work well on a 10 inch touch screen display.

WinMo 7.5 on the other hand has potential. They could put it on a slate and do what Apple's done, and it'd work out quite well.

Actually, Windows 8 was designed as a mobile OS with the desktop as an afterthought. The consumer preview still feels wonky to use without a touch screen. Makes me want to toss whatever hardware it's running on through a window. The desktop is almost unusable and the start menu simply redirects you back to the touch screen -esque Metro UI.

 

[MythicFrost]

Actually, Windows 8 was designed as a mobile OS with the desktop as an afterthought. The consumer preview still feels wonky to use without a touch screen. Makes me want to toss whatever hardware it's running on through a window. The desktop is almost unusable and the start menu simply redirects you back to the touch screen -esque Metro UI.

I know that's the direction they're heading, but it's built up from Windows 7 which is a desktop OS. Everything about it is "desktop", even if they are adding in this "mobile" Metro UI.

I'm not even sure one of these slates will get past 5 hours, yet alone 10, or 13 like the iPad.

 

[Blue Monkey]

I know that's the direction they're heading, but it's built up from Windows 7 which is a desktop OS. Everything about it is "desktop", even if they are adding in this "mobile" Metro UI.

I'm not even sure one of these slates will get past 5 hours, yet alone 10, or 13 like the iPad.

Unfortunately, in the state it's in now, it's not only a bad desktop OS, it's a bad mobile OS. It's like a mutant hybrid that nobody wants. I have no idea what they were thinking. Maybe I'm just bitter.

 

[VinceDae]

,,,,

Im def. gonna buy a Win8 tablet aswell as the iPad 3... - Why not?!

 

[Buildbright]

asus is priced competitively at more than one hundred less than the iPad 2, but with arguably better specs. android products will continue to eat into apple's market share and get less and less expensive over time. that new samsung tablet is an aberration and not very representative. i am not sure what samsung is thinking this year

Specs mean nothing without the performance behind it. The iPad 2 is still faster then the Asus Prime which is now coming out new model every three months now...lol Do you know a big reason Android Tablets are failing to beat Apple. They use outdated business models that PC and TV companies use. Make our products dated in a year or less. People are tired of being treated like cattle. The iPad 1 is still an Amazing device and runs current iOS. Remember the first Galaxy Tab?

But price does not matter as much in this fight as much as software. Android phones have tons of apps but the selection of native Android Tablet apps is sad. Who wants to run a blown up phone app on a Tablet? Apple will own this market as long as they don't mess it up. They have been working on this since 2003 they should own the market.

 

[iEvolution]

Unfortunately, in the state it's in now, it's not only a bad desktop OS, it's a bad mobile OS. It's like a mutant hybrid that nobody wants. I have no idea what they were thinking. Maybe I'm just bitter.

I found it absolutely ridiculous that they removed the start menu, that'll go over real well with desktop users that have been accustomed to the start menu the last 17 years! Talk about fixing things that aren't broken.

Then you have the ribbon interface for windows explorer. . . it didn't go over well in office why the hell do they think it'll be accepted in windows?

If the build that is out is going to be basically the final build feature-wise I don't expect anyone upgrading to it. Its looking to be Vista all over again.

 

[MythicFrost]

Unfortunately, in the state it's in now, it's not only a bad desktop OS, it's a bad mobile OS. It's like a mutant hybrid that nobody wants. I have no idea what they were thinking. Maybe I'm just bitter.

LOL that's hilarious, but yeah, that about sums it up right now.

 

[iEvolution]

But price does not matter as much in this fight as much as software. Android phones have tons of apps but the selection of native Android Tablet apps is sad. Who wants to run a blown up phone app on a Tablet? Apple will own this market as long as they don't mess it up. They have been working on this since 2003 they should own the market.

x2 about tablet apps, so far about all apps I've ran into (excluding browsers) clearly were designed for phones.

 

[APlotdevice]

I think the real issue with the aesthetics of Metro is that you can't fully customize the background image. This might sound like a simple thing, but it's how people have been making the desktop their own for decades. Without this they all just sort of look the same.

 

[arcite]

Er, I'm assuming they meant iOS but whatever. Windows 8 will have to live up to massive hype. Is it possible? The media keeps looking for "Apple killers": Android, Ultrabooks, Kindle Fire and now Windows 8. Yet Apple keeps selling millions of devices and making tons of money. What will the media do when Apple gets to $600B or $700B in market cap.

http://www.gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/technology/gadgetbox/10-ways-windows-8-beats-ipad-299445

MSNBC is partially owned by Microsoft.

 

[APlotdevice]

MSNBC is partially owned by Microsoft.

Actually Microsoft sold their share a few years ago. The network is now fully owned by NBCUniversal.

 

[Roy G Biv]

Actually Microsoft sold their share a few years ago. The network is now fully owned by NBCUniversal.

Actually, that was just for the television sector, separate from the site.

"The web site is developed in Redmond, Washington, on the Microsoft campus..." (Wikipedia) Yeah, I'd say M$ still has a stake.

 

[kevink2]

I am also unsure that MS will allow the freedom of Android on their tablets. I anticipate an Apple-like locked ecosystem with Metro. But that is not such a bad thing.

Remember that there will be 2 types of Windows 8 tablets. Intel based ones. And ARM based ones. The ARM based ones will be metro, except for Office. And the store will be the only way to get apps.

The Intel one will still have the desktop available. But without a physical keyboard/mouse, unless apps are redesigned for a tablet environment, they probably won't be friendly.

Though you can always use an external keyboard. I have one for my iPad, but I have hardly ever used it.

 

[Buckeyestar]

The second point in the article is laughable. Swiping to multitask instead of double clicking the home button? Yeah, iPad already has that.

 

[Scarrus]

Quote from the article:


"10. Windows 8 supports more devices

If you have a USB drive, keyboard, printer, or camera, it should just work."


Yeah it should work, just like in good ol' windows! LMAO

 

[eric/]

I find it funny/interesting that about half of those were "it's faster" and one of them was that Windows 8 is more customizable because you can choose what photo icon is on your pictures app. I think MSNBC is trolling us.

 

[APlotdevice]

Quote from the article:


"10. Windows 8 supports more devices

If you have a USB drive, keyboard, printer, or camera, it should just work."


Yeah it should work, just like in good ol' windows! LMAO

USB drives, keyboards, and cameras will probably work on at least a basic level. But printers? Uh, those need drivers. Existing drivers most likely won't work on the ARM version. And the older your printer is, the less likely it is that the manufacturer will issue new drivers for it.

 

[mikepro]

From what I have read, you won't get that with the Metro tablet either. the classic desktop won’t be part of Windows 8 ARM, and that means it will only run Metro apps, and the only source of Metro apps will be Microsoft’s app store. Although I am sure Office will be configured for Metro, like it 'presumably' has for the iPad, but I wouldn't expect to see all MS software on the Metro tablet.

In addition to the ARM tablet limitations, (which seem to invalidate the Windows everywhere Mantra), MS has said that the ARM version of windows will not be able to plug into MS administration and security tools. So, no active directory or policy management for ARM tablets. Seems like that will effectively kill it in Enterprise. See this article for more details.


They more I read about Windows 8, the more it seems like a big bag of fail and hurt.

 

[PhoneI]

After using Windows 8 on a spare laptop the last few days, I feel very comfortable in saying...."Windows 8 is awful on a laptop/desktop". Its a big confusing mess.

 

[Richardgm]

After using Windows 8 on a spare laptop the last few days, I feel very comfortable in saying...."Windows 8 is awful on a laptop/desktop". Its a big confusing mess.

I, too downloaded this on launch day. And I agree completely with your assessment. As a Windows user for all my life, the UX is confusing and Metro feels like an app.

The major problem I have now is that it overwrote my Windows 7, so I'm screwed.