Is Microsoft about to make the biggest mistake ever with windows8?

_Jimlad_

_Jimlad_

_Jimlad_

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been testing and mucking around with the versions of windows8 and i currently stand with the view...

it can go on my laptop but is not going anywhere near my main rig...

i understand what they are doing and the direction pc's are going, but i fail to see how windows8 would fit in the work place without massive training for "Betty the 60 year old receptionist"

grrrrrr im raging about what i was so excited about being a geek... yes i will use it on some of my computers and learn and possibly love it in the future, but right now its not what i want on my main pc.

SUCH A SHAME... they could not release two versions, a pro/corp version that has all the cool new features (and there are loads) but based on the windows7 format which most agree is MS's best creation.

disappointed...
 
They designed Windows 8 for tablets and that's exactly what it's going to be used for.
That's all I have to say, I'll be sticking with Windows 7 for a long time, there's no need to upgrade.
 
Emphacy said:
They designed Windows 8 for tablets and that's exactly what it's going to be used for.
That's all I have to say, I'll be sticking with Windows 7 for a long time, there's no need to upgrade.
Click to expand...

yes i agree, its a shame we will miss out on some of those features that are great, and the speed bump in boot/install
 
theheyes said:
Releasing another desktop-orientated OS would have been the mistake. It was innovate or become irrelevant.
Click to expand...

i hear what you are saying mate, things needed to change, but why not home/pro versions or the choice to have a desktop boot with a taskbar. so companies or users could keep things the way they are.

remember Vista was a disaster, and they just got the conference back in the corp world and now we/they will miss out on some really cool features because windows8 just wont fit in many many situations


Jokester said:
Desktop is a shrinking market though isn't it? They need to branch out into other markets.
Click to expand...

branch out indeed, but taking away a mainstay or even a defining feature is incredibly risky,

i will embrace it, but i love my main pc and would not install OS for example and don't want to install windows8 :(
 
There are two angles to this...

1. In the corporate environment desktops will stick with win7 (some are still on XP... still!)

2. Again the the corporate world, at least in the council (where I work in IT), many of the managers have bought themselves iPads and other tablet devices.

I for one think they're a complete gimmick. But the people who control the budgets here have been buying iPads for Councillors and management like no tomorrow. Now there is talk of Social Care staff (like social workers) having iPads instead of laptops.

Personally I think it's a colossal waste of public money BUT it proves one thing:

Tablets are being adopted very quickly even when there's no real need for them. Even Steve Jobs said they were a gimmick, but he also knew people would want them. And they do.
 
_Jimlad_ said:
i hear what you are saying mate, things needed to change, but why not home/pro versions or the choice to have a desktop boot with a taskbar. so companies or users could keep things the way they are.
Click to expand...

Even IF they released a "corporate version" of Windows 8, you have to ask yourself how many businesses would actually choose it over Windows 7?

Most businesses have either just recently migrated to Windows 7 or are still stuck on Windows XP. If you are in the former group, there is no way you would upgrade again so soon. If you are in the latter group, there is a very compelling case to avoid a brand new OS and stick with something that has been out a few years yet still has lots of support time left i.e. Windows 7.

Those things considered, it almost makes the successor to Windows 7 irrelevant for businesses*.

Edit - *business desktops
 
FoxEye said:
There are two angles to this...

1. In the corporate environment desktops will stick with win7 (some are still on XP... still!)

2. Again the the corporate world, at least in the council (where I work in IT), many of the managers have bought themselves iPads and other tablet devices.

I for one think they're a complete gimmick. But the people who control the budgets here have been buying iPads for Councillors and management like no tomorrow. Now there is talk of Social Care staff (like social workers) having iPads instead of laptops.

Personally I think it's a colossal waste of public money BUT it proves one thing:

Tablets are being adopted very quickly even when there's no real need for them. Even Steve Jobs said they were a gimmick, but he also knew people would want them. And they do.
Click to expand...

i work for a council in IT as well, we have a full XP network lol - no plans to upgrade :D

don't even ask!
 
theheyes said:
Even IF they released a "corporate version" of Windows 8, you have to ask yourself how many businesses would actually choose it over Windows 7?

Most businesses have either just recently migrated to Windows 7 or are still stuck on Windows XP. If you are in the former group, there is no way you would upgrade again so soon. If you are in the latter group, there is a very compelling case to avoid a brand new OS and stick with something that has been out a few years yet still has lots of support time left i.e. Windows 7.

Those things considered, it almost makes the successor to Windows 7 irrelevant for businesses.
Click to expand...

you're point is valid, i guess im coming from the point this point of view...

some amazing aspects improvements in windows8, i want them in a windows7 format... ie you boot up super quick have a choice from there how it looks, some will love the new format others wont. no problems EVERYONE gets the cool new bits and is happy. just a silly thing to do from MS really, no one like choices made for them or to be forced down a certain path. How many people who have been sat on the fence for a while now say **** it im going mac now?
 
_Jimlad_ said:
i work for a council in IT as well, we have a full XP network lol - no plans to upgrade :D

don't even ask!
Click to expand...

We're still running XP, and there is no project yet to migrate to win7 :p

Do all your Councillors and upper management have iPads yet? :p Epic waste of taxpayer's money.
 
theheyes said:
Releasing another desktop-orientated OS would have been the mistake. It was innovate or become irrelevant.
Click to expand...

This.
Microsoft are about to make the best descion in decades. Shame it'll take wi9 to win over some people who can't be bothered to learn for 10mins.

Grrr it has desktop, it has a taskbar. So nothing's really changed. All you have now is a full screen start screen, with live titles so can see instant information without opening software.
 
Glaucus said:
This.
Microsoft are about to make the best descion in decades. Shame it'll take wi9 to win over some people who can't be bothered to learn for 10mins.
Click to expand...

It's almost like you have a vested interest in win8 being a success. Bought any MS shares recently?

Every single post where anyone says anything critical of win8 you've literally jumped down their throats.
 
How is that jumping down their throats.
The difference is its plain to see computing is changing and ms before win8 was stuck in the past and quickly losing ground. They had to update and they have, not just a small update either. There update is pure brilliance. Certain groups will always be stuck in the past, that's live. But MS had no choice but to move forward.
Smart phones have out stripped all compte sales for a while, tablets is massively expading and expected to further reduce the normal computing market. Most of ftse100 companies use iPads, iPads have been rolled out in many large companies as cruel functional work machines.
mS again had to update or become irrelevant, people are stuck in the pat and can see the trends.

And people aging there's no desktop or taskbar. Those are the ones with a vested interest, otherwise why would they lie.
 
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theheyes said:
Even IF they released a "corporate version" of Windows 8, you have to ask yourself how many businesses would actually choose it over Windows 7?

Most businesses have either just recently migrated to Windows 7 or are still stuck on Windows XP. If you are in the former group, there is no way you would upgrade again so soon. If you are in the latter group, there is a very compelling case to avoid a brand new OS and stick with something that has been out a few years yet still has lots of support time left i.e. Windows 7.

Those things considered, it almost makes the successor to Windows 7 irrelevant for businesses*.

Edit - *business desktops
Click to expand...

And don't forget, there's little chance of any government body approving ANY OS until it at least reaches Service Pack 1.

I know the MoD were just starting to look at rolling out a limited trial of Windows 7 at the very end of last year, although it probably has only just started. Don't work for them anymore so don't know :)
 
Glaucus said:
How is that jumping down their throats.
The difference is its plain to see computing is changing and ms before win8 was stuck in the past and quickly losing ground. They had to update and they have, not just a small update either. There update is pure brilliance. Certain groups will always be stuck in the past, that's live. But MS had no choice but to move forward.
Smart phones have out stripped all compte sales for a while, tablets is massively expading and expected to further reduce the normal computing market. Most of ftse100 companies use iPads, iPads have been rolled out in many large companies as cruel functional work machines.
mS again had to update or become irrelevant, people are stuck in the pat and can see the trends.

And people aging there's no desktop or taskbar. Those are the ones with a vested interest, otherwise why would they lie.
Click to expand...

Until all devices are touchscreen there is no "one size fits all" paradigm.

Trying to make people use their keyboard and mouse to emulate touchscreen gestures is asinine.

Making people click, hold and drag the wecome screen upwards to show the logon box? Ridiculous.

This is just one example of *BAD* UI design for a desktop system. It's not "genius" as you think.

UI design should be about making things intuitive. When you have users saying "I can't get past the welcome screen" and people actually have to Google it? That's not genius at all.
 
FoxEye said:
Until all devices are touchscreen there is no "one size fits all" paradigm.

Trying to make people use their keyboard and mouse to emulate touchscreen gestures is asinine.

Making people click, hold and drag the wecome screen upwards to show the logon box? Ridiculous.

This is just one example of *BAD* UI design for a desktop system. It's not "genius" as you think.

UI design should be about making things intuitive. When you have users saying "I can't get past the welcome screen" and people actually have to Google it? That's not genius at all.
Click to expand...

They really don't need to be touchscreen. It works equally with keyboard and mouse. Especially when used as a start screen. I just can't agree with your assumptions. There's a full workin desktop with all the functionality, so was win7 bad design?

People can't pass the welcome screen, they must be idiots. You click on the icon,mike we have done for nearly tttwo decades.

Os are not as intuitive as people think.. Most people do not know the I tricks of win7, iOS or android.
Go look at its threads and see how many people say oh I didn't know that about multi finger support.
Is it that intuitive to double click home button, then hold down for a few seconds, until things wobble and an x-appear, so you can close it. Or hold down on an icon u till it wobbles to move it.

People simply overestimate how intuitive things are, things only become intuitive once you use it. These exact arguments where said when the start button came out. You just have o use it and get you muscle memory back.
 
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