Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
Summary: A day after Microsoft showed off an early version of its user interface for Windows 8 -- and I've actually had a chance to actually see it (via videos and photos) -- I've got mixed feelings.
A day after Microsoft showed off an early version of its user interface for Windows 8 -- and I've actually had a chance to actually see it (via videos and photos) -- I've got mixed feelings.
For tablets, I like the tiled interface that looks like it has taken its cues from Windows Media Center and Windows Phone. I've used the tiled interface on Windows Phone and I think it will be a great way to navigate Windows 8 when installed on a touch-first/touch-centric device.
For PCs, I am not so sure -- especially for legacy PCs, like my two-year-old ASUS thin and light laptop. Why would I put Windows 8 on this non-touch-centric machine? Yes, I heard Microsoft execs say that the so-called Modern Shell (MoSH) will allow users to interact with a keyboard and mouse. And I believe users will be able to switch between the touch-centric mode and a more traditional Aero interface mode with Windows 8. But why should the default interface, optimized for gestures and touch, be required on a machine that I never plan to put my grubby fingers on? Some good places to see the new Windows 8 UI:
Microsoft's "Building Windows 8" video
Microsoft made it clear last night that -- contrary to expectations and rumors -- the new shell is going to be the default on all Windows 8 PCs, and not just tablets. Many of us Microsoft watchers had believed it would be the default on tablets.
If I am a business user with Windows Vista or Windows 7 installed on my existing PC, will I want to upgrade to a touch-centric Windows 8? Even if it has faster startup/shutdown/hibernate, a better built-in data-recovery mechanism, or a Windows Store for purchasing/keeping track of my apps? I'm not so sure.
I'm starting to wonder whether Microsoft has decided to target users who are planning to buy new PCs preloaded with Windows with Windows 8, and to just let the existing base stick with an older version of Windows. Given the emphasis by Microsoft execs during the June 1 demo of Windows 8 on the new kinds of immersive applications that will be possible with Windows 8, it does seem that Microsoft isn't thinking about users with legacy/line-of-business apps with its coming Windows release.
(And as one of my readers noted, if you're a developer, do you now write apps to work with Windows 8 "legacy" mode or Windows 8 touch-mode? Maybe Microsoft's decision to push HTML and JavaScript as the way to write new Windows 8 apps dictates that decision for you....)
On the Windows 8 ARM tablets that are coming, Microsoft officials have said there will be no compatibility later enabling existing Windows x86 applications to run on those devices. (That's why Microsoft is having to rejigger Office to work natively on ARM-based Windows 8 tablets.) On x86 Windows 8 PCs, there will be support for (some? all?) apps and peripherals that currently run on Windows 7, according to Microsoft's own statement:
"We also showed effortless movement between existing Windows programs and new Windows 8 apps. The full capabilities of Windows continue to be available to you, including the Windows Explorer and Desktop, as does compatibility with all Windows 7 logo PCs, software and peripherals."
(Microsoft hasn't yet confirmed how/whether it plans to include some kind of virtualization technology as part of Windows 8, allowing users to run older legacy and line-of-business apps.)
For a company that has tried to blur the lines between tablets and PCs, I guess Microsoft's new touch-optimized shell interface makes sense. But for a company that continues to play up how many more PCs are being sold than iPads and Android tablets, the new Windows 8 default UI seems like somewhat of an odd choice. As my ZDNet colleague Larry Dignan asks, "Can Windows 8 really do it all"?
What do you think?
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Talkback
Too early
The demo shows Office 2010 running on Windows 8 along with the standard Windows desktop (note the ribbon interface in Windows Explorer). I'm sure this is done without "XP Mode"-style virtualization.
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
Fully agree with you.. this is pre-beta stage. We all know that inthis stage the UI will go trough a lot of fine-tuning. With a bilion users on Windows-whatever, MS should know how to treat every stage their users are in, in order to get to Win8. Remember there are more hen 100 million netbooks sold, so that is also a category they need to have in mind. I trust that Steven Sinofsky (as usual) knows what he's doing and will proof all the nay sayers wrong.
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
Agreed. They wouldn't be going forward with this if they didn't have a clue what they were doing. Sinofsky is far from an idiot.
Microsoft has too many legacy users to just forget about. Relax and we'll see what they are planning most likely at the BUILD conference later this year. :)
This is the first indication that MS has even the slightest clue ...
But this new UI seems like it is just a bolted-on presentation layer. Underneath it all is still regular old Windows. I have serious doubts that MS will continue to make really bad concessions to "legacy support". Windows 7 really suffers from this and as a result and remains merely good when it could be great.
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
"Agreed. They wouldn't be going forward with this if they didn't have a clue what they were doing. Sinofsky is far from an idiot."
Danger, Kin, Courier, PlaysForSure, Zunes, Slate/TabletPC/UMPC, yup this company always seem to have a clue of what they're doing.
Exactly!!!
No way MS will throw yet another flop to market... They know exactly what they are doing... Granted they knew exactly what they were doing with MS Bob and Windows ME... And Vista... And the Kin... But this is different... This is Windows... Not that ME wasn't windows... and not that Vista wasn't windows... This is windows 8 and there is no way in heck that MS will throw us another flopper... They know exactly what they are doing... I have complete faith in Balmer and believe he will hit a homer with this one... yup... 8th ones a charm... This one will show them all... it will be slim, lean, and compact, and it will do both touch and mouse and keyboard, and will have everything windows 7 has and more, but wll also be smaller and faster, and better and run faster, and it will run on tablets and laptops and desktops and netbooks and smart phones and they will all handle it perfectly and it will be more secure and unbreakable and made of teflon and eggs won't stick to it and it won't be the bad kind of teflon but it will be the good teflon...No need to worry one bit... And when MS is done with windows 8 they will make a family car that will go 500 miles on a single drop of water and when not in use it will shring to the size of a matchbook and you can put it in your pocket and you will never have to worry about parking and then the MS Genie will grant your last wish. but make sure this is a good one and is non selfish so the devil doesn't get your soul because that one good deed will break the contract you signed with the devil and she won't get your soul and you won't be super sensitive and sing about dolphin safe tuna and windows 8 will be the best thing EVER!!!! You just wait and see all you non believers who didn't get picked up in the rapture that happened a couple weeks ago... SINNERS!!!!! REPENT!!!! Oh look!!! Squirrels!!!
Vista wasn't a flop
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
Exactly right. Too soon to tell.
Looks promising, though, I must say.
"Windows Portal"
I think it works
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
The HTML/JavaScript enviroment means the 8 Apps will work without a hitch on either x86 or ARM. I think legacy apps are bascially a no-go for ARM, however.
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
.NET code, on the other hand, should run untouched ... so long as you've not included any unsafe code or code that is processor architecture aware.
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
Update. I accidently put this post in the wrong section. I meant to be responding to @jdakula (a few posts down). sorry
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
Well the reason i beleive MS is doing this by deafult is to give app developers more users to target...If they make it as default it will be on 100 milion devices in no time...
Otherwise wht would happen is they have to chase silly developer like Rovio (Angry Birds) to make damm app..
Used to work in an office
RE: Windows 8: Nice for tablets, but what about PCs?
From what I gathered, that's not exactly the default UI. It's just new. I'm sure you'll be able to change it to the more traditional one. My desktop will use the old one, and my future Windows tablet will use the new UI. And switching between the two looked extremely easy.
I totally agree...
If they are serious about getting business users they should at least have some demos showing someone using this thing who has to juggle daily a bundle of legacy apps (not to mention jumping over to the "green screen" to access the mainframe). People are not going to rewrite legacy apps for the Metro anytime in the near future. And the learning curve is pretty daunting. Color me puzzled.