interview said that improving the desktop side of the OS in Windows 81. Update was a priority for Redmond. The reason? How about the fact that it continues to be the most familiar working environment for millions, even billions of users around the globe:
“We actually value using the desktop. I feel highly productive using it. It’s very familiar to me. We plan — (as) we talked about at the Build conference — to bring modern apps to the desktop. We are going to have machines that have a great desktop experience.”That is not to say the desktop is a one-size-fits-all experience, particularly on mobile devices. And Microsoft is aware of this crucial little fact:
“It (the desktop) is also not the right experience for a phone or a tablet. And so how the Windows experience spans these form factors and is familiar across them — that’s what we need to deliver if we’re going to delight people in the whole ecosystem. The desktop is part of our future. It’s absolutely core to Windows.”Not that hard to grasp, eh? Focusing on both environments, desktop and touch, is absolutely the way forward. Windows 8.1 Update already offers a few neat improvements for mouse and keyboard users, and this convergence is only set to grow once Windows 9 makes its way to the market.]]>
Article Tags:
Desktop · Executives · Microsoft · Strategy · Strategy · Terry Myerson · Windows 8 · Windows 8.1 UpdateArticle Categories:
Windows 8.1 Update 1
All Comments
It’s a shame Microsoft even have to go through all this twisting. They’ve gone from a software giant to a babysitter having to coddle it’s users who are going to act spoiled no matter what you do
Ain’t that the way it goes… All consumers want the absolute best options for no money and no technical difficulties. Don’t get them started on change either. It’s impossible to please everyone.
Were people really concerned about this. I know tablets and phones are the rage right now, but I don’t see desktop computers or laptops going away.
For people and the companies, it’s better to have options. Computers will always be faster and have better overall capabilities than phones will. Microsoft will always offer as many different products as they can, because it’s more money.
Microsoft wants to bring the app-controlled ecosystem to Windows. They see how it works with fixing a lot of the problems of today’s computers, the ones we are clinging to dear life for, like the now over a decade-old Windows XP. With the way Windows 8 is designed, several advances have made to make the desktop better to use. For example, malware is near-impossible to install (or install itself for that matter) on Windows 8’s modern design, it’s clearer what you can do with your programs (some older people think if you delete the icon, the program is gone, but now, there is a clear distinction between unpin and uninstall on right-click), icons are dynamic and show contextual information about the program in question, and even more, like removing the need for that stupid maintenance program. As I see it, this is without a doubt better for the user. I see what the vision behind Microsoft’s Windows 8 is, and that, while restricting, and while the metamorphosis of the desktop is painful, will result in a better future for home users of the computer. What I’d like to see Microsoft do next is allow installing apps that aren’t on the store, similar to the “outside sources” option box that Android has. IT professionals will need to have custom programs, and if the future is app they need to be able to distribute programs without having to go through a lengthy verification process. Floating modern applications, to me, is the first nail in the coffin for the old type of software. It makes me more likely to develop an app for Windows. With the upcoming Office for modern desktop, developers like me can see the power of this new environment and that yes, my computationally intensive application is completely portable to the Windows ecosystem. And, after watching BUILD 2014, I can see with the “Universal Apps”, I can deliver app on several screens while making minimal design changes.
Haha. I love the information and enthusiasm here. I am with you on what you said. It’s been a tough decade, but Microsoft is coming back together and things are trending up.
Lol glad my response made sense to you and that you share my excitement. Windows 8 was a mystery to me at its launch, but now that mystery seems to be unfolding. I also have been educated more since its launch. You know, a friend of mine and I are considering starting a tech editorial blog (we hold different perspectives). If you’re interested I’ll let you know when it launches. We’re poor too, so we’re thinking of taking the website launch to Kickstarter.