Why Windows 8 tablets will beat Android(extremetech.com)
extremetech.com
Why Windows 8 tablets will beat Android
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/116505-why-windows-8-tablets-will-beat-android
4 comments
For mobile computing Apple has definitely position Microsoft against itself, classic "innovator's dilemma" style - Microsoft has extracted huge profits from their intertwined cash cows from enterprise businesses (who pay today for the licensing of promised future revisions) - highly lucrative, but binding Microsoft to produce those new versions that run business critical desktop software.
Along comes Apple offering something stylish that consumers want (and are now purchasing in vast numbers), but which will never run "desktop software", as the entire paradigm of mouse+keyboard is thrown on it's edge.
Microsoft is caught in a bind - one one hand, if they ignore the new market, their old one will be dwarfed and their "network effect" will dwindle, draining their monopoly pricing.
On the other hand, they can't jump with both feet into this brave new market because of their pre-existing contracts to enterprise (they could develop two separate versions but that would again, cause them to lose more profits due to the increased operating costs).
And so you have Windows 8, which tries to be both to two separate markets, and yet, neither - at the same time. Highly ambitious considering all of Microsoft previous failed attempts to address tablet and mobile computing.
Along comes Apple offering something stylish that consumers want (and are now purchasing in vast numbers), but which will never run "desktop software", as the entire paradigm of mouse+keyboard is thrown on it's edge.
Microsoft is caught in a bind - one one hand, if they ignore the new market, their old one will be dwarfed and their "network effect" will dwindle, draining their monopoly pricing.
On the other hand, they can't jump with both feet into this brave new market because of their pre-existing contracts to enterprise (they could develop two separate versions but that would again, cause them to lose more profits due to the increased operating costs).
And so you have Windows 8, which tries to be both to two separate markets, and yet, neither - at the same time. Highly ambitious considering all of Microsoft previous failed attempts to address tablet and mobile computing.
It'll be their first attempt with any hope of success. I'm thinking Kinect on a tablet, among other things. I don't think people were ready for tablets during Microsoft's initial offerings. Touch interfaces just hadn't come far enough.
Did you see thedaily's take [1] on kinect for laptops? The reason you won't see kinect on a tablet anytime soon is this one observation:
"It murders batteries
Devices in the field must be plugged in whenever possible since the Kinect technology drains juice in a hurry..."
Laptops generally have much larger battery capacity (for example my current laptop has 94Wh while an iPad2 has 25Wh), and if Kinect kills laptop battery, forget about mobile for now.
[1] http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/01/31/013112-tech-kinect-l...
"It murders batteries
Devices in the field must be plugged in whenever possible since the Kinect technology drains juice in a hurry..."
Laptops generally have much larger battery capacity (for example my current laptop has 94Wh while an iPad2 has 25Wh), and if Kinect kills laptop battery, forget about mobile for now.
[1] http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/01/31/013112-tech-kinect-l...
I'm sure there's hurdles to overcome before it's a reality. Even if it's limited capacity, I think we're ready for gesture-based computing and I think Microsoft's closer to making that a reality than anyone else.
I disagree with your assessment. "ready for gesture-based computing" indicates more than just public acceptance (which is likely there) - it requires the hardware power and capacity, form factor, and killer-app software use cases.
This mindset of "build the OS, the apps will come" is no longer valid anymore, not when competitors like Google, Amazon and Apple are building out destinations and ecosystems, selling consumers on direct apps and tools rather than platforms that promise... especially, in Microsoft's case, when those promises have failed to pan out repeatedly in prior years.
This mindset of "build the OS, the apps will come" is no longer valid anymore, not when competitors like Google, Amazon and Apple are building out destinations and ecosystems, selling consumers on direct apps and tools rather than platforms that promise... especially, in Microsoft's case, when those promises have failed to pan out repeatedly in prior years.
If you fail, keep trying. Microsoft was bound to have some spaghetti stick to the wall eventually. I think the hardware is here; I really do.
The low end of the tablet market is now filled by Amazon's Kindle Fire, which is an Android fork. How can Microsoft compete with a device sold at break even? Furthermore China will manufacture Android tablets at below $100. They do that by using a free operating system - Android.
The article's sole point is that Microsoft is a known brand in desktop and laptop devices. But up to now Windows Phone has been a distant also-ran, and that's a good indication of how Microsoft's brand has failed to carry through in the mobile marketplace.
The article's sole point is that Microsoft is a known brand in desktop and laptop devices. But up to now Windows Phone has been a distant also-ran, and that's a good indication of how Microsoft's brand has failed to carry through in the mobile marketplace.
I've got a good feeling about Windows 8 tablets, because I kind of feel like I've used it already, and I really like it.
The XBox 360 Dashboard was recently redesigned with a "Metro" look. The tiles work really well for teasing you with what's behind each one, and there's a high level of convenience provided by their ability to display active content.
Prior to this update, I never spent much time in the XB360 Dashboard. It was "just another menu" I had to make my way through to get to what I really wanted -- my games. With the most recent update, I find it so pleasing that I actually explore it. I think that bodes well for Windows 8 tablets. if they can translate that feeling, I'd want to sit around and use their tablets.
The XBox 360 Dashboard was recently redesigned with a "Metro" look. The tiles work really well for teasing you with what's behind each one, and there's a high level of convenience provided by their ability to display active content.
Prior to this update, I never spent much time in the XB360 Dashboard. It was "just another menu" I had to make my way through to get to what I really wanted -- my games. With the most recent update, I find it so pleasing that I actually explore it. I think that bodes well for Windows 8 tablets. if they can translate that feeling, I'd want to sit around and use their tablets.
I'm looking to buy a Windows tablet with a Wacom pen (for drawing), but at the moment they sell for $2100 in Sweden. I'm hoping there'll be more competition when Windows 8 is released.
Considering Microsoft has pretty clearly failed every previous time in the last decade, the real question should be "what's new in Windows 8 that will change this" and the article has nothing on that. If the article's argument were valid, Windows on tablets and Windows on Phone would already be a dominant force.
The article reads like Windows 8 on tablet is Microsoft's first attempt into this market, not just their latest.