How-To Geek

Rick, it doesn't fit with Tablets and Metro, are you surprised (one who has it but doesn't really use it)?

Might want to look at THIS TOO. I've seen a lot like this lately too... Basic theme, will businesses convert/go to Metro and will desktop users embrace the new 'methods'. I've seen ones going all the way back to 1984 references when Windows 1.0 came out declaring 'people did not want to use mice, they are dead'. Can't locate that one now, but...

Not the only thing to be missing either, Media Player and DVD Playback as well. I think these will be extra cost or replaced by 3rd party options though (or could be).

Irv S.

It really is more than these things too...

MS has no seen 'the light' and it is the Apple Store and iPad operation. Apps that never close (OS handles it) on the iPad (which, coming from a PC background took some 'getting used too') and the Store as a profit center.

Problem is MS wants a piece of the action (20 to 25 percent with a yearly 'doing business fee') but prices appear will be higher than Apple's? Still, you need developers to write those apps too. From what I can tell, a majority of iPad apps are NOT from major developers but individuals, from all over the world. Some are very small companies too, a few individuals. I could be wrong, but aside from a few expensive app, most are small developers with a price of $5 or less.

Some store info (some old and it might have changed) :

http://www.pcworld.com/article.....ows_8.html
http://www.theverge.com/2011/1.....80-percent
http://www.digitaltrends.com/m.....own-store/

Besides MS getting possibly hit due to the 'non-adoption' of W8, vendors are also predicted to suffer :

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/.....dell/77276

I guess the word here is 'drag'... no new h/w it appears will be needed, or the expected 'jump' in MS sales will not be in traditional PC's? Unanswered question is will W7 still be available to be sold by the vendors?

As for leadership at MS, one wonders. Steve Balmer has not gotten high marks, but by 'critic's and employees :

http://slashdot.org/story/12/0.....-worst-ceo
http://www.neowin.net/news/mic.....-worst-ceo

MS Employees were dedicated, but some were also there from the beginning and made out from stock options. Gates turned the job over to his hand picked successor. Still MS is a force to be reckoned with. They may come late to the party, but they have the clout and cash to make things happen.

Companies are not what they used to be. CEO pay is more about stock price today than in years gone by. Global economy has taken hold too. With the internet does it really matter where you product is developed, produced, and supported (assuming good speaking skills for support)?

Irv S.

"In the end, we decided to bring the desktop closer to the Metro aesthetic ".

Not sure whether that is really progress. The 'Metro aestetic' is not really that nice. A gezillion tiles in dull colors is no progress in my book.

@Rick, doesn't have to be your bag. Remember the old BBS's? Free DOS apps? You'll be back there sometime soon, just getting them a different way.

Android's and iPad/iPhone's... Google Chrome too, table and phone stores... Each touts how many they have, but in the end, it is how many are good, and how many are useful. Numbers are almost meaningless. He who was there first will initially win that war, either by volume or quantity. A few years down the road, it will not matter much. That is as long as the platform still exists and there are developers for it.

Irv S.

YES I DO remember using the old BBS's. :) :) :)

Lighting fast at 300 Baud !!!!

No having to crack Lotus or Word Star now - NICE. :) :)

Rick P.