Will Windows 8 Tablets Make IT Pros Hate Microsoft?
As we approach the beta of Windows 8 I've been thinking more about Windows tablets, and on our sister site Windows8News I've today written an article about the pros and cons of Windows on ARM.
One of these issues will be how successful the platform is overall. In a large part this will rest on the success of the new Windows app store and Metro apps for PCs and tablets. Microsoft got off to a good start last September at their BUILD conference in getting software developers excited about Metro, but it's all been very quiet since and there's been no word on how many developers are actively developing, or even thinking of developing, new metro apps.
When Windows 8 launches the app store will likely be fairly barren, and it will take many months, if not years for Windows to catch up with the number of apps available in the iPad and Android markets. This ultimately can hurt sales of the platform as people might choose an Android or Apple device over Windows because there's more they can do with it, they'll probably not even be able to run their existing desktop software on it so what will be the point in getting one?
The remaining 90% is largely constituted of IT Pros and businesses, many of whom are already taking a dim view of Microsoft's new direction for Windows or who are, at the very least, concerned about what it means for them. If the new Windows 8 tablets don't take off and sell in huge volumes it will essentially be seen as one huge slap in the face for the IT Pro community who will have had their precious desktop working environment decimated in the name of a product gamble.
The failure of Windows tablets to sell could see these IT Pros turning on Microsoft in huge numbers and perhaps even looking for an alternative (I've even considered a dual-booting iMac as my next PC for the first time ever!) This means that Microsoft simply cannot afford to get Windows tablets wrong. As the whole structure of Windows is being re-engineered around them, no matter how friendly they might say Metro will be on desktops and laptops, it is too big a gamble to get it wrong.
The result of a failure to sell tablets now, and crucially to convince hardware makers that it's actually Windows tablets they should be making and not Android ones, could be the cause of the single-biggest backlash in Microsoft's company history. IT Pros and business users have got to be kept sweet and happy, above all else. The main reason for this of course if the huge software eco-system that Microsoft have built around Windows, which include two products that help keep the company going; Windows Server and Office. As we head inexorably into the cloud the need for individual companies to maintain their own servers will diminish, Microsoft's own Office 365 is making sure of that but at least this means they get some of the cash back. If people rebel against Windows that eco-system will be under threat like never before and Microsoft could find its market shares diminishing rapidly.
Of course this is all speculation, perhaps even slight scaremongering. It is ultimately entirely possible however as IT Pros and businesses are not known as forgiving souls.
MS is going to have to deliver a crisp, responsive Win 8 on all platforms–kind of a shame Win phone won’t be one of them. It’s going to have to be power-efficient, negligible “reboot” times, and amply-software powered. And customized, useful add-ons for IE10 wouldn’t hurt, either. Let’s face it, Win 8 with the heavy tablet push is risky, but it’s the ONLY logical move that MS has. It may be too late–but if they don’t try, they’ll die a slow death anyway–rather, Apple has had them in the mid-stages of a profit illness for several years as it is. The mini-devices are KILLING them–they need the app store to explode with developer interest for an OS that will run on ALL devices!
It already does the apps thing will be what me concerns the end of a Microsoft o.s. on a system for me. I am started chopping for a Apple Mac. Could it be it will the start of the end like its like now for Microsoft when I hear the whisperings, it makes a good change that it is.
In a survey the majority of Enterprises said that they are not interested in Windows 8, tablets or desktops/laptops. It just like Enterprises skipped Vista, they will skip Windows 8.
Calm down dear….
I am sorry to say but this article is utter tosh!
Lets look at worse case scenario. Windows 8 fails to sell even one copy! Do you honestly think that IT professionals will suddenly decide on mass that all is lost for the windows platform and jump ship to Linux, Mac or some yet to be discovered alternative? Lets take a long deep breath and think this thing through.
Windows 7 is a perfectly competent, reliable and useful platform. Not only that it is still and will be for many years supported by Microsoft. So if 8 bombs (and I agree with you Microsoft has taken risks in the developer version) there is still and will be for a good long time be a Microsoft alternative solution available. So grab a paper bag and control that breathlessness for a moment or so.
All we have seen so far is the developer version… and that can only be considered a work in progress. If feedback from developers is negative, then expect that to change faster than a politician changes their core values.
Ok so lets be generous to you… Lets say that Microsoft don’t listen to you and other developers and be brave/daft. So as you predict, developers then decide to turn their backs on the Windows platform. Really? Lets look at what that would mean. Just how many legacy machines are out there? How many IT managers are ready to turn their backs on their hard won qualifications? How many applications companies are ready to port their windows only software to unfamiliar platforms. Get real here. There is not going to be an exodus to the platform… No-one can afford that and no-one wants it.
Lets look at some of your breathless statements in detail.
” If the new Windows 8 tablets don’t take off and sell in huge volumes it will essentially be seen as one huge slap in the face for the IT Pro community who will have had their precious desktop working environment decimated in the name of a product gamble.”
I don’t think the community is that precious. Vista was an unpopular version. No-one started crying, they just chose not to invest. Windows 7 came along which addressed the Vista shortcomings and all was forgiven.
“The failure of Windows tablets to sell could see these IT Pros turning on Microsoft in huge numbers and perhaps even looking for an alternative (I’ve even considered a dual-booting iMac as my next PC for the first time ever!) ”
There is an alternative, it Windows 7. The very fact you consider a dual boot MAC suggests that you are not quite ready to jump.
” This means that Microsoft simply cannot afford to get Windows tablets wrong. As the whole structure of Windows is being re-engineered around them, no matter how friendly they might say Metro will be on desktops and laptops, it is too big a gamble to get it wrong.”
Bit of an overstatement here! As history proves Microsoft is more than strong enough to survive the odd failure.
“The result of a failure to sell tablets now, and crucially to convince hardware makers that it’s actually Windows tablets they should be making and not Android ones, could be the cause of the single-biggest backlash in Microsoft’s company history”
Erm nah. this is pure fantasy. I reckon there is just as much chance as the Mayan inspired end of the world occurring.
” IT Pros and business users have got to be kept sweet and happy, above all else”
Nah… Their needs must be met, which the current product range already does. As long as Microsoft doesn’t switch off updates then there is nothing to see here.
“As we head inexorably into the cloud the need for individual companies to maintain their own servers will diminish, Microsoft’s own Office 365 is making sure of that but at least this means they get some of the cash back.”
Where is the evidence that this is happening? The “cloud” is an alternate market and at this point an unproven one. Sure there are some first adopters out there but big business has yet to switch over from tried and proven locally hosted servers. There are security concerns by the score and reliance on third parties to the degree that could based computing requires is a risk that most businesses won’t take.
“Of course this is all speculation, perhaps even slight scaremongering. It is ultimately entirely possible however as IT Pros and businesses are not known as forgiving souls.”
Yep, you said it. I enjoy Ghacks, but this is tabloid speculation at it’s very worst. I hope you don’t take my criticism badly, but this kind of article does your site no good at all.
Tosh!
Forget the dual boot. Go with Parallels in conjunction with OS X Lion. I’d advise 8 meg RAM for the whole thing and keeping Windows running in a separate desktop so you can slide back and forth.
If you can swing it, go for the SSD in a laptop or a hybrid of SSD/HD in an iMac. I think you’ll be pleasantly pleased and surprised.
wow, 8 meg of ram! i can fit a whole jpeg of my dslr onto that sucker! ;)