Windows 8: Three Reasons to Hate

[Boges]

After a few months of using a Tablet/Laptop Hybrid. I can't imagine having a Laptop running Windows 8 without a tough screen. When you're in either the Metro Mode or the Desktop mode while in tablet mode you get used to utilizing what are called "Charms" by swiping from the right to give a few options. While in a laptop mode I find myself just reaching forward to use the touch screen. With a mouse you have to move your indicator up to the top right of the screen. Not as natural as a simple swipe.

[August1991]

After a few months of using a Tablet/Laptop Hybrid. I can't imagine having a Laptop running Windows 8 without a tough screen.

It's called the gorilla arm. Touch screens make sense for tablets - they don't make sense for computers.

[Boges]

It's called the gorilla arm. Touch screens make sense for tablets - they don't make sense for computers.

Microsoft has put all their chips in to this 2 in 1 hybrid thing. It's smart considering many people do their computing using a tablet now anyway. Why not have a device that serves both tasks?

I think Gorilla arm is a bit much, it implies you're spending your time doing a Nazi salute. The new update has a lot of mouse friendly functions added. That being said the easiest way to switch between modes is swiping the reveal the charms.

[cybercoma]

The tablet phase was a fad, imo. It's not going to last. Laptops are so light and portable now with substantially better batteries than they had when tablets first hit the market. Microsoft is putting their eggs in the wrong basket.

[Boges]

The tablet phase was a fad, imo. It's not going to last. Laptops are so light and portable now with substantially better batteries than they had when tablets first hit the market. Microsoft is putting their eggs in the wrong basket.

The dwindling sales of PCs indicate otherwise.

Plus these hybrid devices act as both tablets and PCs.

My Hybrid runs full Windows 8.1.

I predict Apple will soon offer an iPad that runs full OSX.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Boges

[cybercoma]

I predict Apple will soon offer an iPad that runs full OSX.

I highly doubt that will ever happen. I would be very surprised. There has been little sales growth in the tablet market for at least a year now and if I'm not mistaken sales are actually starting to shrink. Full notebooks are here to stay and that's where the solid ground is in the market. Tablet hybrids have been around for a few years now and they've done nothing to improve tablet sales. I just don't see the market going that way. Notebooks are lighter, more powerful, and have longer battery lives than they did just a couple years ago. It's just too inconvenient to use a tablet as you would a computer. They're nice for checking emails, keeping your calendar up to date, reading articles, etc. but they will not overtake notebooks for the any heavy word processing, spreadsheets, drafting presentation, or even gaming.

[Boges]

I highly doubt that will ever happen. I would be very surprised. There has been little sales growth in the tablet market for at least a year now and if I'm not mistaken sales are actually starting to shrink. Full notebooks are here to stay and that's where the solid ground is in the market. Tablet hybrids have been around for a few years now and they've done nothing to improve tablet sales. I just don't see the market going that way. Notebooks are lighter, more powerful, and have longer battery lives than they did just a couple years ago. It's just too inconvenient to use a tablet as you would a computer. They're nice for checking emails, keeping your calendar up to date, reading articles, etc. but they will not overtake notebooks for the any heavy word processing, spreadsheets, drafting presentation, or even gaming.

iPad sales have stagnated, which is why I predict Apple will have to do something. Android tablet sales are robust. We also see the emergence of the Phablet market with large cell phones.

We have a new tech saavy generation emerging that know nothing but a touchscreen.

Sure there'll always be a market for high-end computers but we know that Apple butters it's bread with iPad and iPhone sales not iMacs and Mac Book Pro. People care about iOS 8 not OSX Yosimite or whatever they're calling it. OSX hasn't changed a whole lot for more than 10 years now. Apple has just come out with a $1,000 iMac and the Mini Macs have been a sub $1,000 reality for Apple for a few years now. They are clearly seeing that they need to offer a more competitive PC price point.

I've never really bought into the tablet craze because they are essentially large phones that can't make calls. But I'll concede once I entered the smartphone market I found myself using my laptop less and less.

When the HD of my PC finally kicked the bucket I decided that I'd try a hybrid. The battery life of this device goes for 10 hours plus. It works just like a notebook and just like a tablet. The only concessions is screen size, when in laptop mode. But since it's a touchscreen I can always zoom in.

The Surface Pro 3 looks like a great piece of hardware, I can see as more people look to move on from their current PC, they'll move towards Hybrids as they improve. The success story of the Asus T-100 Transformer shows that at an attractive price point people will try out a Hybrid.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Boges

[Boges]

http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-talks-up-next-version-of-windows/

http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-talks-up-next-version-of-windows/

This will make some people happy if it happens. A new Start Menu will actually have the Metro Apps inclosed in there.

[Boges]

Windows 9 will be unveiled next month

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/windows-9-preview-to-launch-september-30-95384657789.html

Code-named Threshold, Windows 9 is set to bring a major change in terms of design and features compared to Windows 8, which was launched less than two years ago.

According to sources within the company, speaking to well-known Microsoft-watcher Tom Warren at The Verge, the company is planning to hold a media event on Sept. 30 to unveil the new software, though that date could change in the coming weeks.

The news from Warren comes just days after fellow Microsoft expert Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet reported that the Redmond-based company was planning to make a “technology preview” of Windows 9 available in late September/early October.

Threshold — as the software is currently known within Microsoft — is set to be the next major release of the company’s desktop software and will be known as Windows 9 when it officially launches in the spring of 2015.

They better allow for cheap/easy ways to upgrade from current Windows 8 puters.