Let me start with a quote from a previous post:
“[…] And I’ve also asked myself why doesn’t Microsoft consider Windows Phone 7’s OS the obvious candidate to fight the tablet wars? After all, given the circumstances, it’s doing a good job in the smart phone space. After spending a fair amount of time thinking about this, I realized that throwing in the battle at this moment a WP7 based tablet (or tablets for that matter) would really qualify in the “rush in with a fix” category of moves. Let me explain why.
The most important reason is that Microsoft and Windows own the (desktop, laptop, netbook) space. It would be fundamentally wrong to ignore this fact when developing strategies for the smart phone and tablet wars. And it would force Microsoft to fight the war without its most powerful weapon. I’ve said above at some point that I think the fundamental weakness of the tablet today is the fact it runs OSs initially developed for smart phones. Combine that with the form factor, and eventually you will find out after a while that it’s quite hard to perform productive work on the tablet. Pressure is high for a compelling Windows tablet, no doubt about it. Android and iOS are gaining more and more traction every day, including in the enterprise. Yet more and more tablet owners admit that after the initial enthusiasm of owning a tablet they end up back to the (desktop, laptop, netbook) for productive work. The fact is, neither the smart phone nor the tablet are yet in a position to kill the (desktop, laptop, netbook). It’s likely that for a few years at least, these worlds will coexist. Actually, I think this gives Microsoft a bit of space to think, prepare, and make the right move. Finally, it’s pretty obvious that both the smart phone and the tablet markets are in their infancy. There is a lot of room for growth, and, while the early players have a clear advantage, there’s always going to be room for quality products.
What should be Microsoft’s next move? I now believe it has to be Windows centered. Not Windows 7 because, despite it’s awesome qualities, Windows 7 is not really suitable for touch devices. Microsoft’s next move also needs to capitalize on the strengths of Windows vs. the weaknesses of today’s tablets. In a nutshell, Microsoft needs to deliver a new Windows that’s ready for the next killer device. What’s that device? I dare to predict it’s the one that will combine the efficiency of the laptop with the mobility of the tablet. Many say the smart phone and/or the tablet are today’s new PCs. Turns out they are not. At least not yet. But the day is coming, there’s no doubt about it. “
A short while ago we’ve seen the first public demos of Windows 8. Personally, I’m way more enthusiastic than I thought I would be. In fact, to be honest, the last time I was this impressed was when I made first contact with .NET. It’s not because of the METRO UI approach (although I like it very much). It’s not because of the fresh look and perfect match of the experience with the slate/tablet format (although I’ve expected this for such a long time). It’s probably because I’ve always been fascinated by a good chess game. It’s really amazing how some players, when they are under immense pressure, find the resources to avoid the “quick fix” move, opting for the more painful longer-term fix. Which is usually the only one that can lead to a strong end game. For me, this is the difference between great chess players and amateurs.
And that’s exactly what Microsoft is doing with Windows 8. By the looks of it, it’s going to be an amazing OS. True, there is still a huge amount of work to be done in order to harness and deliver the full potential of the new W8 concept. But it’s a real good feeling to see the guys in Redmond are indeed making the right moves towards ensuring that the platform so many of us love reinvents itself and rises to the challenges of the decade.
Let me finish by restating what I’ve said in another blog post: Microsoft looks more and more like a really COOL company.
I guess that says it all.
Subscribe