Out of Pod Experience

It's raining outside.

I'm sippin' chicken soup and dunkin' bread - and my mind wanders to Microsoft, who, like me, are trying to get every last drop out of the bowl.

So, they got Windows 8 hitting shelves sometime this year and I have to ask the question: why?

I mean, putting myself in the shoes of the Microsoft executives for a few uncomfortable seconds, I really have to ask whether anyone at that company has any idea about how people use computers, and, operating systems. Right now, if I were them, I wouldn't be changing a desktop operating system from M+K to TS, particularly if a few years ago you introduced new features to make better use of the operating system; championing M+K.

So, I got a few questions for you: How many of you...

a) Use a touch screen @ work/soho
b) Use a K+M @ work/soho
c) Use a combination off the two

And...

d) Would be interested in replacing your current monitor for a touchscreen monitor?

I'm going to take a leap and believe the answers are: (b) and that (d) = NO.

If that is correct, then I come back to 'why?'

Why create an operating system designed for tablets and phones, and then put it on a desktop? Not even Apple 'the innovators' were bold enough for that; they understood the difference between desktops and mobile devices.

So, I'm stuck at the 'why' - can anyone enlighten me?

There's soup for the right answer.

AK

BUZZZZZT

Wrong answer, no soup for you.

You believe touchscreen monitors on desks are cool?

You must be one of those people who have tissues on their desks.

Because they could not find any other selling point gimmic and enough people are dumb enough to fall for it or at least they get nice kikback from touchscreen manufacturers and you just know they will force new system sellers to put win8 on all new machines as OEM. And they will probably launch DX12 on win8 only and not on win7. It worked before it will work again and we will eat crud and like it because we have no choice.

Vertical touchscreen for desktop work is a idiotic idea. How the hell can that even work? Mobile things and even tablets yes or some of those crazy office tables where the plate is a monitor sure but normal monitor with touch is stupid.

Or you know maybe they follow the habit of one windows is ok and one windows must suck cycle so we will gladly rush to buy win9 when it finally comes out because we hate win8 so much even if we bought it already anyway because we needed some features.

At work I have to type, very frequently large amounts of stuff.

Therefore I require a real keyboard, not some virtual touchscreen POS.

I can type about 5 to 10 WPM while texting but much faster (depending on the content) on a real keyboard.

I can't see a whole lot of businesses using Win8 unless Win7 is forcefully retired. That will be quite some time off, XP is still alive and it's 10 years old.

(I use Linux both at work and home anyway, so IDGAF about MS)

Meh. Following Microsofts good/bad/good/bad pattern, this one will suck and be ignored, just like Vista and ME.

I guess a big public beta paid for by all of the MS users is kind of handy. also something about money.

Windows 8 also has a desktop mode for......guess.

people like me who are afraid of change!?!?!

I guess it's to bring it inline with Windows mobile. They probably figure that many people won't want to get to know lots of different operating systems for their work PC, home PC, tablet & phone, so will go windows as it's will be, more or less, the same for all.

I quite like the interface on my windows phone, but I can't see it working on a desktop or a laptop either really. Touchscreens are fine for light use, but if you need to do a lot of work that will involve lots of touching the smears will drive you mad. Long live the mouse!