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[ZDNet] Hardware 2.0: Windows 8 Pro on Microsoft's Surface: A usability nightmare

post #1 of 20
7/11/12 at 7:23pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZDNet - Hardware 2.0 
Given that the x86 version will command a premium price tag, I'm somewhat surprised that this is the flavor that most people are interested in. However, when you quiz interested consumers about what draws them to the x86 flavor over the ARM version, one phrase keeps cropping up: "backward compatibility."

This should send some clear signals to the Redmonians.

First, and immediately most worrying for Microsoft, is that buyers -- lowly consumers and enterprise buyers alike -- are willing to pay a premium amounting to a few hundred dollars to avoid adopting the Windows RT platform and its reliance on Metro apps. If this is how things pan out across the board, it doesn't bode well for the long-term viability of the Windows RT platform, the Windows 8 Store, or the touch-based Metro user interface.

Article: http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-pro-on-microsofts-surface-a-usability-nightmare-7000000719/

My Take: A good read, and nevertheless shares my concerns with Windows 8. I mean, why doesn't everyone have a Windows Phone right now? Remember Windows PDAs? Yeah they didn't take off either. Your mileage may vary.
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post #2 of 20
7/11/12 at 7:54pm
Ya I share some of the concerns with Windows 8 for desktop use, but for tablet use I think Win8 will be pretty good. I will probably splurge and go for the pro, but the majority of the time I will probably be using it in the metro interface.

Hopefully they do clean up the constant switching between metro and classic, it is pretty annoying in the win8 RC.
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post #3 of 20
7/11/12 at 8:51pm
I've been shopping around for a UMPC for years, running XP on a 5" screen actually sounds great, but the fact that you usually got the hardware from a $300 Netbook in a $700 device is a big turnoff. Price to performance trumps form factor when you can get something an order of magnitude more powerful for the same price.
Right now Surface is being touted as something that competes with an Ultrabook, only smaller. If Surface can actually go toe to toe with a laptop in every aspect while having a far superior form factor there's no way I would buy another traditional laptop. On the other hand if they charge Ultrabook prices for Netbook hardware, then Surface doesn't actually offer anything we haven't seen before.
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post #4 of 20
7/11/12 at 9:31pm
I'm sure the pro is a lot faster, with an Ivy Bridge vs. ARM. That's probably the reason people are getting it.
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post #5 of 20
7/11/12 at 9:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by W4nderer View Post

I'm sure the pro is a lot faster, with an Ivy Bridge vs. ARM. That's probably the reason people are getting it.

Faster is hard to quantify. People think tablets are just as powerful because they open programs quickly when in reality it is just because all functionality is neutered for a mobile device. Example: I open Photoshop on my desktop it takes 4 seconds Photoshop on Android takes 3. If I didn't know better I would think my tablet is faster device. When people start loading full windows apps they better have enough CPU power backing it to make it seem just as fast as a mobile OS otherwise the average joe will ignore the extra functionality and just think its a slow tablet..

Sent from my AT300 using Tapatalk 2
Edited by cavallino - 7/11/12 at 10:06pm
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post #6 of 20
7/11/12 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavallino View Post

Faster is hard to quantify. People think tablets are just as powerful because they open programs quickly when in reality it is just because all functionality is neutered for a mobile device. Example: I open Photoshop on my desktop it takes 4 seconds Photoshop on Android takes 3. If I didn't know better I would think my tablet is faster device. When people start loading full windows apps they better have enough CPU power backing it to make it seem just as fast as a mobile OS otherwise the average joe will ignore the extra functionality and just think its a slow tablet..
Sent from my AT300 using Tapatalk 2

People are not that stupid
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post #7 of 20
7/12/12 at 12:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by startekee View Post

People are not that stupid

You have no idea.
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post #8 of 20
7/12/12 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by startekee View Post

People are not that stupid

Ye of little faith.
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post #9 of 20
7/12/12 at 1:41am
Ye of too much faith, I'd say.
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post #10 of 20
7/12/12 at 1:44am
A friend of mine was telling me at how average joe users figured out doing simple tasks such as accessing a network drive in Windows 8 easier compared with Windows 7 and its predecessors.

The problem is, we're seeing it from too high a perspective, we're all too familiar with how computers work to appreciate how dumbed down the Windows 8 interface is.
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