This might be a hit in the tablet world, but for anyone who is any bit like a power user is likely going to hate this in the desktop/laptop world. Also, this will sufficiently piss off developers (At least the ones trying to maintain a product).
GJ said about 2 hours later
I gave up developing Windows apps back in 1998, and haven't looked back.
GJ said about 2 hours later
Oh, and as a power user, I despise Vista and Windows 7. I have no expectations that Windows 8 will be any better. I toyed with Linux on and off for a few years, and given the fact that I play next to no modern Windows-only games anyhow, we're definitely moving the desktop rigs to Linux in another year or two. Darcy's Win 7 laptop will stay Win 7 as long as she can stand it. :)
Geoff said about 2 hours later
Yeah this is totally for tablets (basically a desktop version of their phone it appears). I don't think it is terrible for casual PC users (Internet, Email, Games)...I think most OS's (be it Windows or Mac) are overkill for the average user. Something like this simplified experience is more than enough for those people. Of course, all they really need is an iPad (with Flash). Obviously, this doesn't work for folks like us, though a simplified experience to get at Applications is really all I need. I think Desktop's are going the way of the dinosaur, so it is actually a little refreshing to see something like this used for OS's, but I disagree wholeheartedly about Icons. I'm sorry, but a well executed icon can speak volumes far quicker than boxes of text. Especially when you have a lot of information to display, icons are still king (at least for us dinosaurs).
Sure the temperature outside is one scenario that supports their claim, but give me a break, how important is the damn weather on your computer. You going to explain a spreadsheet in your little box? How about a Word Document? A Video game? Give me a break. All of those can be accomplished with Icons and leaves boxes in the dust (since a box won't be big enough to describe those).
I thought that is why they came up with Widgets and Gadgets. Far better execution (Widgets on the Mac of course).
Again, good for tablet devices. Not for workstations.
Marc said about 3 hours later
Yea, Geoff I completely agree. Apple, IMO, is doing it right with their operating systems. They have the iOS for phones and the iPad which works very effectively there. Their Mac OS X features still feel very natural on the desktop and they are taking some of the great parts of the iPad and integrating it into their next desktop version. The desktop is still a very different use for nearly every person, but I think the idea of a laptop for just chilling on the couch with is gone and the tablet is finally filling that role. Trying to use the same OS for two very different things is stretching things a bit too far.
But I totally agree on the desktop thing. They aren't going to disappear for the people who literally live on the computer, but certainly the average user could get by at home with something like an iPad.
Personally when I saw the Microsoft Kin phone which first introduced this horribly ugly design, I thought it would fail and it did tremendously. Windows Phone 7 kept a very similar interface and it's doing only slightly better than the Kin (iOS and Android are blowing it out of the water). So even if Microsoft is seeing tablets as the next big thing in computers and Windows 8 is their solution, I don't think they'll end up winning this battle. iOS and even Android both own this market pretty well and people just like and understand their interfaces so much more.
GJ said about 14 hours later
Microsoft isn't winning any battles of late, which is why shareholders are demanding Ballmer's head. Not surprisingly, they want Gates to come out of retirement.
Marc said about 15 hours later
Unfortunately I don't think Gates would have the same successful return that Jobs had. Mostly because people are interested in innovation nowadays and copycats of any kind tend to struggle. Gates is better off with his foundation, which is actually a really good use of his time (and more importantly money).
GJ said about 17 hours later
Whoever they bring in needs to give Microsoft an identity. They don't really have one, beyond the guys that maintain the service packs for Windows XP.
