First of all, sorry that I’ve been remiss in writing for the past few weeks. I’ve been doing a little traveling and the intentions to sit in my hotel room and write at the end of the day always sound better than they are. What follows are a few shorter posts to prime the engine again.
Last week Microsoft released Windows 8, the next major operating system for desktops, laptops, and tablets. As with any industry release there was celebration and analysis. My understanding is that the new OS is pretty good, and that the Surface Tablet has some real potential (based on the commercial, it certainly has a future as prop for dance numbers). I say “my understanding” because I haven’t really read anything about this product. I haven’t installed it on my desktop, and I don’t intend to.
This observation has (of course) led to self-analysis and questioning. How have I come from the time when I installed Windows 7 on the first day it was available for preview to this point of complete apathy? Thinking it through, I’ve come up with 3 theories, each of which says something about me and something about the industry.
- When I do use a desktop at work or (very occasionally) at home, I’m completely happy with Windows 7. From the start I have liked almost everything about the OS. It kept the parts of earlier systems that worked and were comfortable, and cleaned up the mess that was Windows Vista. Among the features I’ve seen for Windows 8, there is nothing that I have ever felt I needed. Now I know in the nature of the business that at some point I’ll have to learn a new OS, but I’m seeing this now as a necessary evil, to be put off as long as possible.
- Much of the effort in creating the new OS has gone into making a seamless experience from desktop to tablet to phone. Therefore the metaphors of the OS are much more closely related to the tablet than to previous desktop operating systems. This is a good point, but given my iPad/iPhone universe, I don’t want to run a desktop like a tablet to coordinate with a different set of devices.
- I’m bored with the “me too-ism” of this move. Like the Zune was to the iPod, the surface product is just another tablet. I don’t know why I would move off the iPad for my principal mobile device unless a competitor was 100% better (and 50% cheaper).
Now this may just be me. There may be millions of excited consumers who want to stand in line for these products. I also may be making the same mistake I made when pooh-poohing the iPad in not seeing a major transformative development. Maybe in three months I’ll be singing another toon (“a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds” Emerson). But on the surface, I just can’t see it.
As always, I invite your comments.
Image Credit: Microsoft Surface publicity image. Used without permission (but I’m sure they won’t mind)
Posted with Blogsy