Windows 8 Makes a Big Impact at Computex

My Predictions:

Windows 8 for desktops/laptops in enterprise or educational settings will fail.  It’s the antithesis of productivity.   It’s like walking eight miles to 7-11 when there’s one on the corner a block from your house.  Ten clicks with the mouse in the Metro UI as opposed to typing a few letters in the search bar on the start menu and getting exactly what you want.  The software is meant to utilize a touchscreen, but most offices won’t shell out for a touchscreen monitor…Heck, most offices I know of are still using XP (my entire school district has been on XP since we finally got rid of the ones running 2K last year). 

I know you can go to a regular Windows desktop on Win8, but without the start menu….People are going to be lost.  Windows 8 appears to be more of an interface overhaul than anything else, and for the desktop, people are not ready for this. 

Windows 8 = NOT FOR PCs.

I can see Windows 8 RT doing a bit better, but that is specifically for consumption devices with mild production.  While people will write essays and post blogs from a tablet (I do it all the time already), I don’t see someone writing a technical document or a novel using a touch-screen device even when bundled with a keyboard. That, and not actually being able to run legacy Windows software on RT (which no one has made a big deal about) is a real drag.  My first assumption was that I would be running a full version of Office and using Photoshop like I could on my laptop….I was really pumped for Windows 8 on a tablet because I was under the impression I could use all my Windows software…Not gonna happen on a tablet running RT. 

For the majority of businesses investing in tablets, I absolutely believe Windows tablets will be at the head of the pack.  Won’t have anything special to set up to get them on the existing networks; they’ll do Exchange, etc. just fine.  Connecting to the print servers, using peripherals, and such will be a wonderful asset for business.  With the right price, I see them completely obliterating the iPad in terms of corporate sales.

When it comes to consumers at home, they’re likely going to stick with what they like/have already….If they’re new users, they’re going to get what they have at work (probably Windows, possibly iOS).  I’m going to skip Windows 8 RT and go straight for the Transformer Infinity TF700T.  I have no use for a Windows tablet, and I imagine if I do get one it will be through work in the upcoming year.  I’m not a hardcore Android fanboy, but I can’t see Windows 8 really taking a large cut of Android or iOS sales from home users and families.

My reasoning, as a current tablet user, for the decision I’ve made for purchases are simple:  I got Android because it was on the Pandigital Novel I got years ago.  I enjoyed it so much I got the NookColor, also Android…I’ve spent a lot of time tinkering with it, installing different ROMS, and made a lot of software purchases through Google Play and Amazon.  I think the iPad3 is a fantastic product, but the apps I’ve purchased on Android already aren’t available for iOS and I don’t want to spend all that money again to get into a different ecosystem.  Same reason I won’t go with Windows 8 RT.  I, like many others, am going to stick with what I have already and what I’ve already spent my time and money investing in.