With tablet, Microsoft takes aim at hardware missteps
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 25th Jun 2012 08:50 UTC
Microsoft The New York Times further fans the flames of the emerging uneasiness between Microsoft and its hardware partners. As the paper reports, Microsoft decided it needed to get into the hardware game (with Surface) after the utter failure of HP's Slate 500 Windows 7 tablet. "Microsoft worked with other hardware partners to devise products that would be competitive with the iPad, but it ran into disagreements over designs and prices. 'Faith had been lost' at Microsoft in its hardware partners, including by Steven Sinofsky, the powerful president of Microsoft's Windows division, according to [a] former Microsoft executive." The biggest news is not Surface itself. It's the changing industry it represents. Microsoft failed to deliver capable smartphone/tablet software, which pissed off OEMs, who, in turn, turned to Android (and webOS for HP) - which in turn pissed off Microsoft, leading to Surface. Had Microsoft gotten its act together sooner, we'd have had far better OEM products.
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Back to the old days.
by moondevil on Mon 25th Jun 2012 09:28 UTC
moondevil
Member since:
2005-07-08

While I enjoy the freedom of installing the OS of choice in my computer, I miss what a computer meant back in the 80-90's.

When I talk about an Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari, Apple, etc. The name of the computer is an experience of hardware and software, made to work together.

The PC brought the freedom of hardware and software integration, and with it the bloatware and crapware that most OEM use to differentiate themselves. Something that is now spreading to the mobile world.

And lets not fool ourselves, if OEMs start selling Linuxes with their boxes, we will have HP Linux, Dell Linux, Toshiba Linux, ... .

I for one would gladly get a PC from Microsoft if it meant getting a proper integrated experience, without bloatware.

We all know about their bad practices in the industry but I doubt any MegaCorp would play nice.

Reply Score: 9

RE: Back to the old days.
by dvhh on Mon 25th Jun 2012 11:04 in reply to "Back to the old days."
dvhh Member since:
2006-03-20

did you meant an XBOX ? of course you can not run office on it yet ;)

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE: Back to the old days.
by peejay on Mon 25th Jun 2012 11:59 in reply to "Back to the old days."
peejay Member since:
2005-06-29

I for one would gladly get a PC from Microsoft if it meant getting a proper integrated experience, without bloatware.


Actually, you can.

"Many new PCs come filled with lots of trialware and sample software that slows your computer down—removing all that is a pain, so we do it for you! Every PC the Microsoft Store sells is put on a software diet and performance is tuned to run the best it can."

http://signature.microsoft.com/

Reply Parent Score: 5

RE: Back to the old days.
by MOS6510 on Mon 25th Jun 2012 12:51 in reply to "Back to the old days."
MOS6510 Member since:
2011-05-12

I could only give you a +1, I'd rather give you a +10. I too miss the time when a computer was a complete product of hardware and software. It gave it a personality and it made them all different and interesting.

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE[2]: Back to the old days.
by zima on Wed 27th Jun 2012 18:09 in reply to "RE: Back to the old days."
zima Member since:
2005-07-06

Also limited sort of by design, with plenty of efforts duplication for not really that much of a difference, easily obsoleted without a clear upgrade path and overall relatively expensive long-term.
You know, just remember the wider picture :p

Reply Parent Score: 2

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RE: Back to the old days.
by zima on Wed 27th Jun 2012 18:13 in reply to "Back to the old days."
zima Member since:
2005-07-06

I miss what a computer meant back in the 80-90's.

When I talk about an Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari, Apple, etc. The name of the computer is an experience of hardware and software, made to work together.

But then here http://www.osnews.com/permalink?523578 you seem to sort of grumble about it?...

And you know, there was plenty of shovelware back in the day, too (well, at least it was bloating only floppy or cassette numbers)

Reply Parent Score: 2