Windows 8.1 won't save Windows 8 [View all]

[douglas9]

Column: It's still a pig with lipstick

SOFTWARE HOUSE Microsoft's Windows 8 PC operating system tanked this past year, dragging down global PC hardware sales, and the firm's Windows 8.1 fixpack isn't likely going to recover from that market failure this year.

Initially dismissive of Apple's iPad but then panicked by its undeniable market success, Microsoft was in denial and dithered for years before finally reacting with all the agility and speed of a wounded mastodon. However, it was blind to the media consumer paradigm shift represented by the iPad and tried to force tablet punters to buy into its Windows cash cow.

In making that design choice, Microsoft not only ignored the market segmentation created by the iPad and competing touchscreen tablets, it failed to recognise that tablets are aimed at and bought by people who primarily use them to consume internet content and media, rather than create documents, spreadsheets and presentations, which was Windows' strength and made it easy for many ordinary people to use.

Thus, Microsoft developed and released a regurgitation of Windows 7 in Windows 8 that was both insulting to longtime Windows users, because it broke the operating systems's most basic user interface metaphors and means of interaction, and unattractive to tablet users due to its awkwardness, as shown by the $900m hit the firm took on its Surface RT tablet. Tweaking Windows 8 here and there with Windows 8.1 won't fix those basic blunders.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/opinion/2300095/windows-81-wont-save-windows-8