Do you think Microsoft still has a chance in the consumer mobile market? Or do you think WP and Windows RT will go down as Zunes/vistas and Google And Apple will reign supreme... Or is there any room for three players?
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Do you think Microsoft has a chance?
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I think the software is good, the biggest issue is app ecosystem. Why would a consumer buy a Windows phone for $99 that doesn't have Instagram, Vine, and all the games and apps people love vs. a 4S or midrange Android that capable of doing all those things. Something Microsoft needs to push more, but they can only do so much if developers only have budgets for two platforms. I think they have a decent chance but its not my problem to worry about they knew what they were signing up for.
I think they have a good chance. Since its microsoft, they will be having billions in backup and they are spending a good deal in giving those to developers to make apps.
Also, the concept of 'hybrid' is unique and hasnt been implemented by any other company. Being able to do microsoft office and then detaching it from the dock and able to play temple run is a godsend.
Since hybrids are currrently quite costly ( The prices will go down as microsoft is supposed to reduce royalty charges for Win8 manufacturers), once the prices go down and Windows 8 platform stabilizes, they will be very popular and people like me will adopt it straightway
Also, the concept of 'hybrid' is unique and hasnt been implemented by any other company. Being able to do microsoft office and then detaching it from the dock and able to play temple run is a godsend.
Since hybrids are currrently quite costly ( The prices will go down as microsoft is supposed to reduce royalty charges for Win8 manufacturers), once the prices go down and Windows 8 platform stabilizes, they will be very popular and people like me will adopt it straightway
Microsoft hasn't been able to get their computer operating system right after 30 years of trying. I'm certainly not going to trust their software on a mobile computing device when there are other viable alternatives.
I very much hope that Microsoft goes the way of the dinosaur and the sooner the better for everyone. They've tied us capital in the financial markets for too long and have stifled innovation as a result.
I very much hope that Microsoft goes the way of the dinosaur and the sooner the better for everyone. They've tied us capital in the financial markets for too long and have stifled innovation as a result.
I think if they can really crack the low end tablet market they may also capture some phone market once they get more apps and have an ecosystem people would actually buy into. Android and Apple are already there and they are a huge presence so MS has a long way to go. The other problem is they split their own market share with Win 8 and Win RT tablets. It confuses consumers and it creates a division of "haves" and "have nots" when you look at what one line of tablets is capable of (Surface Pro fully capable) versus the Surface and its more limited capabilities.
At least on the iPad line they're all capable of the same things when you buy any level of model across the current product line. There's no "you can't run that" on one while you can on another, and no matter what they do on Win RT the version of MS Office will not be what the full version is.
That's hurting them, which is ironic because iPads and Androids don't have MS Office at all (other than web app).
At least on the iPad line they're all capable of the same things when you buy any level of model across the current product line. There's no "you can't run that" on one while you can on another, and no matter what they do on Win RT the version of MS Office will not be what the full version is.
That's hurting them, which is ironic because iPads and Androids don't have MS Office at all (other than web app).
Nope, it is not better for everyone if MS where to disappear, might be for you
If MS went then I would have to move over to Linux, and I don't want to do that
No. Since WP7 all they've been is half assed. It's literally like they're not even trying. They update their software at glacial speeds and basically left nokia to fend for themselves.
Their PC software is good but as far as smartphones go, I think they're done. For now.
Their PC software is good but as far as smartphones go, I think they're done. For now.
Except that Windows 7 is seen as one of the best Operating Systems there is.
Also... why would we want Microsoft to die? Do you really want there to be fewer competitors?
Windows 8 isn't actually bad.
The UI takes some getting used to, but that hardly qualifies it as bad.
No. Microsoft is proposing an ecosystem. The problem is that people don't like Windows 8, Microsoft gives iOS and Android priority over Windows Phone, and the xbox one has become a running joke.
Meanwhile, I still don't have airplay like functionality on my surface, windows phone, or PC. Their best answer to the Apple TV is behind a $60/year paywall, and there's a definite app problem on every (metro) platform.
Microsoft can pull it off, but they're going to need a whole lot of goodwill to replace the 2 years of bad-will they've built up with me.
This coming from an MS fanboy with an xbox, 3 Windows Phones, and a gaming PC, and a moderate dislike for Apple (as a company, not their products).
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Say what you want about their business practices, but their mobile OS is very stable. I have had fewer problems with it than any other OS I can think of. Sometimes I hate the apps, and sometimes there aren't any apps to hate, but the OS itself is very robust and generally only lags or locks up due to hardware issues.
Meanwhile, I still don't have airplay like functionality on my surface, windows phone, or PC. Their best answer to the Apple TV is behind a $60/year paywall, and there's a definite app problem on every (metro) platform.
Microsoft can pull it off, but they're going to need a whole lot of goodwill to replace the 2 years of bad-will they've built up with me.
This coming from an MS fanboy with an xbox, 3 Windows Phones, and a gaming PC, and a moderate dislike for Apple (as a company, not their products).
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Say what you want about their business practices, but their mobile OS is very stable. I have had fewer problems with it than any other OS I can think of. Sometimes I hate the apps, and sometimes there aren't any apps to hate, but the OS itself is very robust and generally only lags or locks up due to hardware issues.
They most definitely have a chance. The Surface is an amazing product and Windows 7/8 are solid operating systems. They've been doing their best to shoot themselves in the foot though, Windows 8 should have shipped with the improvements coming in 8.1- simply having a Windows/Start button on the desktop would have eliminated so much of the whinging and animosity towards it. And the Xbox One.. oh dear, the DRM system has been a PR nightmare. I think they've automatically handed the no. 1 position to Sony in the next-gen console market.
MS needs to get rid of Metro or do a major overhaul on it. The only thing I like on Metro is the gestures, Email app and notifications.
They have a chance. Since W8 tablets are converged x86 devices, they're geared toward regaining PC revenue by disrupting the tablet market. Intel's roadmap will only make it easier for this to happen. I don't think WP8 will get on the level of Android or iOS but it could easily become the third place phone OS with a solid 10-20% marketshare, esp since WP8 share has been rising and BB has been dropping. If iOS 7 leads to brand erosion, it'll only accelerate the process.
I don't like the XBox One 24 hr check-in and I think their marketing (like most MS marketing) is a fail, but MS is trying to use DRM plus the internet to disrupt console game distribution, much like Apple used DRM plus the internet to disrupt music distribution. If they're successful, savings get passed down to consumers, which would screw with the business model taken for granted by Nintendo and Sony. There's also Kinect for the living room meant to disrupt set-top boxes and TV interfaces, and future tech like Illumroom.
This is not MS from 2010, where nothing they do makes sense. They're actually doing some innovative things right now geared toward disrupting the markets Apple and other companies are just sitting on their ass milking. Their brand eroded a long time ago so it's become a regular thing for critics to dismiss MS, but they can catch a lot of people sleeping if any one of these things becomes successful.
Instagram = Instance
Vine = 6 sec
I don't like the XBox One 24 hr check-in and I think their marketing (like most MS marketing) is a fail, but MS is trying to use DRM plus the internet to disrupt console game distribution, much like Apple used DRM plus the internet to disrupt music distribution. If they're successful, savings get passed down to consumers, which would screw with the business model taken for granted by Nintendo and Sony. There's also Kinect for the living room meant to disrupt set-top boxes and TV interfaces, and future tech like Illumroom.
This is not MS from 2010, where nothing they do makes sense. They're actually doing some innovative things right now geared toward disrupting the markets Apple and other companies are just sitting on their ass milking. Their brand eroded a long time ago so it's become a regular thing for critics to dismiss MS, but they can catch a lot of people sleeping if any one of these things becomes successful.
Instagram = Instance
Vine = 6 sec
Too bad the same can't be said about their computer operating system.
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By whose standard? I use Windows 7 every day at work and it is no better than Windows XP. I have to restart my computer at least once a day because some program or another locks up.
If Microsoft were to go away, another, better competitor would step in to fill the void left.
I honestly don't give a crap about what happens to Microsoft. They lost my support after Vista, the Zune, and the whole XBOX One DRM crap. They've screwed up every one of their recent products. (WP8, Windows 8, XBOX One, surface etc)
I feel bad about Nokia though. I'm a huge Nokia fan and they've sold their soul to Microsoft, in-exchange for mediocre WP8 devices. Nokia needs to get bought by another company or get on Android, put a PureView camera into it, and market the crap out of it. It will sell. Everyone knows about Nokia.
I feel bad about Nokia though. I'm a huge Nokia fan and they've sold their soul to Microsoft, in-exchange for mediocre WP8 devices. Nokia needs to get bought by another company or get on Android, put a PureView camera into it, and market the crap out of it. It will sell. Everyone knows about Nokia.
They definitely have.
- They have Nokia with hardware covering the entire spectrum - even delivering a much better camera at the high end than any of the alternatives (assuming the EOS' image quality will be at least as good as that of the 808. As it has just been confirmed to be a 41 Mpixel model (see http://mynokiablog.com/2013/06/19/nokia-eos-aka-41mp-nokia-wp-confirmed-by-nokia-conversations/ ), I don't think Nokia will fail to deliver.)
- iOS7 has confirmed to be much inferior to Windows Phone 8 / RT in several respects; for example, the lack of any kind of split-screen multitasking on iPads. (Something RT does absolutely excellently.)
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Let's see what happens. While I'd too prefer Android to WP8, I'll still purchase the Nokia EOS because it'll have by far the best camera.
- They have Nokia with hardware covering the entire spectrum - even delivering a much better camera at the high end than any of the alternatives (assuming the EOS' image quality will be at least as good as that of the 808. As it has just been confirmed to be a 41 Mpixel model (see http://mynokiablog.com/2013/06/19/nokia-eos-aka-41mp-nokia-wp-confirmed-by-nokia-conversations/ ), I don't think Nokia will fail to deliver.)
- iOS7 has confirmed to be much inferior to Windows Phone 8 / RT in several respects; for example, the lack of any kind of split-screen multitasking on iPads. (Something RT does absolutely excellently.)
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Let's see what happens. While I'd too prefer Android to WP8, I'll still purchase the Nokia EOS because it'll have by far the best camera.
I certainly think Microsoft has a chance, but they really need to speed up their updates, especially for Windows Phone. They have a solid base to build on, but they are taking way too long to add features that other platforms have. This is the main reason I've recently put my 8X in a drawer and switched back to android. I do like what they are doing with the Surface Pro and the equivalent offerings from other manufacturers though.
Eventually somebody would fill the void, but it would take a while.
As for you being able to lock up Windows 7 every day... that says more about you than Windows 7.
I think they have a chance but its going to be a company-betting strategy to make it work and most companies do not play that way, until its too late.
Convergence of their OS, good ecosystem deals and some continued success on the Xbox side of things could go a long way.
I hope they can make it work.
I installed Win 8 on a new gaming PC for my son recently and other than a few annoyances, it has gone pretty well. They still have the ability to design decent things and metro is not half bad.
Convergence of their OS, good ecosystem deals and some continued success on the Xbox side of things could go a long way.
I hope they can make it work.
I installed Win 8 on a new gaming PC for my son recently and other than a few annoyances, it has gone pretty well. They still have the ability to design decent things and metro is not half bad.
Cannot recall the last time I froze Win 7 or Win 8.
The fact that you manage to do that daily points the finger in your direction and not windows. Pic related... my uptime on my primary desktop in Windows 7. I average about 25 days of uptime and only need to reboot when there is a serious patch deployed or one of my programs that runs a service in the OS gets updated.
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As long as Windows Phone 8 is 'It,' and users can finally look forward to a proper software upgrade roadmap, I think it will gain traction. I think Microsoft is in this for the long haul, with no expectation of a miracle.
My employer has started handing Samsung Ativ phones to some of the sales people; the initial reaction is invariably one of surprise. For all it's faults, the main ones being depth and breadth of ecosystem, Windows Phone is actually rather nice, plays super nice with the corporate Exchange Server and works well with the main social networks. Over the summer, it should part to place nice with Google (CalDav, IMAP Idle and so on).
The only technical issue I've seen so far is that mobile Excel is extremely picky about what it will and will not let you edit.
My employer has started handing Samsung Ativ phones to some of the sales people; the initial reaction is invariably one of surprise. For all it's faults, the main ones being depth and breadth of ecosystem, Windows Phone is actually rather nice, plays super nice with the corporate Exchange Server and works well with the main social networks. Over the summer, it should part to place nice with Google (CalDav, IMAP Idle and so on).
The only technical issue I've seen so far is that mobile Excel is extremely picky about what it will and will not let you edit.
this x1000
I Have both ecosystems at home (Apple and Microsoft) and while the windows phone 8/RT/PC system interface is pretty, it just has less function than my apple stuff does.
After 8 months after windows phone 8 came out, I still don't have the ability to watch or purchase videos from XBOX video store. No wireless sync, nothing equal to airplay, no notification center, and no way to make smart playlists and have them sync, etc... I'm tired of hearing "just be patient, the fixes are coming" Its been 8 months, how hard can it be to program a notification center?
The potential is there for sure, but the execution of making it work is horrid. Its almost like they enjoy screwing themselves over. In the meantime, i think i'm going to the apple store to check out those new MBA...
Sorry Microsoft, fix your crap.