Posted on 07/06/2010 12:30:05 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Here’s the short story: Leaked NDA Microsoft slides that landed on an Italian blog site have spread like wildfire. The content of the slides shows that Microsoft is pushing some innovative technology for Windows 8, but also very much looking to Apple’s business model for inspiration. Here’s some analysis.
First, a tip of the hat to Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet for condensing the story. She sourced the Microsoft Kitchen blog that covered the leak, and that blog, in turn sourced the Italian blog ‘Windowsette’ that scooped the leak, which in turn was picked up by most of the Apple rumors sites that I read. Bottom line? This stuff is everywhere.
But other than the plethora of new features, technology, and 2012 timeline Microsoft has laid out for the release of Windows 8, there’s one very interesting slide in particular.
No, you’re not seeing things. That’s an — allegedly — internal slide from the Microsoft Windows team, asking themselves how Apple does so damn well, and how they can mimic the results. The best part is? They’ve even focused on Apple’s mantra “It Just Works.” What’s more interesting than that is the focus on value and user experience. Windows Vista was a focus on flashier graphics, but didn’t do so hot in the UX field. Windows 7 finally started to nail that down, and my assumption is that Windows 8 will be much more fluid, futuristic and minimalistic-ly modern a-la Mac OS X.
Worth repeating: value is the focus here. Microsoft wants to create something people want to pay for, other than something people simply buy because it’s cheaper or preloaded on a PC. Apple has shown that a price tag isn’t as big of a deal when the product has a high level of worth and desirability and functionality.
Lastly, the above picture of the computer is — dare I say it — an iMac prototype clone for a “Windows” computer running Windows 8. In case you were curious, other leaked slides detail that there may be a Windows App store, plus faster start-up and shutdown time, a refocus on functionality and snappier user experience, easier recovery, restore and reset and a facial recognition system for logging in for enhanced security.
Officially, Microsoft hasn’t made a comment, but we didn’t think they would.
Here’s to Windows 8.
Do you think it is Apple’s goal to be the dominant PC OS? Is that what their business plan is set up to achieve?
This is news? They have been doing this since the very first issues of Windows. Apple usually does it and then a year later so does windows.
Surely you know MS success is from being in the right place at the right time. It has nothing to do with the quality of their product. In fact, it is despite their product. Now they are so ingrained, and have been since the beginning, it is almost impossible to dislodge them.
Were their product better there wouldn’t even be other systems out there.
Nonsense. You only imagine that they make hideous looking computers.
Nonsense. You only imagine that they make hideous looking computers.
Yes very true my brother works for the big X corp and says that in meetings where the bigwigs come in this still comes up somestimes as this is their biggest scr*w up and no one ever wants to repeat it.What they could’ve made off of that if they hadn’t have sold it so cheap!
No, I have eyes. They are fugly! You clearly have no taste.
Bottom line: Microsoft’s OS is the big turn-off. It sucks, big time!
LOL! Now THAT was funny!
Microsoft doesn’t build computers. Whatever computers you’ve imagined they’ve built are hideous because you’ve chosen to imagine them that way.
I don't think Microsoft will copy this one, however...
Microsoft and everything they make is awful. The Zune is an abomination.
Then why do businesses keep buying and running Exchange servers? Are they all stupid?
Microsoft is the standard. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.
I used Windows based machines all day, and come home to Macs. There simply is no comparison. The Mac OS is better by far.
Why do you want to get into this argument? You like Microsoft. Enjoy it, I’ll keep using the platform I prefer with absolutely no input from you.
I kind of like getting people who make emotional, hyperbolic generizations stop and objectively examine what they've just said.
The hellishness that is Microsoft transcends hyperbole.
You are welcome to it.
I was speaking of the first case of the copyright infringement suit. The piracy of the Quicktime code was settled out of court, so Microsoft admitted no guilt, but you're right, they were not exonerated.
And yet you indirectly enjoy the benefits of the capabilities they provide all the companies that use them you do business with. Nice. Are you offended by having to share the road with ugly UPS trucks?
Isn’t that why Microsoft has a “Recycle Bin”?
I remember seeing a Lisa back about 1982, and it had an icon driven system, and sure enough, there was a Garbage Can.
I think MS thought about making it a garbage can but decided they didn’t want to face the lawsuits.
The faster we go, the rounder we get - sounds like Windows 1.0 taking GUI from the Micintosh.
We must also go back to Xerox where .... whats a Micintosh?
Why is it that every Microsoft FanBoy feels the need to convert.
Enjoy your OS, I’ll enjoy mine without your input.
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