Windows 8 - another Vista?

 I couldn't find a better title for this post as that's the comparison Windows 8 is receiving after its introduction by Microsoft.

So will it be another Vista?

It’s a fact that Vista was a failure - but mainly due to its notorious support for hardware drivers.  Users had issues with the existing drivers and devices they had, on Windows Vista, leading to frustration araising due to their devices not supported on the new OS at that time. The new kind of UI that was introduced doesn’t seems to be of an issue. If that was case then Windows 7 could be marked as a failure.

"The timing of Windows 8 also is in favour. Its launch coincides with the majority of Windows XP users who are without any active support from Microsoft, Third parties and Device manufactures. "

Whether that's the case with Windows 8? 

Certainly not. I have been using Windows 8 RC and then Enterprise Version in the past two months.  Installation of both the Releases on my Desktop which houses a 4 year old Motherboard and Intel Core 2 Duo was pretty smooth barring the head ache of getting my existing Programs and Settings from old Windows XP.  

All the hardware worked out of the box 

      * Existing on-board Sound and Video chips

      * A not so well known Firewire PCI card

      * Benq LCD monitor

      * Canon Pixma Wi-Fi Printer

      * A not so well known 3 year old web-cam, which worked after loading the Drivers that came with the product

I would say the hardware integration including your networked devices is pretty good in this Version. Your networked Blu-ray Players, Media Players, TV etc. can be brought into your Desktop environment without any additional efforts. Sharing Media across the devices is easy.

 So my experience on that front as captured above rules out that Windows 8 will be another Vista (from my view point).

 

So what else, as per the analysts will make Windows 8 a failure?

UI !!!  - This is the major culprit as per them.

I'm bored with the existing UI I find in earlier Windows versions and other OS that exist today. The same icons, bordered windows. The restriction of your programs with in a specific area on your screen space etc. We started with plain flat icons, over a period of time we moved to colourful three dimensional ones. But the underlying interface by which you interacted with your OS remained the same.  Main menu to Sub Menu…Icons… Dialog boxes...Windows...

Windows Phone Metro UI was a treat. I don't own a Windows Phone 7 device. But based on my interaction with my friend's devices and that at show rooms, I can say it’s refreshing. You move away from your legacy UI to more Dynamic UI where information or Alerts are presented on tiles. Each application or alert occupies its own space without any clutter. Your current application occupies the entire screen space, no restriction or borders of any nature. Microsoft is finally embracing Cloud and Social Networking. The integration with the OS is flawless. You don’t need to visit multiple apps to see you social updates.

 

 So what’s the issue in migrating the same UI to desktop??

“I don’t have my Start button” “Windows 8 have dual character – Windows8 UI and the legacy Desktop”

The complaints contradict each other.  You hate the Windows8 UI but on top you complain it still has the Desktop environment.

“I miss the Start button” “Navigation is painful”   “No clue how to switch between open applications”  “How do I shut down my Desktop?”   “UI works best on touch enabled devices”

Let’s rewind. DOS to Windows 3.1, Windows 3.1 to Windows 95.  Did we (applicable only for those who have used these versions  )  completely boycott these versions?  Let History answer that.

Microsoft is readying Windows for the new touch enabled devices that are launching in coming years. Change always is painful and frustrating. But change is inevitable in moving forward and embracing the new.  Apple said we will not support Flash, we made noise, competitors advertised, with Flash support their devices have an edge on Apple’s. But, where are we now?  Adobe itself have decided no more mobile flash releases.  All major vendors and mobile OS now are moving to HTML5. Will we stop there? No. Something more appealing and innovative will come and we will move to that.

For those complain about missing ‘Start button’ and ‘confusing navigation’

I’ll take the “adaptability” behaviour of human beings to counter that. We are better known for our adaptability.  People have switched from Symbian OS to Android. Android to iOS. iOS to Android(inviting criticism ). Those who have done that switch knows that we struggled for the first 5 days or max 10 days in getting ourselves to adapt to the new environment. By this time frame we would have mastered all that is required to accomplish our day to day activities. Later, we stumble upon on few occasions when we use a new feature on the Device. But did we stopped there and dumped the new Device complaining about that?  We have spent our hard money on that purchase.  We moved on, until we find our next craze!! .

On usability of Windows 8 – My below 10 year old kid uses the new Windows environment with as ease as Ubuntu …occasional Windows XP…. and iOS. Yes the kid didn’t have an easy time on first usage, but learned when I demonstrated.

Now let’s take two groups of users who may migrate to Windows 8

 

Existing Users

 

The numbers depend heavily on this category.  Anybody on a Windows XP/Vista will definitely switch to Windows 8  without any complaints. Those who are on Windows 7 are the ones who think twice, but ultimately switch when the “use the latest” syndrome grows over them.

 

Users who are purchasing their next device – a Desktop or a Tablet or a Mobile

 

On multiple instances I have seen on show rooms people insisting on getting new Versions of Software on their Desktops or Laptops when they are making a purchase. They seems to be complaining or ignoring those which were shipping with an old version when a new version is already available or have announced. So with this mentality this category will definitely ask for Windows 8 to be available on their potential devices.

 

But how many of the customers opt for a new Desktop is a different question. As people are more inclined to go for a Laptop/netbook or a tablet now a days. The latter is the most preferred one. So when Windows 8 tablets launches that area is covered.

 So Windows 8 will be a failure?

In my viewpoint and the facts that I have analysed it will not be a failure. People will adapt with their new OS.

•  The timing of Windows 8 also is in favour. Its launch coincides with the majority of Windows XP users who are without any active support from Microsoft, Third parties and Device manufactures.


• The UI as such is ready for Touch enabled devices which will be the ones you see in future.


• Also for the content consuming user base which are in majority. Windows 8 is covered well in those areas. 


• Enterprise users will go for it, as naturally all the new Desktops & Laptops will come pre-loaded with Windows 8. Integration into existing IT Infrastructure also favours them. But Enterprises don't jump to a new Version as soon as it is launched, it takes almost near to an year when they migrate. Some may still stick to Windows 7 until it phases out.

Windows 8 if it fails it will not be because of the new UI, but it depends on the numbers that will sell.

So all those who are wasting their energy complaining about Windows 8 – options left are either switch to a Mac or be more productive and come together and a design a new OS itself. Ultimately, necessity or frustration is the trigger for innovation or invention.