Bill Gates thinks Windows tablets have a big chance against iPad & Android ones

[AQ_OC]

I don't expect to keep using any platform till I die, unless I end up living a sort life, lol. But that said, I won't switch just for the sake of switching.

When it comes to any field, especially when your competitor has such a big head start, you cannot come to market and not offer a significant differentiator -- in features, price, convenience, etc. If people have already invested time, money, know how, etc., into another product, and that product has already established itself as a relatively reliable and convenient one, you're not getting them to switch just because you joined the market. And the more momentum a competitor already has, the harder it is for you to gain a foothold, even among people who are buying for the first time.

In tablets, MS isn't offering enough to differentiate so far -- in price, features or convenience. And just having Bill G say something like a keyboard is a differentiator is a joke, especially when there are plenty of choices for iPad keyboards for those who want them.

I don't disagree with anything you've said....but let's not for get that lots and lots of folks have Windows stuff already...the easy to moving your work to a windows tablet could be compelling for many....the only thing stuff folks...is...well, $1200, and that lousy interface.

If it weren't for the fact that I own a very nice Windows convertible that runs Win7, I'd get a MS tablet (or one of the others) in a minute. It would not replace my iPad, however. But I have a well-defined use for a Windows laptop, which to me, is what a Surface is....in my mind it is just not an iPad killer. No way....but then again, it doesn't need to be to live in my world. I think if of it as the next step when I upgrade my laptop.

I thought that whole keyboard thing was a big joke...but it seemed to make a different to some people...but the notion of paying extra for it...it's like they wanted to force the idea of it being a tablet right down your throat....while the truth is to do anything useful with a Surface, the keyboard is a requirement (IMO).

 

[AQ_OC]

Hi Kay Ka . . .
I have had every MS OS since 95.
Vista gave me 3 years of trouble free computing.
So I don't think it was a disaster, even if MS does
I currently use W8 for the heavy lifting and it is super, almost as good as an iPad!

You were lucky. I had a dell convertible that came with Vista...it was one headache after another UNTIL I installed Win7 on it. Then it became usable. Fortunately, I kept Vista off all of my desktops.

 

[Deleted member 247820]

Agree with you on XP and Win 7. The funny thing about what a dog Vista was, I remember at the time being appalled how crappily it worked and reading how even people at MS thought it sucked, lol. They tried to salvage it later, but its reputation was tainted at that point.

The tiles in Win 8 don't bother me much, but I don't find them an improvement. I don't use it much, though, and see no incentive in upgrading at this point. Personally, I'd rather have a solid OS that just works reliably; I don't need gimmicky tiles or whatnot.

Hi K K and all.
Like I said, I had no problems at all with Vista.
As well what I tried to say was that after many installs of both XP and Vista for many people, Vista gave the less problems with the after market apps or as MS called them Programs.
Still I accept your opinion from your point of view. It is shared by many.

 

[AQ_OC]

I'm still using XP on the computer. My wife's laptop has Win7

I prefer XP!

Really? XP was fine..but Win7 is more stable. XP could be made to crash....much much harder to do that on Win7. And frankly, except for that Modern UI junk, Win8 is even better than 7.

IMO, Win7 was the first true, stable OS from MS. XP was the first usable one.

 

[AQ_OC]

Believe it or not, most of what Vista was is in Win7. So Peter is correct to some extent...but the drivers kept Vista from being a good OS...once Win7 came out, you could install it on basically everything...even older PCs (I have it on some really old junky PCs....now people hate on Win8....but that is mainly because of the silly UI...but it can be replace with a three or four third party solutions....Win8 has several things that are just better than Win7. It's too bad MS didn't have more foresight. My question is, what do those bigwigs at MS get paid for? They should have seen this coming....and provided an alternative interface. IYAM, they should all be fired immediately. They get paid too much to allow blunders like this to occur. Do they just hang out in Redmond with their collective heads in holes in the ground?

 

[Kaykaykay]

I don't disagree with anything you've said....but let's not for get that lots and lots of folks have Windows stuff already...the easy to moving your work to a windows tablet could be compelling for many....the only thing stuff folks...is...well, $1200, and that lousy interface.

If it weren't for the fact that I own a very nice Windows convertible that runs Win7, I'd get a MS tablet (or one of the others) in a minute. It would not replace my iPad, however. But I have a well-defined use for a Windows laptop, which to me, is what a Surface is....in my mind it is just not an iPad killer. No way....but then again, it doesn't need to be to live in my world. I think if of it as the next step when I upgrade my laptop.

I thought that whole keyboard thing was a big joke...but it seemed to make a different to some people...but the notion of paying extra for it...it's like they wanted to force the idea of it being a tablet right down your throat....while the truth is to do anything useful with a Surface, the keyboard is a requirement (IMO).

I can see the appeal of moving Windows for people who really want a tablet for work, for instance. But for many people, myself among them, a tablet is for a different function than a laptop or PC, at least at this point. My tablets are my entertainment gadgets for the most part. When I work, I need my PCs at the office, or my laptop in a pinch. And some people don't even need a laptop or PC, and I doubt many of those people have much to migrate if that's the case -- from Windows or otherwise.

People like you and me, who own multiple tablets, are the exception. Most people will own one at a time, and will tend to stick with what's familiar and what already works reliably and conveniently, IMO, unless something significantly better comes along.

I'm still open to getting a Surface or another Windows tab down the line, but I've not been tempted enough yet. For me, it was like with Android -- I didn't buy until they got it stable enough and functional enough for my needs. And even then, they had to offer me something that I wasn't already getting from my iDevices. In the case of my phone, it was a bigger screen. In the case of my Android tabs, it was a mix of functionality, form factor and price.

 

[Deleted member 247820]

Believe it or not, most of what Vista was is in Win7. So Peter is correct to some extent...but the drivers kept Vista from being a good OS...once Win7 came out, you could install it on basically everything...even older PCs (I have it on some really old junky PCs....now people hate on Win8....but that is mainly because of the silly UI...but it can be replace with a three or four third party solutions....Win8 has several things that are just better than Win7. It's too bad MS didn't have more foresight. My question is, what do those bigwigs at MS get paid for? They should have seen this coming....and provided an alternative interface. IYAM, they should all be fired immediately. They get paid too much to allow blunders like this to occur. Do they just hang out in Redmond with their collective heads in holes in the ground?

Hello AQ.
My personal view is that MS OSs are designed by geeks who think their designs are great.
Then the release previews are tested by more geeks, who think the geek designers are great.

Hmmm I did not say that Vista drivers were the ant's pants, I said that the Vista drivers were heaps better and heaps more than in XP.
Alas I did not say that Vista was better than W7.
I was simply sticking up for Vista in general
However I concede XP lives whilst Vista dies!

Good to chat!

 

[AQ_OC]

Peter,
MS must use the wrong geeks!
They need a geek like me to get the on the path to glory!

 

[Deleted member 247820]

Peter,
MS must use the wrong geeks!
They need a geek like me to get the on the path to glory!

Amen to that AC!
If you turn up in the gorilla suit, you will get instant respect!

 

[Deleted member 247820]

Amen to that AC!
If you turn up in the gorilla suit, you will get instant respect!

Sorry I meant AQ!

 

[HappyPelican]

I upgraded my laptop to W8 and it definetly took some getting used to. I rather liked seeing MS thinking a bit out of the box even if the two layouts are somewhat redundant. With that being said, I don't think MS does nor ever will have a dog in the tablet race. Between Apple and a few of the higher end Android tablets, there just isn't any place for MS.

 

[s2mikey]

I upgraded my laptop to W8 and it definetly took some getting used to. I rather liked seeing MS thinking a bit out of the box even if the two layouts are somewhat redundant. With that being said, I don't think MS does nor ever will have a dog in the tablet race. Between Apple and a few of the higher end Android tablets, there just isn't any place for MS.

I agree. MS should concentrate on making sure their OS and business apps remain strong and steady. That's their market. Just like apples market is portable devices, phones and tablets. Apple trying to shoehorn their way into business with laptops and desktops would likely also be a fruitless venture.

As for MS operating systems, I liked XP the best and feel windows 7 and Vista were a tie. I have two toshiba laptops and one has Vista, the other one has 7 on it. The vista one is a little slower but honestly I've had more little issues and hiccups with the 7 system than I have vista. Go figure.

 

[Deleted member 247820]

I upgraded my laptop to W8 and it definetly took some getting used to. I rather liked seeing MS thinking a bit out of the box even if the two layouts are somewhat redundant. With that being said, I don't think MS does nor ever will have a dog in the tablet race. Between Apple and a few of the higher end Android tablets, there just isn't any place for MS.

Hello Happy P . . .

Whats to learn?
W8 is two systems in one package. At forty bucks the cheapest ever.
It's so easy to use.
It is only difficult because people want to turn it into something that was.

 

[AQ_OC]

I upgraded my laptop to W8 and it definetly took some getting used to. I rather liked seeing MS thinking a bit out of the box even if the two layouts are somewhat redundant. With that being said, I don't think MS does nor ever will have a dog in the tablet race. Between Apple and a few of the higher end Android tablets, there just isn't any place for MS.

The thing about Win8's interface is it is totally non-intuitive. The tiles don't bother me one bit (well, I hate the color schemes I see)...but what goes on at the corners and sides of the screen has no logic. Grrgh!

 

[Bob Maxey]

Lol. Most industries are littered with failures. Startup Business Failure Rate By Industry | Statistic Brain

I'm not worried about Microsoft, Apple or any other company. If they can't survive and thrive, something else will come along.

Here is the thing, as they say. Tech is littered with failures and successes and in some cases, I am left wondering why people gravitate to some of the sillyness.

I can tell you exactly why we failed (Megahertz became part of USRobotics; USR came under the thumb of a tyrent I like to call 3Com, and 3Com became part of MSL). We failed because we stiopped creating good products and for a time, we owned our segment of the grand tech market. Even Apple had to come begging for a time. Give it up for Newton.

For all we know, Cook will kill Apple. Perhaps with Apple's huge wad-o-cash, it will take more than a Tim Cook to do much damage, but empires topple; people get scared and stop buying and that leads to foundations crumbling.

For all we know, Microsoft will come up with something brilliant. OK, OK, OK, stop laughing, but even a broken clock is right four times a day.

Long ago, I stopped assuming that company A will last forever and company B has little to no chance. I missed lots of opportunities to invest in things I "knew" had little to no chance of success. Why do you think I collect empty cans along the side of the road? OK, you are correct, part of that was the judge's doing, but it is a good gig, if you like ants, bugs and spyders.

Anyway, I love Microsoft and so there!!!