The affect of the release of Windows 8, as well as Microsoft’s staunch
non-allowing of earlier versions on pre-installs (software loaded into a
computer before sale) has been felt world-wide. Gregg Keizer in ComputerWorld
reported last April of a global downturn in PC sales between 11% and 14% (click here and here).
And while all this allows a certain “coolness” to continual Microsoft-bashing, there is another thing to consider: That possibly, just maybe, MS
operating systems are actually designed
to impact change in the computer industry.
Consider the following:
- While the Graphic User Interface (GUI) was not invented by Microsoft, it was Windows 3.1.1 and especially Windows 95 that pushed us away from Command Line Interface (CLI).
- Windows 97 is one of the reasons that DOS is emulated and programs ALL are icon driven.
- Microsoft did not invent the Local Area network, but it was Windows 2000 that allows every computer to be a network node.
- Windows XP impacted business globally and fought the good fight against hacker attacks and is STILL considered an excellent operating system.
- Love it or hate it, Windows Vista was the OS that pushed manufactures to deliver multicore processors.
- And Windows 7? I actually like this OS quite a bit.
So what about Windows 8? What is the impact that this OS is trying to
have?
Certainly, PC sales are plunging worldwide and allowing for some
excellent deals from tech vendors, the “blame” is more rightly placed on the
consumers. We have as a whole moved into the mobile device market in a huge
way. As such, the entire industry is going through an upheaval not seen since
the introduction of the Personal Computer in the 70’s and 80’s.
Microsoft’s perspective is that if people are going more mobile, why
not make an operating system that is very friendly to mobile devices? Then,
using essentially the same structure that has been on Xbox for years, move it
to the PCs. Just one problem: Laptops don’t all have touch screens. At least, not yet.
And therein lies the rub.
The backlash against Windows 8 is really not that interesting. Neither,
really, is the response to that backlash with the release of 8.1. Why? It is because
people hate change. And people really hate big changes. What is interesting is
that Microsoft did indeed respond to a changing market environment with an
operating system that can be expected to impact the direction of that market.
What else is interesting is that for the first time, Microsoft is about
3 years too late.
