Switched On Windows 8 2012

Switched On Windows 8 2012

Just as Windows Phone 7′s “touch-only” interface threw away the past to create a streamlined, more approachable experience, Microsoft is creating a “touch-first” experience for Windows 8 that has more in common with its new phone software than previous versions of Windows. This “Metro-style” UI will be able to run on virtually any modern PC, with screens from 10- to 30-inches and above. The touch interface will be only occasionally relevant on desktops, though, more so on laptops. Where it’s obviously meant to shine is on pure slates — will consumers really flock to Windows 8 for such slates, though?
The software and hardware — to say nothing of Microsoft’s cloud services — have come a long way. Let’s give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt and say that the company will create a first-rate tablet experience in the absence of legacy Windows applications. That represents a significant improvement from the state of the Windows tablets as it has existed since the dawn of the Tablet PC. The thinness and longer battery life of both laptops and slates have also improved considerably as well since those days. Particularly with access to ARM processors, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Windows 8 slates match the razor-like profile of the iPad 2 or Galaxy Tab 10.1… or whatever the state-of-the-art is when Windows 8 ships.