Doesn't this same scaremongering crop up every time there's a new release of Windows? OK, this time we have the RT version, but those in the know will still chose the right version whilst those not in the know will once again go down to PC World and have some 'highly trained expert' compare the back of the boxes for them. Same as last time really.
Windows 8 versions will confuse the punters, say OEMs
The various flavours of Windows about to hit the street will confound consumers, a panel of analysts and OEMs concluded at the recent Canalys Channels Forum. Redmond is preparing to release the Basic x86 Windows 8 (Standard, Pro and Enterprise) and Windows RT operating systems on 26 October, with Windows Phone 8 out in a week …
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Monday 22nd October 2012 16:30 GMT Paul Shirley
"won't even carry the RT version as a normal stock item"
That won't be hard, It's not for sale to the public. Only OEMs can even buy/license it.
...now if they decide to not stock RT devices that will be fun. I believe Win8 tablets don't launch till next year when MS get's the software finished.
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Monday 22nd October 2012 16:07 GMT Anonymous Coward
Consumer confusion is what they are relying on..
As really who would KNOWINGLY buy a WindowsRT surface tablet when it's got no apps and doesn't run what Windows (Win32) applications either...
There are going to be ALOT of disappointed punters that believe they are getting a windows tablet that runs windows applications, totally oblivious to the fact that Microsoft have moved the goalposts of what "Windows Application" means, it no longer means Win32...
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Monday 22nd October 2012 17:31 GMT Daniel von Asmuth
Re: Consumer confusion is what they are relying on..
It's all exceedingly simple: a Windows application is a Win64 application or a Win32 application or a Win32s application or a Win16 application or a 16-bit OS/2 application or a Posix application or a DOS application or even a compatible CP/M application or a .BAT file. An 'app' is a kind of web page with some XML and stuff.
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Monday 22nd October 2012 23:19 GMT Test Man
Re: Consumer confusion is what they are relying on..
What consumer confusion?
Windows RT doesn't look like past versions of Windows, in fact it looks almost completely different. What ordinary consumer will think that they could run old apps on it? Do these same bunch of consumers also think that they can run Windows apps on Mac?
I wouldn't worry - Microsoft has made it so obvious that the new interface is nothing like the old one so no reasonable person is going to be confused.
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Monday 22nd October 2012 16:37 GMT Destroy All Monsters
Disturbingly Sexualized Windows Mascots Might Be Of Some Help!
Something along those lines (Largely SFW .. I guess)
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Monday 22nd October 2012 17:08 GMT Al Jones
I don't think ordinary customers are as stupid
as some of the commentators here.
Most ordinary customers won't expect to run all their existing software on a tablet, even a Windows tablet - they'll be quick to tell you that that's not what tablets are for. As long as there's a significant price gap between Wintel8 tablets and Win8RT tablets, they'll see the price premium as a logical reason for the difference in capability. And that's probably the biggest problem for Win8RT - it costs too much.
The key issue will be the availability of the sort of apps that people buy tablets for, and the ordinary customers perception of value in having the same apps on their "real computer" (desktop or laptop), their tablets, and their phones.
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Monday 22nd October 2012 17:13 GMT Yet Another Anonymous coward
Re: I don't think ordinary customers are as stupid
And the punters are going to tell the difference between a flat screen hinged to a flat keyboard = laptop and a flat screen hinged to a flat keyboard = tablet?
Suppose WIndows7 pro could only run on a workstation while Windows7 home could only run on a PC - and only home apps would run on home and only business apps could run on workstation.
And the workstation and PC looked identical except for the processor architecture?
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Tuesday 23rd October 2012 04:38 GMT Tom 35
Re: MS could have avoided the whole problem
Calling it Windows Phone was a bit of a stretch, but at least the "phone" tells you what it is.
Windows RT? There is Windows NT, XP so RT has no built in meaning. They already have Windows XP Tablet Edition, and it runs Windows software.
Windows RT just sounds like another version of Windows to anyone who is not following tech press.
But it's not Windows, and will not run the Windows Software they expect to run on something called Windows.
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Monday 22nd October 2012 22:11 GMT Anonymous Coward
Just dumb
I as an IT pro had to google up how to power down the system. That is just dumb if an educated computer IT pro has to look up the answer on google to find the answer to just shut down the computer. MS is going to be facing the wrath of the general consumer. Really and having most programs claim the screen and not let you hit a restore or minimize button? WTF is with that? I call it suicide. I feel that the "Start" screen is insulting me the moment it starts up and then I feel like I'm fighting it the whole time to just get it to kinda work the way I want it to. This is just dumb.
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Monday 22nd October 2012 23:05 GMT Asylum Sam
doesn't matter
It's not that big a deal, the two versions, , most people are going to use it for faceschtick, youtube and a bit of music and video. Just like mobiles, most of the average users daily tasks are available on any platform.
Anyone that uses some software that isn't available in one form or another on all the platforms probably already knows the difference, or is at least very likely to go and find out the difference before they buy.