Does Microsoft actually get the consumer market?

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TwoSeven

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#903632 27-Sep-2013 12:00

If you are passing it on, could we abstract it out a bit and apply the same solution to Bluetooth and [potentially] other network connections.

To me network connections are all 1st class features/services and are generally used the same way regardless of what type they are. So the ability to manipulate and access them should be the same across the board (as pointed out by raytaylor). Yet in 8.1 we have lost the ability to manipulate them and they all have different user interfaces (setting up a BT connection is way harder than a Wifi one which is harder in itself from a wired one). Also, applications don't seem to see the same common interface (for example there is no BT bridge, but there is a Wifi one which makes virtual networking impossible with BT). Surely if these were all abstracted out, these issues would go away (and future technologies would be easier to implement).

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Klipspringer

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#903633 27-Sep-2013 12:07

Remember these days ....

Regs

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Snowflake

#903932 27-Sep-2013 20:57

TwoSeven: I can remember when one used to be able to buy all of the MS development s/w on a weeks wages (and this was still the case later in the early days of visual studio). Later one could save up for a few months and get an MSDN subscription as well as the full Visual Studio. I doubt these days anyone could afford to buy Visual Studio Ultimate buy itself let alone even think about an MSDN subscription.

you can get visual studio 'express' editions and develop phone, web, and windows 8 apps for free. visual studio ultimate has a lot of awesome features for hard core developers, but not having it doesnt stop you from being able to build good solutions.
check out http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-products

If you're seriously trying to start something up, then there is also a programme which delivers free software, cloud resources, and support to startups:
http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/

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TwoSeven

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#904094 28-Sep-2013 11:51

Regs:
TwoSeven: I can remember when one used to be able to buy all of the MS development s/w on a weeks wages (and this was still the case later in the early days of visual studio). Later one could save up for a few months and get an MSDN subscription as well as the full Visual Studio. I doubt these days anyone could afford to buy Visual Studio Ultimate buy itself let alone even think about an MSDN subscription.

you can get visual studio 'express' editions and develop phone, web, and windows 8 apps for free.

While I understand the intent of the post, I am a professional developer, those products are aimed at a different market. One is not likely to write a commercial app using them (one can, but is not likely to). There is also a lack of features to deal with (I do a lot of visual modelling for example).

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MaxLV

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#904320 28-Sep-2013 21:16

Regs: while the bay trail 'atom' chips hold promise, haswell 'core' chips arent going to be that cheap though. I laugh at those people who say the surface pro is expensive, that they want one at the $500 price point but still with the i5 processor in it.

people compare the surface pro to the atom tablets with their $800-$900 price points, but there really isnt a comparison. The pro really needs to be compared to the lenovo helix (>$2000), or the samsung i5 based tablets (>$1800) and then the surface pro price doesn't look near as bad. If you want a 'full performance' machine in a compact form factor, you're going to have to pay for it.

NB, acer has a 8" W3 tablet and now toshiba has 8" tablet coming http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/5/4696168/toshiba-launches-two-new-windows-8-tablets-click-encore

I was waiting for the MS Surface tablets to come out as an upgrade for my Toshiba Android AT100 tablet; Then Acer released the W510, running Windows 8 basic. Bought that instead, and first thing I did was buy an upgrade licence from Windows 8 basic to Windows 8 pro. With the keyboard it cost $899 + $99 for the upgrade licence. MS Surface Pro current RRP is $1300 - $1500.

I dont use it for 'business' purposes, it's mostly used as an 'in the field' computer and backup for my Sony A65 and Nex 7 cameras. Nothing beats being able to show/check/edit 24 Mp photos straight from the camera to a tablet.

dickytim

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#904845 30-Sep-2013 07:18

To answer the question, no I don't think they do. I purchased an RT and while it was a capable device I didn't find myself wanting to use it, partially due to the app store, and not being able to find what I needed, but mostly as it was not a "fun" device.

The geek in me liked it, but the consumer found it a bit boring, and sometimes frustrating. I had purchased the RT to get my Ipad back from my girlfriend, but after 5 min realised that she wouldn't be able to use it, she struggles with the TV sometimes.

I sold the RT and got her an Ipad of her own in the end and we are back to bliss at home.

crackrdbycracku

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#905514 1-Oct-2013 08:46

OK, so I started this thread and I have been a bit critical of MS. I don't think I have been unfair or mean (certainly haven't heard anything from the Mods) but I haven't been complimentary either.

Well, last night I got the Amber (can't remember the designation) update for my much loved Nokia 720 and it was awesome!

I'm not going to go into details about the update here but it does raise an interesting point ... why isn't the success of Windows Phone a more prevalent message? This kind of update is exactly why informed consumers buy Windows Phone phones. I recently saw some stats on Android and the vast majority of users are at least a generation, more likely two or more, behind. Forget Apple, they only sell one phone (even now, that same phone comes in plastic and nobody wants it). Windows Phone recently became the market leader in India as I recall.

Sure, they are number three and sure Windows Phone 7 was reported to have bricked some phones during the Mango update but today in 2013 WP8 is actually making ground. Nobody could think that entry into a mature market would be an easy, quick win but Microsoft is actually doing well.

As far as Windows Phone goes it appears Microsoft understands exactly what consumers want. Took some time but they got there and should be able to learn from it.

So, why the recent statement that 'the future of Windows RT is in tablets and phones'?

MS has a phone OS, people like it and as for RT ... well ... yeah.

I'm actually struggling to understand this. RT has a desktop mode which makes little sense on a tablet and none on a phone. MS does not need three competing versions of Windows. Bay Trail pretty much takes away the need for ARM processors in devices with screens over five inches.

So, new plan. Abandon Windows RT, make a new version of the Surface based on the Bay Trail Atom priced around US$450 (say NZ$800) running Win 8 and including the Touch Cover, keep the Surface Pro as it is because it is a premium product people understand and might want to mix and match with docks or different keyboards, then release a line of different 7" tablets (not called Surface Mini) based on ARM running Windows Phone which don't have keyboard covers and are purely for consumption emphasising that they have extremely long battery life.

Right, that about sorts that out.

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