re: Microsoft's Dilemma: Windows 8.1 May Not Be Enough
Yeah, I see some of those concerns. I think it's potentially problematic, for instance, that the sub-10 inch tablets are still being sold partly on the strength of Office. I'm sure some people will be pumped to have Office on such a portable device, but a small tablet like the 8-inch Acer Iconia just isn't that well-suited for extended content creation. There's undeniable value in translating aspects of the Windows experience across devices. But the devices need standalone appeal too. By forcing Windows 8, which was designed for larger screens, onto these smaller tablets, I'm not sure if Microsoft and its OEM partners are delivering that appeal, or simply filling a perceived hole in the market. If we're going to have devices of all shapes and sizes, and screens of all shapes and sizes, then there's a good argument for form factor-optimized OSes, or at least a single OS that intelligently adapts to the kind of device on which it's being used. Currently, Windows 8 meets neither of these standards, at least not satisfactorily. Win 8.1 will do some things to improve this, though, so perhaps it will be enough, especially if device prices really do come down to competitive levels. We'll see.
User Rank: Apprentice
7/27/2013 | 2:41:07 PM
Also I have been looking around on popular sites and I've seen android tablets going for 80 to 100 dollars while the mid-end Samsung ones go for around 200-250. These things don't have a keyboard or room so its a waste for most people with limited storage being the main tradeoff.
Still if the RTs were priced competitively instead of competing with the Ipad Microsoft would of been successful selling them.