Word out of CES is that Intel execs revealed their true feelings about Windows 7 on tablets at an event last night. Apparently, they lobbied for Microsoft to make a more tablet-friendly OS. Microsoft said no.
In addition to pushing for a new tablet OS from the Redmond, WA company, he also expressed sentiments that Microsoft is taking too long to release a tablet optimised version of Windows. According to Cnet, here’s what Tom Kilroy, Senior Vice President of Marketing, had to say:
“Hey, we tried to get [Microsoft]to do a tablet OS (operating system) for a long time. Us, and others like Dell,” said Tom Kilroy, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Sales and Marketing Group, speaking to CNET at an Intel function last night.
Looks like we’re not the only ones who think full-blown Win 7 on a tablet is a bad idea. [Cnet]
RJ
Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 7:31 PMThe thing that got me going on the iPad was the fact that it didn’t operate like normal (very technical) operating systems. And if microsoft doesn’t believe that they can ask my wife , who was a very low powered computer user, now I can’t get her off it.
The fact is that IOS is logical to use, whereas os’s for regular computers require considerable learning.
matt
Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 7:42 PMlol, it seems all you guys are purely talking about the interface not being suitable.
given how easy it is to make and change the interface (by anyone) with a proper OS like windows, its laughable to hear everyone making such a fuss over this…
Rod
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 11:50 AMlol – Matt, I’m afraid you just don’t get it!
This isn’t about just “skinning” an existing OS such as Windows 7 (yes, any idiot can do that).
This is about redesigning an interface from the ground up which retains the power and breadth of function of a powerful OS like Windows 7, but simplifies the interface for the end user in a reliable, stable and simple to use graphical interface such as the Apple OS.
lol – if it’s so easy, why don’t go out there and show us how to do it – lol!
Just Some Human
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 12:36 PM“given how easy it is to make and change the interface (by anyone) with a proper OS like windows”
If it is SO easy, why has Microsoft refused?
Enigmatic
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 3:36 PMRod,
Sadly I dont think you get it. As an application developer of 15 years I know exactly what is required and it seriously isn’t that hard to do. But of course, your tired rhetoric of “if its that easy, do it yourself” just shows ignorance.
Easy Quick
Just because something is easy to do, doesn’t mean it is also quick to do. Asking someone to go out and dedicate 6-12 months fo their time to “prove to you” its easy to do is just pure lunacy. That should have been obvious to you before you let that dribble out unattented :)
As proof of this, Windows Phone 7 is exactly that, a core Windows 7 OS with a different interface.
There, they proved it… and to prove it even further, Windows 8 is being specifically redesigned to suit multiple device types, including tablets.
So what the author reads as “bad idea” is really Microsoft saying “not yet, we have something already in the works”. As usual, someone with their own bias trying to slander things they dont understand by reading things that just don’t exist.
Travis New
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 6:03 PMI know right Matt!
1) Increase DPI to either 125 or 150%
2) Install Rainmeter then Ominio V3.1
3) Touch friendly interface with large and easy accessable icons with a full OS.
Peter Simpson
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 12:03 AMColour me not suprised. Sure you can run all your programs, but like Windows Mobile 6 it just doesn’t work on new age devices naturally.
TabletOwner
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 1:28 PMYou can get close to making the windows UI work for you, but you can not modify all your application UIs to work for you.
I have a slate tablet running win7, and it’s the worst decision I’ve ever made. Only the very few apps designed for touch/pen input work alright… But a keyboard and mouse are still needed, especially for smaller screens.
Richard Djordjevic
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 3:00 AMThis is one reason why they should go with WP7 and make a tablet version from that. Every single app in the WP7 market is touch optimised which is just as important as having the OS itself optimised.
Cameron
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 10:24 PMMicrosoft’s had a tablet version of Windows for years now. Trouble was there was no sexy hardware to go along with it, causing very few sales, and because of the lackluster sales very few tablet applications, end result being that you end up with just a touch screen driver and onscreen keyboard on top of Windows. I’m sure if at that time the likes of Dell had of actually released some sexy hardware (that wasn’t $3k as their tablet was) they might have got a few more sales and seen more uses for it beyond rich exec’s and contractors using them as overpriced notepads.
Intel can’t put the blame of this 100% onto Microsoft, they provided a product that met the demands of their consumers at the time.
Will Microsoft take their tablet offering further and replicate the interface of other touch devices? Hard to tell at this stage. I’d be willing to wager that we’ll end up with a Windows Phone 7 interface for tablets, what it runs underneath though will be the big question. Will they keep the Windows Phone OS and corresponding walled garden application approach, or will they have a full blown Windows 7 underneath and simply provide a new interface for it?
Richard
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 3:30 AMIt’s not just the UI but the fact it doesn’t run on ARM, only x86. The atom has proved a poor choice for power draw, performance and therefore battery life.
matt
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 1:17 PMtrue, and the fundamental differences between ARM and x86 may be to great for intel to ever beat them. (on the other hand, general improvements in efficiency, may make the practical benefit of arm over Intel negligible long before we see an arm version of windows… even if they were trying really hard to make one)
but the fact is, it is INTEL saying this. its hard to imagine that they are complaining that MS hasn’t made an OS for their primary rival’s instruction set…
I can only assume they are bitching about interface.
Mustafa
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 7:11 PMYea, but why you mad though?