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| Time to scramble it up and try it again! |
Windows Metro - Tiles, Tiles and more Tiles FTW!
One has to ask whether the unification of Windows Mobile Phone and the next Windows Desktop OS 8 plus the Surface tablet, and quite possibly the next gen Xbox 720 can or more importantly should be merged into one??
So Microsoft has announce the new Surface, a tablet to compete with the Andriod Transformers and iPads of the world. How will it do being the last one to the party?
Old Dog wants to learn invent some new tricks
I have to hand it to Microsoft though, if they can make this interface a home run, then it is a bases-loaded Grand Slam out of the park MVP winner. But if it gets a lukewarm reception like it's first wave of Nokia phones earlier this year, we could be seeing the Big Bust of the decade. It took the modern software giant almost 15-20 years to build its empire and become a staple of the middle-class home...it defines PC.
When I can't find my icons...
For all of Microsoft's critics, I for one have appreciated some of its ability to create a logical (abeit sometimes obtrusive) way of computing for the common person. Growing up with both a Mac and an IBM AT, you notice the fine philosophical differences that the designer had in mind, but also you grow accustomed to the routine.
Remember when MS Office 2007 came out, and everyone screamed in horror?
- Where are my Menus?
- Why is there this big round button taking up all my space.
- What is this Ribbon Interface?
- and what did you do with Clippy??
- Waaaaahhhhhh!!
This is not a point release - this is an overhaul...bring the BIG wrecking ball
Well, when you want to revolutionize an interface (meaning not just going from windows 95 to 98 to Windows ME), you have to take some big bold cuts at the bigger pictures. Not everything will be for the better. Not everything will be as easy as it was intended.
But this is the only way out of the incremental improvements we have been seeing with Apple in the last few years...yes, it has leap-frogged Microsoft, but now that it is in the lead, it doesn't want/need/have to take as many risks. That is one big problem with being popular - you got most of the cool kids to like you, so now you just try to keep things mostly status quo.
Quelling the peanut gallery - learning from your peers and siblings
Example with rocking the boat? Facebook. Timeline and the dozens of little micro-tweaks. I cannot remember a change where a vocal portion of its use group didn't raise arms and threaten to leave...only to come back later from peer pressure.
I have a feeling that Microsoft will have to take this risk of alienating some of its core. It needs to achieve a rock solid interface (no more 1995 blue screens). Apple has made it clear that users expect consistency in the results - when I press this button, this happens...every. single. time.
From the Google and Android camp, it needs solve the riddle of Customization. That means users have flexibility, expand-ability and the option to make their experience unique. Also, you expect to find what you need, when you need it. Gone are the days when we tolerate waiting around for the wagging dog to crawl through our files/folders. There should be some "self-organizing" aspects of a smart OS (did you mean...) when you think of something you find it.
Getting stuff done
That needs to be the new MS motto. No gimmicks, no cheap parlor tricks or easter eggs for short-lived applause. It needs to get its act together now and give users the tools they need to 1) surf the web 2) play their games 3) interact socially 4) still be what defines a PC
