Opinion: Should Microsoft Risk Windows 8 on Touch?

[lpedraja2002]

I can only see Windows 8 being extremely useful for tablets or the Laptop Hybrids that turn into a tablet like that Lenovo and Asus Transformer. The desktops, normal laptops, workstations etc. Are being left in the dust.

With every news I see of Windows 8 I see it more as a failed product.

 

[suture]

really? windows now has touch support so its crap?
YOU STILL CAN USE A DAMN MOUSE AND A DAMN KEYBOARD. (and probably better than ever)
Its really that hard to understand? or the touch thingy messes with your brains?
So it has touch support, and a new look (THAT CAN BE TURNED OFF BTW, not that i care) the tablet fans (im not one of them) can now touch more easly, wow thats really confusing (not).

haters will be haters -.-

 

[clonazepam]

This is just like Gadgets on steroids. Easily disabled or handy for some to see a bigger clock and calendar type of thing, as well as quickly seeing there's new email.

If I could, i would customize it to open on startup, and show me the # of new emails from the 4 email accounts I use, top news stories of the day, financial information, stocks, etc, and any unread News Articles from Tom's. When I was ready, I'd open a browser to read Tom's, or close it and load a game/movie/application/porn.

All of that is achievable without Windows 8, but if 8 does it better, and comes packed with better goodies, then why not.

 

[legacy7955]

A desktop touch screen IS a useless gimmick.

The basic keyboard and mouse is here to stay for a loooong time. At least if you are interested in actually being productive.

 

[eadthem]

When a touchscreen setup works well its nice to use for short bursts of quick interaction. It is not comfortable(2 years experience repairing POS stations) to do anything on a touchscreen for extended periods of time, unless its laying flat on a table.

You look at the buttons on this or most websites, even if windows can make its GUI touch capable, they cant make other peoples gui's easy for touch without a lot of mess.

I'le give them props for effort, but this feature is likely to be turned off on most computers, particularly on any business, home office, or commercial install.

 

[gmp23]

You're going to base an entire article and the future of an unreleased operating system around the negative aspects of a function that you can simply turn off if it's something you're not interested in? "on" "off". Problem solved.

 

[Guest]

If they have Windows 8 that can revert to Windows 7 that works well with mouse and keyboard, which provides users with an alternative if they are not comfortable with the touch screen, I am ok with that.

 

[eddieroolz]

This is a rather pointless editorial.

Windows 8 is designed to run on both traditional platforms as well as on tablets. Windows 8 without touch is simply not in the pipeline, because that would contradict completely with the new direction Microsoft wants to take.

Besides, we know touch isn't right on every device. That's why we still have the traditional interface. That's been made clear repeatedly to the point that it seems utterly stupid not to realize it.

 

[hitman23]

I think that touch would just be an option on windows 8 for desktop and notebook computers. Since MS is really trying to get into this "touch" bandwagon, why don't they just make windows 8 for desktops and windows 8 for tablets. MS why don't you just copy Apple ok hahaha! they got MacOS for desktops and macbooks and IOs for smartphones and the IPAD.

 

[DjEaZy]

Should Microsoft Risk Windows 8 on Touch? No, no, no... at least not for the desktop... for tablets m$ should build separate version...

 

[Guest]

Simple, just think about if you were asking to "type" this article using "touch screen" or "touch keyboard". Even if you're proficiency in using Android, tablet, iPhone or whatever "touch" you're, your experience will not be good.

 

[hitman23]

If Microsoft's selling point for Windows 8 is touch capability man there ain't gonna be a lot of people upgrading to windows 8.. I'd stick with Windows 7 if that's the case. I use Microsoft Office a lot for productivity, SPSS and a little bit of Photoshop here and there, plus the fact that I play lots of FPS games.. all of which will not benefit from touch.

 

[ianj14]

When I'm working doing coding or writing stuff, especially in an office with other people, the last thing I want is to be faffing around with touch devices. I need, as I think most business users do, a simple and straightforward way to get actions/words to the screen. K/M do this very well, that's one of the reasons they've hung around so long.

Touch PCs (thinking here of the table-like Surface device) are great for infrequent use, but from a sitting posture point of view they break all the rules. For adequate comfort over a prolonged period of time (as when working in an office) a user needs to be sitting upright and facing forwards with a relatively straight back. That means the screen needs to be vertical and ahead of the user. Try using touch screens arranged like that while sitting at a desk and it's a recipe for serious fatigue and RSI in the arms. I don't think any business would want to risk their employees health claims for such inappropriate interface devices.

Touch devices are for specific uses, NOT all uses. So from a business point of view, the ability to completely switch off Metro in W8 so that a user can't use it at the desktop is a must.

 

[tanjo]

What's the problem? I thought the touch interface is optional or can be a device specific feature. AFAIK the Media Center was touch friendly enough.

 

[techguy911]

What? you people do know you can turn off the metro menu and use it in windows 7 mode.

Also the extra features allows for use on touch tablets and touchscreen pc's your not stuck with the metro UI windows 7 mode there are already dozens of utilities made to do this.

It starts up and shuts down faster, handles memory better than windows 7, has disaster recovery built in as a computer tech and programmer it's great features that windows 7 should have had.

Problem is some people don't like change that is why XP has been around so long they don't have to upgrade to windows 8.

 

[burnneck]

Probably that’s the reason why Microsoft released kinect to be used with pc for gesture control, so instead of touch screen you will be waiving your hand in the air to control your computer, much like minority report. But they have to develop kinect further that it will be sensitive to detect minor gestures a few inches away from the device.

 

[beayn]

I think Microsoft is hoping all the PC makers will release touch screen versions to go along with Windows 8. Personally I think Microsoft would be fucking brilliant to release a mini Kinect sensor with Windows 8, maybe even include it for $100 more. THEN they would have a winner. Gestures without the fingerprints.

 

[Pilk]

This is interesting i think every idea has to start somewhere, in the now so distant future everything will be governed by touch, obviously touch is still in a beta phase but will probably surpass using peripherals for interaction.

 

[cookoy]

i'll pass up the touch thing. old habits die hard.

 

[Guest]

Microsoft needs to take this direction because we live in a world with really ****ing lazy programmers. Microsoft could say yes we want to support touch interface and a few big names out there will come with something but 90% of software developers will say "Old interface works right? Why should we have to program new interface if it supports our legacy app?" Especially if there is no mandated push then software observers will say oh "both options pfffff let's just invest in nontouch non tablet developers" We probably wouldn't have nice multi touch screens on our phones or great 3d games if Apple didn't lay it down with their iphone and most phones are 3.5 inch why? Iphone is why. in this age of increasing lazy people in general you have to create serious incentive to make developers get with the times.
That said , I've had my HP TM2T Tablet PC readWindows 7) for a while and I love it, but Windows 7 while better than nothing is just not comfortable enough for always touch interface. I installed the Preview of Windows 8 and it works great my co-workers ask me why I'm touch typing on the screen of my tablet that has a keyboard and I say it's because it's comfortable and user friendly. The OS is fast smooth and slick. I had some trouble playing a flash video once and a HD video but no drivers installed only Windows default and other than that it runs so good and i'm really looking forward to enjoying the tablet part of my laptop more when Windows 8 comes out. This is exactly what I was looking for when I thought in my mind "Tablet PC"

 

[pcwlai]

This is really a good article and here are some thoughts from me on the touch problems:

1. iOS standardized the touch interface for applications when they are using the iOS framework. This is all good for phones and still fine for tablets. But this is not the case for 23" desktops. So, the reason Apple released the touch pad along side mouse but not touch screen now. They will most probably the first one to figure out the way from current observations. If so, iTV will be out.

2. Even "old" people (hardcore gamers as well) in the mid-30s get adapted to touch phones and want to operate the LCD OSD by touch. This is great opportunity for all technology vendors.

3. Windows 8 should concentrate on refining the current Windows interface instead. The strength of Windows is still lying on the corporate market which Mac OS is leaving away. Getting the best experience on desktop and then on the cloud is what really counts for most users.

4. I haven't tried the Windows Phone 7/7.5 API but from what Microsoft offers in the .NET family, the programming experience is bad for creating applications with lively GUI which will limits the success of touch. Apple is really doing great in this field even their (API) technology choice is not what most hardcore programmers think is great.

 

[jimslaid2]

Yes, Windows 8 makes tablets worth buying.

 

[Guest]

Implying win8 doesn't support mouse is such a nice way to create activity on your website...

 

[tului]

I've put Windows 8 Dev on a desktop, as long as they keep a traditional Windows interface, I don't mind. Why would I want to lean forward and touch my monitor, it's ridiculous to think I'd want to give up a more precise pointer and faster typing.

 

[Guest]

Windows 8 Touch for tablets, good idea! For PC, bad...
Windows 8, purely Windows NT 8, good for PC, awkward for tablets...