Microsoft has released a Developer Preview of Windows 8 which saw more than 500, 000 downloads made since it was initially made available online. But I can't help wonder if Microsoft's marketing approach to Windows 8 is completely outdated. So I decided to share my thoughts on what I would like Microsoft to change in their approach with their new version of Windows.
Microsoft is trying an approach to have one OS to span through all it's hardware. So no matter what the device is it will run Windows 8. However this is not exactly the case. Each device, based on it's hardware will get a different Windows experience. Smartphones will run Windows Phone OS (Which is clearly defined), Tablets with ARM processors will run Windows with only the Metro UI, While other more powerful devices will run the full version of Windows 8.
Even among the powerful devices you will find laptops, netbooks and slates (powerful tablets) which will each have unique features of Windows 8.
- Touch enabled laptops and slates will benefit the most from the Touch optimized Windows
- Netbooks with resolutions below 1366 x 768 wont be able to use Metro apps.
- Laptop and computers without a touchscreen you can still use the Metro UI, but you wont enjoy all the perks that come with multi touch UI.
The ability to blend into the hardware its using means that Windows users shouldn't have the same experience on the same hardware. They should have a fluid user friendly experience no matter what hardware they use.
- The Metro UI cannot be only Touch Optimized, it has to also be mouse and keyboard optimized.
- If Metro doesn't work on low resolution netbooks, switch it off and offer an alternate.
- If the Metro UI can work on Windows Phone, Microsoft should be able to make it work on netbooks.
The UI is not the only thing that I see needs fixing. Windows applications clutter the user will several files that fill the start menu. Unlike on Mac OS, you dont get one file that represents an applications instead you have folders which contain various links and help files.
- Microsoft needs to display apps like on Windows Phone which users can browse of search through.
- Apps should be separate from the Metro start menu. Allow to pin only apps you need or pin only the application file, instead of help files and settings files.
- You should be able to remove an app from the app list, which could initiate the un-installer.
- There shouldn't be two separate apps as Metro app and Windows app. Instead have one application which has a Metro and/or Windows component.
- The new Metro Start Menu to me is ideally an update to the taskbar and not the start menu. Microsoft needs to have a list of apps which you can browse and search through which should be what replaces the start menu.
The notification system on Windows has continued to improve over the years, and with the introduction of WIndows 8 we will see it offer a whole new experience to the users. However the classic Windows needs an improvement to the notification system. Big notifiers which take over much of the screen can be very distracting. While I did like the notifications on Windows 7, its time for a change. We need to be able to see updates to Facebook, Twitter, email, missed calls or messages from a unified notifier, and Microsoft needs to put one into place.
Charms are another added feature on Windows which is supposed to offer a more user friendly experience. As of now, I have still to find the Charms useful. Moving your mouse to the far right on your Metro UI reveals the set of charms which have Settings, Devices, Share, Search and Start. The other way of accessing the charms is by holding the mouse over on the classic desktop Start Button. I dont want to get into the features of each charm, but I think Microsoft needs to offer access to some much needed features like shut down using the charms.
My last issue is with the Windows SKUs. We have Ultimate, Home Premium, Professional and more. Now with the introduction of an ARM version there may be even more SKUs for Windows. Windows users don't need confusion. If they want Windows 8 offer them Windows 8 without the SKUs.
- Users should be able to purchase and/or a bare-bone version of Windows 8
- Instead of SKUs offer new features in the form of upgrade packs or upgrade apps on the Windows store.
- Allow users to build their own value added version of Windows. The general user can have the minimal version at the lowest cost.
I know many will argue that these are marketing strategies which cannot be replaced. But if Windows is built for the end user, allow the end user to decide the experience they want. Don't confuse them with SKUs and features which they will never use.
Windows 8 needs to be built to maximize the end user experience. Microsoft is competing with products which have been built from ground up and proven to be successful. If Windows 8 is ging to take on it's competition, it needs to do it well. I think Microsoft needs to implement at least some of the features I have mentioned if they want whats best for their customers.