Microsoft Against Carrying Both Tablet And Laptop
Executive argues that the desktop isn't dead.
With its Surface tablet now a few hours away from launch, Microsoft has expressed its dissatisfaction with consumers carrying around both a tablet and laptop.
Microsoft's vice president of Windows web services, Anthony LeBlonde, said the desktop division is not being killed by touch UIs. In reality, the firm disagrees with carrying around both a tablet and a laptop as opposed to a single device, such as the Surface, which offers balance between the two.
"I'm going to be blunt about it, you just have to look at the amount of people who are walking around with multiple PCs today and that's because the world is cleaved in two. We're walking around with [a tablet] and we're walking around with a laptop and there's no reason [for that]," he said.
"There are the same components inside these things, it is just a software choice someone made on your behalf. A fundamental point of view we have is that you don't need to have multiple devices like this to do what you need to be doing - whether it's sitting on couch watching a movie or taking notes."
LeBlonde goes on to say that he doesn't believe the desktop is dead because there are so many great apps for the desktop that a lot of people consider important. He also stressed that owning a desktop and a more touch friendly modern UI contained within the same operating system is key to the current lineup of computer systems and tablets. His comment, of course, is solidified by the fact that Acer, Asustek Computer, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, ZTE, among others are releasing their own Windows 8-powered tablets/laptops/ultrabooks. Elsewhere, HP CEO Meg Whitman has criticized Microsoft's Surface, saying it "doesn't function like a laptop" and "lacks a keyboard you can do real work on."

All that said, I still cringe when I read "apps for the desktop". I do not have a phone nailed to my tower. I do not get fingerprints all over my monitor by touching and swiping it. It's a desktop, and it runs "programs".
All that said, I still cringe when I read "apps for the desktop". I do not have a phone nailed to my tower. I do not get fingerprints all over my monitor by touching and swiping it. It's a desktop, and it runs "programs".
Makes no sense to me that someone would actually carry both (and I have no doubt there are many who do), and it totally flies in the face of those people who think having a tiny computing device is a necessity.
You realize that the term application has been around a lot longer than smartphones and tablets. I realize you use app a lot in relation to those, but many IT people have called what you consider a program, an application for decades.
I do realize that, of course.
"Application" has been around for decades, but "app" started with the iPhone. The point is that the term is now back-ported from phones, hence "apps for the desktop". Essentially, the phone term now has preference, and "apps for the desktop" implies that "A desktop can be as useful and fun as a phone!", which most of us would find a rather ridiculous (or even insulting) statement, but is exactly the intent of the phrase.
I can understand your view. I see the tablet as more of an entertainment device, though it does have some decent applications in the professional world as well, but I do see some real potential in these hybrids, that have an attachable keyboard. You can detach it and use it for reading and browsing, then attach a keyboard and use it for work.
I'm not sure that was the intent. I personally thought he was trying to make a point that there are "apps for the desktop" that are very important. I assumed those meant business apps, and things like Office, power point, database apps. Perhaps you have just gotten so used to apps being flung around when talking about these light weight things on tablets and phones, that it now has a different meaning to you. Perhaps I'm wrong in what he meant, but reading it again, I'm pretty sure he wasn't meaning it as you took it.
I agree re: his intent with saying it. I suppose I could have said "the implication of the phrase"? I'm explaining my thoughts to you, not arguing semantics
I know Microsoft is saying all this to promote their Windows 8 OS. That's not the type of software I would have designed for a Windows tablet. There are simple things that could have been done to Aero to make it more touch-friendly.
Different uses and portability.
I do not want a laptop while reading (browsing) in my bed, tablet does just great. A lot easier to kill time at the mall with a tablet while the wife shops then bringing a friggen laptop around.
You may not a use for it, or justification to pay for how much a tablet costs. But trust me, there's millions and millions of people across the globe that do. And this is quite evident in the sales.
Considering I used to pay $2000 for a desktop (in the 90's, not adjusted for inflation, it would be like $3000 in today's dollars) I get a laptop and tablet for less, that's amazing progress in my books.
I myself don't want one, or need one, but I can see uses, but I'd never take one to the mall. I'd kill time on my smartphone instead. Lugging a tablet around is still annoying, but I agree it would be good for reading and just some random browsing while on the couch, then again, I know I'd avoid getting one because that means I'd become too ADD.
apps for desktop... all i can think of when i hear that is unprofessional crap i wouldn't pay money for. think if the what, 100k something apps for the ipad, and how many of them that arent games would you be willing to pay for if they were on a computer.
i think they are fearing the oncoming glut of useless crap instead of the term itself.
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here you want to make a tablet that will grab everyone?
make it a laptop, an ultra thin one.
make it powerfull
get a wacom monitor, and a reversible screen, or a detachable screen.
and make the thing go metro only when its turned to be a tablet, not when desktop (barring certain programs like photoshop or other drawing applications)
and put some real marketing behind it.
get intel to stop dicking around with the hardware cost
or give amd some financial help and put it twards a smaller nm on the processor.
there, you have a desktop environment
you have touch controls with metro when its approperate
and you have the best penable display possible, good enough for art students, and most people who are in it for a laptop would get it just because of the power.
make it powerfull
get a wacom monitor, and a reversible screen, or a detachable screen.
and make the thing go metro only when its turned to be a tablet, not when desktop (barring certain programs like photoshop or other drawing applications)
This,
Except I hope we get Trinity's in some of them. Should be better than the low power core 2 duo in my HP tm2t and better or on par with the mobile Ati 4550.
BigMack, have you no imagination? I find my tablet absolutely invaluable even though I only have one use for it. When I'm sitting on the toilet I can log into my desktop and watch my torrents pouring in. Ah, the magic of technology. :-D
You can attach a bluetooth keyboard to a lot of smart phones and tablets