ARM CEO Says Windows 8 Tablets Might Have Edge Over Android
ARM's CEO seems to be confident about Microsoft's entry into the tablet market.
One of the biggest features to come with Windows 8 is the touchscreen UI. This makes it a perfect OS for tablets, but how will it compare to the competition? According to ARM CEO Warren East, Windows 8 tablets might actually give Microsoft an edge over Android-powered slates. Speaking during an earnings call, East said that brand recognition and familiarity is the fundamental difference between Microsoft and Android tablets.
According to CNet, East's comments were made in response to an analyst who asked why Windows 8 tablets would be successful when Android tablets weren't selling all that well. East said:
"Consumers are familiar with Microsoft and very familiar with Windows and they're less familiar with an Android environment. Microsoft has an awareness advantage with consumers that the Android folks didn't have."
However, East hasn't lost faith in Android. Rather, he believes that it will just take a while before the sale of Android tablets really takes off. The CEO said that he believes it will take some time for customers to latch on to the brand, as was the case when Android smartphones first hit the market. Until then, East says it's up to Microsoft to take advantage of its brand recognition among consumers:
"It's up to Microsoft [and we'll see] how well they're going to exploit that advantage."
ARM this week announced that its fourth quarter results saw pre-tax profits increase 45 percent and sales increase more than 20 percent. The company reported profits of £69 million, or $109 million, and sales of £137.8 million, or $218.19 million. As for as the entire year, the company saw a 37 percent rise in pre-tax profits (up to £229.7 million or $363.7 million) and a 21 percent rise in sales (up to £491.8 million or $778.7 million.)
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Familiarity with metro? ARM windows will have NOTHING in common with other versions.
Familiarity with metro? ARM windows will have NOTHING in common with other versions.
You mean it's 100% different? No similarities whatsoever? I dunno about you, but I'd MUCH prefer Windows over anything.
- Windows for ARM
- Android for x86
- ARM servers
Is the old dream about OS and hardware independency near to come true?
You mean it's 100% different? No similarities whatsoever? I dunno about you, but I'd MUCH prefer Windows over anything.
No "legacy" desktop on ARM.
Can you name one similar thing besides the name?
No "legacy" desktop on ARM.Can you name one similar thing besides the name?
Most of the code.
And Office.
Most of the code.And Office.
Users don't actually interact with code, so a similar codebase means nothing to users.
And Office isn't part of windows.
I have a hard time getting excited about a W8 tablet/smartphone. Not sure why, I build my own computers, have a killer gaming rig, know W7 inside out. In short, I'm not a windows hater by any means.
I also own Xoom and a Bionic. I love the simplicity of Android and how it natively it incorporates gmail, calender etc. I don't need full Office Suite either on my portable devices, Kingsoft Office for Android works just fine for me.
MS has a tough road head.
ARM tablets are dead to me. Long live x86 tablets.
No "legacy" desktop on ARM.Can you name one similar thing besides the name?
The old style desktop on a tablet makes basically no sense. And anybody using Windows 8 will immediately recognize the tablet interface, which is literally the same damn thing (Metro).
So, almost everything from a Windows 8 PC will be preset and look identical on a Windows 8 tablet. Power users who avoid Metro like the plague will surely see the two platforms very differently, but the average Joe won't.
He is right, however its will most likely be the x86 atom that power them now that Intel manage to get the power draw down, next gen atoms with the new shrink + 3gate as well as tweaks will be interesting to say the least for tablets/phones. The benefits for the buyer are so obvious its ridiculous!
The old style desktop on a tablet makes basically no sense. And anybody using Windows 8 will immediately recognize the tablet interface, which is literally the same damn thing (Metro).So, almost everything from a Windows 8 PC will be preset and look identical on a Windows 8 tablet. Power users who avoid Metro like the plague will surely see the two platforms very differently, but the average Joe won't.
So somehow Metro is going to suddenly become a big hit on desktops, even though there is the familiar desktop interface?
I'll just go where the games are. Now if they can put Steam and Skyrim on there .... well ....
So somehow Metro is going to suddenly become a big hit on desktops, even though there is the familiar desktop interface?
Huh? I'm not making any claims about popularity. I'm saying that people will recognize the thing that's staring them in the face every time they turn on their computers. I doubt the average computer user will even know the old desktop is there. Hell, most of them don't even know it's called the desktop, and I've heard people call the computer case the desktop on more occasions than I can count (only mistake more common is calling it the CPU).
One of the biggest complaints of Microsoft is fragmentation. In Windows and IOS, it is not a problem. Windows work hand and foot with the hardware manufacturers to make sure that their drivers will work for their OS. Google, with the exception for their nexus phones, doesn't get involved hardware at all. Perhaps Microsoft can exploit this opportunity in order make Windows 8 work despite what kind of phone or tablet you have.
Errr One of the biggest complaints of Android is fragmentation, I mean.
Huh? I'm not making any claims about popularity. I'm saying that people will recognize the thing that's staring them in the face every time they turn on their computers. I doubt the average computer user will even know the old desktop is there. Hell, most of them don't even know it's called the desktop, and I've heard people call the computer case the desktop on more occasions than I can count (only mistake more common is calling it the CPU).
So you think that average computer users will recognize the start screen/menu more than all of the applications that they ALREADY use?
I use my start menu to start applications, which is the purpose of the start menu.
So you think that average computer users will recognize the start screen/menu more than all of the applications that they ALREADY use?I use my start menu to start applications, which is the purpose of the start menu.
No, try reading what I wrote next time.
I'm saying that Windows 8 users, who see the Metro interface EVERY TIME THEY TURN ON OR UNLOCK THE COMPUTER will recognize that same interface on a tablet. You are presented that interface literally every time you sit down at the computer. The average person will just roll with it. You need to understand that your use cases and proclivity for the old start menu are not universal.
I also didn't say anything about which they'd recognize more, which is irrelevant anyway. Why are you getting so aggressive over this?
Android tablets are done once W8 Tablets hit the market. What's the point of buying an Android based tablet...it's just an oversized Droid. A W8 tablet will run real software with a real OS. The iPad will always be around because of the iSheep and even RIM's Playbook will probably stick around because of business/government use but Android tablets are done.
No, try reading what I wrote next time.I'm saying that Windows 8 users, who see the Metro interface EVERY TIME THEY TURN ON OR UNLOCK THE COMPUTER will recognize that same interface on a tablet. You are presented that interface literally every time you sit down at the computer. The average person will just roll with it. You need to understand that your use cases and proclivity for the old start menu are not universal.I also didn't say anything about which they'd recognize more, which is irrelevant anyway. Why are you getting so aggressive over this?
I guess you're right. They'll recognize the critically important 5-second unlock process.
Android tablets are done once W8 Tablets hit the market. What's the point of buying an Android based tablet...it's just an oversized Droid. A W8 tablet will run real software with a real OS. The iPad will always be around because of the iSheep and even RIM's Playbook will probably stick around because of business/government use but Android tablets are done.
Actually, both Android and W8 will have a bigger fish to fry, Apple and it's high popularity. Ever checked what the lines are like when Apple announces new phones or tablets?
I'd love to see some lawsuit wars between Microsoft and Apple though. The clash of the giants...
Just a short story from my life as an unofficial IT guy. A girl yesterday came to my office to help her install some software on her Linux laptop that's running Ubuntu. Couple of days ago I also helped her install some other software on her Linux laptop. This time I noticed that the software that I installed couple of days ago was gone, so I asked her what happened with it. She answered me that she had made a clean install because some things weren't working properly.
A note to those who aren't "adept" in Linux affairs. You reinstall your Linux system only when you seriously screw up something up. If something's not working properly you fix it.
My point is who's gonna reinstall win8 on your tablets once they start catching viruses and they will.
Ever since xp I stopped using the start menu once they made it contain folders it lost its purpose. I just put shortcuts all over the desktop.
I guess you're right. They'll recognize the critically important 5-second unlock process.
Jesus, you're desperate to prove there will be no brand recognition between tablet and desktop environments, aren't you?
If you've actually used Windows 8, then you'd know that AFTER the computer unlocks, you are presented with the metro interface. You cannot disable it. You cannot prevent it from showing up. If you want the old desktop, you have to launch it FROM the Metro interface first. Nothing to do at all with the unlock process, but everything to do with how Windows 8 operates at a basic level. Metro is there, and you're going to see it. A lot.
You may just launch the desktop every time you sit down (I did exactly that when I was using the developer preview last year), but like I said, your needs and desires aren't universal. You're obviously pretty hostile to Metro, and I get that. I've seen the same resistance (and put up a fair bit myself) among Windows power users. But most people really don't care.
Most people will just do what's simplest, and that's not clicking the desktop icon, then clicking the start button, then programs, then find what they want in a list. Instead, they'll just click the icon from the Metro interface to begin with. Clever ones might even realize you can just start typing to filter what's shown and get to what they want faster.
You seem to have decided that nobody will ever use Metro, and thus nobody would ever recognize it. I'm sorry, but Metro is how Microsoft sees the future of Windows, and they're going to ram it down your throat whether you want it or not.
A note to those who aren't "adept" in Linux affairs. You reinstall your Linux system only when you seriously screw up something up. If something's not working properly you fix it. My point is who's gonna reinstall win8 on your tablets once they start catching viruses and they will.
You obviously haven't familiarized yourself with W8's 'refresh and reset' tools. NONE of which require delving into incomprehensible config files to do simple fixes.
Linux still simply isn't ready for desktop use, and most likely won't ever be and people like yourself who appear to be forcing ppl to use it as their work OS are just giving it a badder name than it already has.
Jesus, you're desperate to prove there will be no brand recognition between tablet and desktop environments, aren't you?If you've actually used Windows 8, then you'd know that AFTER the computer unlocks, you are presented with the metro interface. You cannot disable it. You cannot prevent it from showing up. If you want the old desktop, you have to launch it FROM the Metro interface first. Nothing to do at all with the unlock process, but everything to do with how Windows 8 operates at a basic level. Metro is there, and you're going to see it. A lot.You may just launch the desktop every time you sit down (I did exactly that when I was using the developer preview last year), but like I said, your needs and desires aren't universal. You're obviously pretty hostile to Metro, and I get that. I've seen the same resistance (and put up a fair bit myself) among Windows power users. But most people really don't care.Most people will just do what's simplest, and that's not clicking the desktop icon, then clicking the start button, then programs, then find what they want in a list. Instead, they'll just click the icon from the Metro interface to begin with. Clever ones might even realize you can just start typing to filter what's shown and get to what they want faster.You seem to have decided that nobody will ever use Metro, and thus nobody would ever recognize it. I'm sorry, but Metro is how Microsoft sees the future of Windows, and they're going to ram it down your throat whether you want it or not.
I've used the Dev preview, and frankly, the start screen is just like a glorified start menu. It works for that pretty well, but I don't plan on spending a terribly long time before clicking or tapping on some App I want to use. It is important, but not a central feature of the UX.
I've used the Dev preview, and frankly, the start screen is just like a glorified start menu.
Then I find your previous argument that the Metro UI was only presented during the unlock process to be intentionally deceptive. You knew very well that the Metro interface had nothing to do with unlocking, but still used that as a method to attack my statements? You can't argue out of ignorance of the system, then the very next post bring up your experience with the system. Either you're lying about having used Win8 or put for an intentionally deceptive argument.
As a side note, of course it's a glorified start menu. What did you expect? It does exactly what it should, and nothing more.
And you do plan on spending a terribly long time staring at your start menu before clicking something you want to use? I'm sorry, I'm just not seeing any point you're trying to make here.
Actually, it is a central feature. All those nifty new ways to swap between open programs? Metro. Changing system settings? Metro. Future releases of the Windows SDK? Metro. Windows Store? Yep, that's Metro too.
Metro is everywhere, and once Windows 8 lands, you're going to start seeing a lot of third party Metro applications too. Your assertion that it's not central to the interface is simply wrong.
W8 on ARM is just a stop-gap as far as i'm concerned, as soon as x86 tablets with nice hardware are in the sweet spot for price I am going to get one and install a dual-boot XBMC Live and Windows 8 (full version obviously), same as my existing netbook does with Windows 7.
Go Windows!
I'd love to see some lawsuit wars between Microsoft and Apple though. The clash of the giants...
That would be hilarious, Apple trying to convince the courts that they "invented" tablets with smoke, mirrors, rainbows and fairy dust - while Microsoft blows dust off an archive video of Bill Gates holding up a tablet in 2002
...
Case close, slam dunk to MS
...
An appeal ensues with hoards of fanbois in the background whining on about being thin, having round corners or being white
...
Word to the wise, the reality distortion field was powered by Steve Jobs soul, seeing as it's now powering Satans furnace that ain't gonna work anymore
Actually, it is a central feature. All those nifty new ways to swap between open programs? Metro. Changing system settings? Metro. Future releases of the Windows SDK? Metro. Windows Store? Yep, that's Metro too.Metro is everywhere, and once Windows 8 lands, you're going to start seeing a lot of third party Metro applications too. Your assertion that it's not central to the interface is simply wrong.
Swapping between programs? taskbar(not metro)
Changing any real system settings? "advanced" control panel(not metro)
Windows SDK? native code, headers, win forms, wfp, and a little metro
Windows store? I guess that's metro.
Any applications that use "windows"? not metro
Any PC applications that exist right now? not metro
any custom UI? not metro
any applications that need performance? not metro
Office, firefox, chrome, photoshop, visual studio etc...? not metro
People will want to use their PCs the way they've always worked, and that means using the enhanced metro start menu like a start menu. It also means that they'll be using the desktop applications that they've always used, and those are not terribly impacted my metro.
I can see Windows owning the Tablet industry, maybe not with 8 but more like 8.x or 9.x, we all remember windows 95, what people don't realize yet it that Intel and AMD have yet to commit to the tablet market, which I see to increase by many folds as consumers beging to find new uses for these devices.