Why We Can't Count Windows Out of the Tablet Game
We hear from two professionals about why they chose to go with Windows-based tablets instead of iOS or Android.
The consumer tablet market is ruled by the iPad. Apple pointed out at its iPhone 4S reveal that three out of every four tablets sold are iPads, with the rest we figure as mostly Android devices. In the consumer space, it appears to be a two-horse-race, but things aren't so clearly defined when it comes to professional applications.
We were invited to a talk hosted by Fujistu in downtown Toronto to hear from medical and education professionals about why their industries aren't able to use the same tablets that many people are buying for their couch surfing activities.
Dr. Michel Hébert, president of Quebec-based Kinlogix Medical Inc., which designs and develops healthcare solutions, spoke about why the he chose a Windows 7-based tablet, the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550, over those based on Apple or Google software.
"The consumer products, though cheaper, are not built to the security standards that the government requires," Hébert said. "There are strict criteria to ensure that the data will be kept safely."
Beyond that, Hébert said that his work demands interoperability with printing devices so that any data and information captured by the device can be easily output in paper form – something at which Windows still excels.
Like any large corporation, the systems in place for medicine must remain stable and tested. Also like corporations, governments rely on Microsoft Windows. Hébert, however, found that working with a keyboard and upright screen difficult to integrated into practicing medicine. After all, this is an industry with a deep history in papers in charts, on clipboards, noted by pens.
Microsoft's investment in touch-based input technology, as evidenced by the touch-centric advances in Windows 8, could help keep the mainstream consumer tablets from government use.
While Apple's inroads in the educational realm are quite plain to see (just take a look at campuses these days to see how many Macs and iOS devices are floating around), when it comes down to serious school work, Windows may still have the upper hand.
Steve Rush, director of IT and head of Computer Science at St. Andrews College in Ontario, explained how having both a keyboard and touchscreen are critical to how his colleagues educate. Having is keyboard is important for entering text, while a touchscreen is perfect for scribbling drawings. For this reason, his choice of device for students is a Windows 7-based convertible laptop. His students use Sandy Bridge-based laptops that can also double as gaming machines for "out of school" activities, thanks to discrete Nvidia graphics.
Further cementing the need for a Windows-based PC machine is the implementation and reliance on Microsoft OneNote for all student activities. Students are able to collect outside data from various sources, including sound and video, while also adding in their notes. Rush even demonstrated textbooks integrated into OneNote. While OneNote is available as part of the Microsoft Office suite for Windows, it's not a part of even Office 2011 for Mac. Strangely, there's a free Microsoft OneNote app for the iPhone.
Though the talks given by both the physician and educator were at a Fujitsu-organized event, the main takeaway was that Windows still has a very strong hold on the tablet and touch market – stronger than some may believe in light of the strong sales of iPads and Android tablets. Perhaps it is for this reason that Microsoft is making Windows 8 for ARM-based devices – because it knows that the touch-screen computing war has just begun.
In fact, Dell and HP, both major players in the computer industry, have tried and failed at the tablet market so far with Streak and TouchPad products, respectively. They aren't giving up, however, as both reportedly plan to use the release of Windows 8 as a 'second coming event'.
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Well there you have it, two "professionals", code for two MS hacks.
Ummm... who said we could???
Ummm... who said we could???
Exactly.
Windows 8 is shaping up to be a killer tablet OS; probably more so than a PC OS.
Having used WP7 for a couple of months now, I can say that a similar OS on a tablet would be a great user experience.
Well written article but strangely felt like a Microsoft marketing pitch. A reason we cant count windows out is that students cant use Microsoft's One Note on a Mac, seriously lost me on that. There is not a single reasonable reason why Windows is better in this article. I personally don't use Macs and think MS will be a huge player in tablets but I just found this article sounding like a Windows 8 sales pitch.
I am hoping that this brings gaming to the next level on tablets. With directx, there is lots of dev experience out there. iPhone and Android are still rinky-dink in this area.
I am hoping that this brings gaming to the next level on tablets. With directx, there is lots of dev experience out there. iPhone and Android are still rinky-dink in this area.
UGH! Get out of here! Tablet gaming is worse than consoles...
No on can beat the Windows market share of 80%. Switching to other OS is not cost effective in business. A lot of things are still tied up with windows. No one can argue with that.
Obviously it's just an advertisement. Some more info about Steve Rush, St. Andrews College, and their $2000 tablets here.
Why? W8 tablets will run a real OS and real software. iPads will always be around because of the iSheep. Mate a W8 tablet with a dock and physical keyboard? RIP Android tablets. W8 tablets won't kill the iPad but it will kill Android tablets.
just give me usb host support and 2 full-sized usb's come on!
Not hard to figure... its been said for awhile iOS and Android are fun to play with, but when there's real work to be done, its time to whip out Windows (hierarchy follows then Linux then OSX, personal opinions force me to list OSX last).
Not hard to figure... its been said for awhile iOS and Android are fun to play with, but when there's real work to be done, its time to whip out Windows (hierarchy follows then Linux then OSX, personal opinions force me to list OSX last).
I like your personal opinion
Not hard to figure... its been said for awhile iOS and Android are fun to play with, but when there's real work to be done, its time to whip out Windows (hierarchy follows then Linux then OSX, personal opinions force me to list OSX last).
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft has already repeatedly said that Windows 8 for tablets isnt going to run standard Windows software. Welcome to a new OS with no Apps. iOS should be well over 500k apps even if you dont could all the fart Apps.
http://www.informationweek.com/new [...] /231601473
Welcome to a new OS with no Apps.
Windows already has an app marketplace that is growing fast.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft has already repeatedly said that Windows 8 for tablets isnt going to run standard Windows software. Welcome to a new OS with no Apps. iOS should be well over 500k apps even if you dont could all the fart Apps.
http://www.informationweek.com/new [...] /231601473
iOs is 350K apps, including the fart ones.
iOs is 350K apps, including the fart ones.
Think he means over 500 by the time Windows 8 tablets are out.
Think he means over 500 by the time Windows 8 tablets are out.
Probably. Who cares, he's an Apple troll.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft has already repeatedly said that Windows 8 for tablets isnt going to run standard Windows software. Welcome to a new OS with no Apps. iOS should be well over 500k apps even if you dont could all the fart Apps."
It will if you buy a x86 (like AMD Fusion) based tablet.
Wait, so tablets aren't just an Apple fad now?
Laptops are powerful enough to replace desktops now, but there's no indication that tablets will be able to overtake laptops any time in the next 10 years. And giving my cellphone a slightly bigger screen just isn't useful. This is basically for lazy f*cks who don't want to have to sit up on the couch to browse the internet.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft has already repeatedly said that Windows 8 for tablets isnt going to run standard Windows software. Welcome to a new OS with no Apps. iOS should be well over 500k apps even if you dont could all the fart Apps."
If you run an x86(64) based tablet you can run ANY current software including 64 bit.
iOs is 350K apps, including the fart ones.
Ok and that took about 2 years... In another year (maybe two) when Windows 8 actually ships how many iOS apps will there be? I think 500k is a VERY conservative estimate. So I stand by my statement. iOS will have 500k Apps the day Win 8 for tablet launches with about 20.
Not saying Windows 8 wont do well, but just pointing out to everyone who thinks that Win 8 for tablets is going to launch and on day one run every bit of code ever written since god knows when for Windows is in for a big surprise.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft has already repeatedly said that Windows 8 for tablets isnt going to run standard Windows software. Welcome to a new OS with no Apps. iOS should be well over 500k apps even if you dont could all the fart Apps."If you run an x86(64) based tablet you can run ANY current software including 64 bit.
I think you need to go do some research about what Microsoft has been saying about Windows 8 for Tablets, as opposed to and x86 pc that has been mushed into a tablet form factor and running a desktop OS. Two very different animals. The mushed x86 PC in tablet form has been around for several years, and while it does run normal Windows apps, its an exaggeration to say it has been anything other than a niche market product and a general flop.
I think you need to go do some research about what Microsoft has been saying about Windows 8 for Tablets, as opposed to and x86 pc that has been mushed into a tablet form factor and running a desktop OS. Two very different animals. The mushed x86 PC in tablet form has been around for several years, and while it does run normal Windows apps, its an exaggeration to say it has been anything other than a niche market product and a general flop.
Only because it wasn't marketed properly. I don't see why people would prefer Android or iOS over a full desktop OS on their pocket. I know I wouldn't! And since the tablets' battery life sucks anyway, might as well throw an Atom in there - just next-gen, more energy-efficient - and be happy.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Microsoft has already repeatedly said that Windows 8 for tablets isnt going to run standard Windows software. Welcome to a new OS with no Apps. iOS should be well over 500k apps even if you dont could all the fart Apps.http://www.informationweek.com/new [...] /231601473
By that they mean that traditional x86 and x86-64 programs will not run on ARM processors (it is a physical impossibility). However, if you watched any of the BUILD conference you would know that all apps designed for win8 will be cross compile-able to ARM architecture because of how the new developer tools will work. That being said, there will be Office for ARM, as well as all of the Intuit software, and Adobe software will follow eventually. Once you get those 3 productivity houses on ARM then it will make tablets pretty freakin awesome. Granted to do real hard core productivity work you will still need x86-64 just because it is faster and more mature, but you will still be able to shoot wedding pics, and then do a quick preview on your tablet. Or while doing an audit, be able to run quickbooks, or tax software, on your tablet. Or run full PPT on your tablet. All the 'little' things that you can sorta get to work with apps, but will finally run fully featured with win8. Laptops will become extinct long before the PC.
All that said, I'm still going to sit out until win9
As I see this is not such a big market at least not as yet. All I can say is Tick Tock Microsoft.
Nobody cares BF3 is about to come out.
Nobody cares BF3 is about to come out.
+1
Cheers for a completely out-of-nowhere comment. Love it.
I think that "real" laptops are eating up the low-end PC market share
Tablets there are the new laptop!!!
Battle will be fierce
Intel Atom is shrinking twice as fast usual Tick-Tock
AMD has new APU Trinity coming up, then the new one with a better GPU
ARM is already designed to go almost 3GHz with 4 cores or more
and has just released an ultra-low-power-ARM7 + ARM15 HW system
Win8- is supporting 3-4 designs or ARM (besides x86-64)
2012 is just the beginning of the tablet wars
We even don't all the players yet, nor the long-term winner
Nokia with it's M$ CEO might surprise all (I'm not under NDA)
AND Windows 9 team is going forward really fast with NT 6.3 (no NDA)
While Next Windows with integrated VM is in the plans (again no NDA)
Steven Jobs initiative on Apple's future products is unknown...
Android WILL get several rivaling Linux designs
2013 is even better year because the market will mature
Then Haswell will kick in and Intel goes 14nm, new atom design
ARM could make a deal with IBM on SOI process
I'm selling all my HW stock and buying med co. shares
sleeping pills, antidepressant, relaxants, headache meds, etc
:-D =:-O ;-) :-/ :-) :-(
Windows already has an app marketplace that is growing fast.
Please provide a link to the Windows 8 ARM tablet marketplace you say is growing fast... From what I have read they OS wont even ship for another year...
By that they mean that traditional x86 and x86-64 programs will not run on ARM processors (it is a physical impossibility). However, if you watched any of the BUILD conference you would know that all apps designed for win8 will be cross compile-able to ARM architecture because of how the new developer tools will work. That being said, there will be Office for ARM, as well as all of the Intuit software, and Adobe software will follow eventually. Once you get those 3 productivity houses on ARM then it will make tablets pretty freakin awesome. Granted to do real hard core productivity work you will still need x86-64 just because it is faster and more mature, but you will still be able to shoot wedding pics, and then do a quick preview on your tablet. Or while doing an audit, be able to run quickbooks, or tax software, on your tablet. Or run full PPT on your tablet. All the 'little' things that you can sorta get to work with apps, but will finally run fully featured with win8. Laptops will become extinct long before the PC.
All that said, I'm still going to sit out until win9
Cross compiling is one thing, you still have MAJOR engineering changes to Apps to make them really work in a touch/multi-touch environment. You could come up with some middle ware today to get existing apps to run on a tablet, but you know that it would be a kludge at best and not a true tablet app. Just look at how most of the existing tablet PC's work... Its just not a pretty sight.
I dont doubt that Win 8 for Tablets will eventually take off, my point is that on day 1 of release, the amount of software that will run natively on it, and behave like it was designed for a touch interface, not a mouse interface, will be few and far between, and many of the people posting hear seem to think they are going to take any App that runs on Win7 and load it directly into that shiny new Win 8 ARM based tablet and be off and running, and that just isn't even close to reality.
I personally think Android tablets are going to win, just as Angry Birds became popular. You can go to Sam's, spend $240, get a Viewsonic tablet each for the wife and kids and they can do Netflix, Facebook, email, and web browsing without having o bother me with a single question or technical issue.