[silverbax88]

I see this as nothing less than a massive misstep by Microsoft. Trying to create a primary OS based on mobile devices is a great way to give market share to the companies that already own those spaces while giving up the one that you own. Microsoft even says that "some people" still need desktop PC's, then names 'video editors, financial analysts, scientists, gamers, PC enthusiasts…'...so everyone who needs to actually do work on a PC.

I get it - Microsoft thinks that they want the big market, and that the big market is content consumers. But 50% of Microsoft's revenue comes from Microsoft Office - and that hasn't changed. Furthermore, Google and Apple already own the market on smart phone OSs and nothing Microsoft has done in the past has shown that they have any ability to crack into that market.

So effectively, Microsoft wants to create an OS that abandons their core revenue base while going after one that has rejected them repeatedly.

At best, it's Windows ME. At worst, it's the rise of Linux and Apple as the future of the desktop.

[fjorder]

Although the linked article ignores certain MS OS's, like Win ME (for good reason), it does accurately convey the message that MS often does fairly innovative things that run against conventional wisdom and, in most cases, this has worked out rather well for them. MS spends way more on research than Apple and occasionally good things make it into MS products.

Even with that in mind, Metro is a pretty big gamble. They're trying to bring a unified experience across mobile and desktop devices when there are practically no mobile MS devices out there! It would be an ambitious idea if Windows phone (or tablet!) was well established and had a decent amount of market share but, as things stand, it's appears almost insane. MS is taking a huge risk with their core market to expand into markets that they're almost completely locked out of at present.

However, if you look at the trends in computing its absolutely true that more and more is being done on mobile devices, often at the expense of the desktop. The argument could be made that MS, as a company, would be in serious trouble if they just stuck to the desktop market. It very well might be "go big or go home" time for Microsoft, and they are clearly choosing to go big.

I say good luck to MS. I hope Metro lets them push into the mobile market without alienating their desktop core. It's better for consumers if there's more choice.

[CamperBob2]

So effectively, Microsoft wants to create an OS that abandons their core revenue base while going after one that has rejected them repeatedly.

Exactly. There may be some precedent for a successful OS built on a bifurcated strategy like what MS has outlined for Windows 8, but at 43, I'm not old enough to remember it.

[courage]

I think DOS/Windows is a pretty good analog, and it was very successful.

[CamperBob2]

An interesting point, but I'm not sure it applies. Microsoft knew they could never really commoditize computing with a command-line OS, so Windows was an absolute necessity. It was demanded by literally billions of customers, most of whom didn't even know they needed it. Even then, Windows took several years and three major versions before it really caught on.

These days, desktop computers are as ubiquitous as they are ever going to get, and few people are demanding a replacement for the traditional Windows UI on the desktop. Unlike DOS, what Microsoft has is good enough for the mass desktop/laptop market. The fact that it's not good enough for mobile does not in any way justify tinkering with their successful desktop strategy. IMO, what we're seeing is yet another panicked, reactionary twitch from the Ballmer executive suite.

[rbanffy]

Makes sense. The first 3 versions of Windows ran on top of DOS. This first version of Metro runs "on top" of a classic Windows desktop... And both were responses to products Apple launched (Lisa/Macintosh and the iPad). What Microsoft is doing is using Windows as the platform that introduces Windows+1 much like it did with DOS.

[sliverstorm]

Alternatively, could they be attempting to embrace a "tik-tok" model? Enterprise tends to move slowly, and Win7 is still going strong. Could they not produce Win8 targeted at mobile, keep enterprise on Win7, and come back to enterprise for Win9?

[drivebyacct2]

Seeing as Windows 8 still includes full desktop mode, exactly how does any of this "abandon core revenue" logic make any sense?

I get it, despite being in the tech world, geek-types remain incredibly resitive to change, but I'm tired of every tiny change that Google or Microsoft makes turning into "they're jumping the shark".

[rbanffy]

To be fair, people said the same about Gnome 3 and Unity and both work very well...

But... If you are not a "geek-type", what are you doing on "Hacker News"?

[drivebyacct2]

I am a geek type, and one who accepts that technology changes and different != automatically awful.

The fact that everyone said the same thing about Unity and are now coming around to it, proves my point. I happen to love Gnome-Shell. I don't mind Unity and I think Win8 is great after you take some time to get used to it.

[rbanffy]

Your generalizations are incorrect. While a lot of people were very vocal on their opposition to Gnome shell and Unity, I wouldn't say "everyone" opposed them. In fact, I didn't. I considered the move risky, of course.

I think Metro for desktops and notebooks makes very little sense unless you use a multi-touch pointing device like Apple's trackpad. With a mouse, it's painful.

[drivebyacct2]

Yes, heh, I did not mean literally everyone, but even much of HN is still full of Unity hate. I managed to get down to at least -8 or -9 by my calculations the other day for trying to combat nonspecific Unity hate-rants. I understand skepticism, like I said, I really just roll my eyes at the "it sucks [with no reasons]" that are evident even in this thread.

And it doesn't completely answer your criticism but many Synaptic touchpads for a looong time are multitouch capable, they're just not utilized. It's different, I'll grant that, I didn't think it was painful, but I adapt quickly and I don't mind scrolling with the wheel to move horizontally. (The proverbial) You get used to it.