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| Windows 8: the next twenty years |
| By Thom Holwerda on 2012-10-16 15:47:28 |
| Casey Muratori dissects the consequences of Windows 8's closed distribution model. "But how realistic is the assumption that the Windows desktop will still be a usable computing platform in the future? And what would be the consequences were it to disappear, leaving Windows users with only the closed software ecosystem introduced in Windows 8? To answer these questions, this volume of Critical Detail examines the immediate and future effects of Microsoft's current certification requirements, explores in depth what history predicts for the lifespan of the classic Windows desktop, and takes a pragmatic look at whether an open or closed ecosystem would be better for Microsoft as a company." The section that details how none - none - of this year's greatest games (or last year's fantastic Skyrim) and only one of this year's Emmy-nominated TV shows pass Microsoft's rules sent chills down my spine. |
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| ReactOS |
| By theARE on 2012-10-16 15:59:28 |
|
If ever there was a time for ReactOS to get their house in order and their product polished this is it. What the world needs right now is an open windows compatible OS |
 - Score: 7 |
| RE: ReactOS |
| By Laurence on 2012-10-16 16:16:55 |
|
I'd very much love ReactOS to become a viable competitor to Windows, but sadly I can't see how that could ever happen as the ReactOS guys are chasing a moving target and with fewer resources too. Not to mention that it's harder to reverse engineer APIs than it is to design them from scratch. And lets be honest, even the ReactOS devs managed to defy all odds and release a stable, production-ready OS. Microsoft would just sue the project into oblivion (it's impossible to write a clone without trespassing on some design patents). Realistically I think we only have two options if we want an open platform: 1/ either push developers into supporting Linux, users on to Linux, and Linux distribution developers into making the switch over less painful. 2/ or campaign for governments to step in, preventing Microsoft from closing their platform. Given the scope of Windows, there maybe an anti-competitive argument to be made. Personally I think both of those options stink. 1/ As a full time Linux user myself, I respect that some people prefer Windows because it's Windows. If they wanted to run Linux then like already would be doing so. So forcing them onto a platform they don't want to run isn't much better than forcing them into a closed ecosystem they didn't want to be part of. 2/ The moment you're relying on the government to competition, then you've already lost. Particularly if the government in question belongs to the US. |
| - Score: 7 |
| My Plan |
| By Chrispynutt on 2012-10-16 16:17:00 |
|
If Windows 8 doesn't fail spectacularly and we get a move back to sense and reason I will be doing the following. - Sticking with Win7 for the medium term - Hoping that Valve's escape boat works, if so move to that - If not see what alternatives are out there and move probably to a form of Linux. For my own laziness I hope ME and Vista seem like good times for MS compared to 8. |
| - Score: 5 |
| RE[2]: ReactOS |
| By Chrispynutt on 2012-10-16 16:19:11 |
|
As an ex Amiga user I am used to working with the least worst option in order to have a future and do things. If Linux by default becomes that least worst option then I will move to Linux. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE: My Plan |
| By CapEnt on 2012-10-16 16:27:37 |
| Valve's escape boat is Linux. =P |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: My Plan |
| By the_trapper on 2012-10-16 16:33:50 |
|
> If Windows 8 doesn't fail spectacularly and we get a move back to sense and reason I will be doing the following. - Sticking with Win7 for the medium term - Hoping that Valve's escape boat works, if so move to that - If not see what alternatives are out there and move probably to a form of Linux. For my own laziness I hope ME and Vista seem like good times for MS compared to 8. Yeah, it seems like lately MS has to screw up at least every other release of Windows. 2000 (Good) -> Me (Bad) -> XP (Good) -> Vista (Horible) -> 7 (Great) -> 8 (What Are You Thinking???) Linux and Mac seem to always gain a little from these bad releases because they cause people to look at alternatives, but ultimately most people just use the last good version of Windows as an alternative. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE[2]: My Plan |
| By Chrispynutt on 2012-10-16 16:45:13 |
| I just wonder if it will be an existing distro or their own. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE[2]: My Plan |
| By Chrispynutt on 2012-10-16 16:46:20 |
| I agree, but there is always that seed of doubt that the rubbish version of Windows won't go away and you start planning your escape. |
| - Score: 2 |
| First Valid Argument |
| By franksands on 2012-10-16 17:02:22 |
| Okay, so this is the first valid argument I find against windows 8 and it's a really scary one. I honestly think win8 has great potential, but only if it remains primarily open. It really suck if the only games available are Disney Universe, Rayman and Farmville. |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[3]: My Plan |
| By Laurence on 2012-10-16 17:03:32 |
|
> I just wonder if it will be an existing distro or their own. Nobody but them know their future plans, but what we do know is the public beta's are focusing on Ubuntu compatibility. |
| - Score: 2 |
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