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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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| RE[2]: ReactOS |
| By TemporalBeing on 2012-10-16 17:15:48 |
|
> 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). And that is why ReactOS is based in Russia...though Microsoft might just employ the Russian Mafia instead... |
 - Score: 6 |
| If, but |
| By quackalist on 2012-10-16 17:16:25 |
| All very true if only the formally known as Metro bit succeeds and I doubt it has a chance in hell. Apple somehow managed it but I have my doubts even that ecosystem will last. Certainly not twenty years of competition from Android, or whatever, and I just can't see Microsoft being able to foist any ecosystem more closed than already exists. The opposite if anything. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it'll be a "bad thing" if they do. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE[2]: ReactOS |
| By theARE on 2012-10-16 17:43:21 |
|
Certainly chasing a moving target hasnt helped, but if Windows 7 is to be the last 'good' windows, then the task becomes a little easier as they would no longer need to chase beyond that point. Still a daunting task I'm sure, but their goal always was. |
| - Score: 2 |
| So long, Windows. |
| By tomchr on 2012-10-16 17:48:43 |
|
With over a decade of experience it is shocking how little talent has gone into Windows 8. Perhaps Microsoft management consisting of apathetic old men is the gordian knot that needs to be removed before crap like this stops happening. While I have been a Windows user over 20+ year, I am so utterly tired of the lack of refinement in the GUI. This is proverbial final nail in the coffin. I am flipping Microsoft the bird and choosing Mac OS X. Fcuk this, I'm done. Edited 2012-10-16 17:51 UTC |
| - Score: 1 |
| I don't think ... |
| By WorknMan on 2012-10-16 17:56:08 |
|
I don't think we'll ever get to a point where the Windows desktop becomes a completely closed ecosystem. If it did, it would utterly fail in the enterprise. Not to mention that some VSTs are bigger than 20gb; that wouldn't exactly be convenient to download from the cloud. If anything, Windows will probably become like Android is, and I believe OSX too - you will download mostly from the app store, with the option to side load. IMO, this is how it should be done. It keeps tech tards in the walled garden and away from the malware, but allows power users who know what they're doing to venture outside the garden. Now days with Windows, I will rarely ever install anything that is labeled 'FREE', since I don't know what it will do to my system. Personally, I welcome the option of an app store. At least I know somebody has vetted the app before it goes live. |
| - Score: 4 |
| I doubt games would be banned |
| By Yamin on 2012-10-16 18:03:36 |
|
I understand the author's point and agree with it. It's just the gaming example really doesn't resonate. Does anyone seriously believe Microsoft is going to ban all adult games? More than likely, they are bringing in their app-store and are unsure what to do with adult content. Do they have parental controls? Is there a separate repository for sensitive content...? What are the legal consequences...? All unanswered questions that I'm sure they're going through and will make available in due time. They don't NEED to do it now as they have a compatibility mode for current applications. You really don't want to allow things, and then break them later. I think it is clear that Microsoft is moving towards a more controlled eco-system. Getting it right will be just as determining as the technology itself. But I think the author is jumping the gun a bit. We're not even at the first version of Windows 8. They could certainly screw it up. They could also find a nice balance. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: I don't think ... |
| By l3v1 on 2012-10-16 18:07:15 |
|
> I don't think we'll ever get to a point where the Windows desktop becomes a completely closed ecosystem. Well, it might not become closed down, but it might simply disappear at one release, leaving Metro and the Windows Store to become the new Windows desktop. |
| - Score: 2 |
| Oh please... |
| By whartung on 2012-10-16 18:08:09 |
|
Because we certainly know that whatever guidelines these folks come up with are CAST IN STONE FOREVER AND EVER. That they never react to market forces, that they never listen to customer input, that they never consider what happens when their rules first hit the wide scary world of reality. Never. NEVER! MS is going to draw a line in the sand right now. I am 100% confident that MS's policies will not change ONE IOTA in 20 years. It'll never happen. We all know how Apple never changed any of its policies. Apple is an oak and doesn't bend to anyone. Every guideline and store policy that was chiseled in to sacred tablets back in 2007 has remained stoic and resolved and unchanged. Woe is us. |
| - Score: 5 |
| RE: So long, Windows. |
| By darknexus on 2012-10-16 18:09:12 |
|
> While I have been a Windows user over 20+ year, I am so utterly tired of the lack of refinement in the GUI. This is proverbial final nail in the coffin. I am flipping Microsoft the bird and choosing Mac OS X. Fcuk this, I'm done. From an open/closed perspective, you're no better off supporting Apple than Microsoft. However, I suspect both Windows and OS X are in the same situation. Both companies would love to close them completely off, but simply won't be able to do so without losing 99% of their business customers. I certainly hope that Apple won't be able to close off OS X like iOS, because I absolutely love OS X and really don't have an alternative. At least, so far, Apple has known where to draw the line in both closing by default (Gatekeepr) and not to tabletify (if that's not a word, I just coined it) their os too much. What features they have merged into OS X from iOS have actually been mostly complete and well thought out and, from both a keyboard and mouse perspective, OS X is simply a pleasure to use in my opinion. I'm sticking with OS X as long as possible, the nice GUI coupled with the Mach/BSD underpinnings is perfect for me. As long as Apple doesn't go the Metro route, and keeps their os locked down to exactly how it is now, I'll be happy for a good long while. Now, if only they'd open iOS up to the OS X level: yeah, it's a pipe dream, but I can dream right? |
| - Score: 2 |
| Comment by l3v1 |
| By l3v1 on 2012-10-16 18:09:45 |
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> Does anyone seriously believe Microsoft is going to ban all adult games? Well, what about inserting a Steam-like app into the Windows Store, which in turn would allow in-app purchases of all kinds of games and content? How would current Windows Store rules apply to such an app? |
| - Score: 2 |
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