Microsoft Blames PC Makers For Windows Failure 913
rtfa-troll writes "The Register tells us that Microsoft has begun squabbling with PC manufacturers over the reasons behind the failure of Windows 8. Microsoft is 'frustrated with major OEMs who didn't build nearly enough touch systems.' PC manufacturers have hit back, saying that they 'would have been saddled with the costs of a huge pile of unsold units,' claiming that customers actually avoided higher-end touch products which were available and instead bought lower-end, cheaper laptops while 'Microsoft is not blaming itself for' the failure of its own touch device, the Surface RT. The PC manufacturers' claims that touch is the problem seem to be backed by reviews, and some educational rants from users and opinions from user interface design experts. However, Microsoft sees this differently. Microsoft is planning to strike back at the PC vendors in February with Surface Pro; with a shorter battery life and much heavier than a normal tablet, this is being seen as a direct competitor to traditional laptops. By using its desktop operating system franchise as a lever, Microsoft will be able to enter the lower-specification end of the laptop market with a cost advantage which make make life difficult for former partners such as HP and Dell. We've discussed previously how some PC manufactures such as Dell have failed in generational change whilst others have diversified to survive market changes; Samsung with Android and the (still) bestselling Chromebook. ASUS with their successful Nexus tablets. We also discussed the ergonomic problems which are claimed to make touch screens unsuitable for PC use."
Dear Microsoft (Score:5, Funny)
I flip out when people touch my screen. How do you think I'll react when *I* have to touch my screen.
Knock it off with the touch screen crap, already.
It's a shame because (Score:3, Funny)
Windows 8 is one of the best consumer products Microsoft has ever made. I've introduced 4 low level users to it, and after a couple months, without fail, they all love it.
Win8 is one of those things people will look back at after the fact and recognize that it was much better than everyone thought.
This is the era of "It isn't my fault" (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Blame it on the others (Score:5, Funny)
Chair incoming, duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck....
Re:This is the era of "It isn't my fault" (Score:5, Funny)
Well, the rise of the Idiocracy definitely was part Cheney and his neocon gang's fault. Look at all the money that did flow from education to warfare, greed and religious extremism, and still does, because of them.
And Bush was Cheney's sock-puppet. So there you go.
Ballmer (Score:5, Funny)
Unwise Minion: "Uh, Lord Ballmer, sir, isn't that almost a tautology?"
[brief pause]
Lord Ballmer: "Get the cleaners in here. Some minion just died while eating a chair."
Re:Former partners? (Score:5, Funny)
Last I checked Dell and HP are both very much still MS partners.
I believe that "thralls" describes the relationship more accurately.
Re:The problem is Windows 8 (Score:4, Funny)
If this is your experience with torrented versions of Windows, you don't computer good.
Re:Windows 8 and Failure (Score:4, Funny)
99% of Windows 7 is Windows Vista. People just like to disassociate 7 from Vista because they don't want to admit that Vista was a pretty good operating system.
And 99% of Human DNA is Chimpanzee DNA...
Vista absolutely was (and still is) a horrible OS. That 1% (I'm sure it's much more) difference between it and 7 makes for a huge difference. It set the groundwork for 7, and that's pretty much the best thing one can say about it.