[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Are Next-Gen Computers Just Big Smartphones? here

[nickuofm]

"Windows 8, on the other hand, doesn't look like a desktop or laptop operating system and hasn't been optimized to work on one."

It appears the writer hasn't spent enough time in the consumer preview.

[LiveBrianD]

nickuofm, on 12 March 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

"Windows 8, on the other hand, doesn't look like a desktop or laptop operating system and hasn't been optimized to work on one."

It appears the writer hasn't spent enough time in the consumer preview.

Actually, I agree with him. The desktop seems like an afterthought in it. It's too bad that metro doesn't make any sense without a tablet though. (and even with one, there are still some things, like right-clicking for ie controls or hotcorners, that just don't make sense) I sure hope they offer an option to disable metro in the final version.

[GraysonPeddie]

I like how Apple is taking an approach by not making OS X look like iOS. Also, I'd like my smartphone to look like a desktop, so I'd go with Android since Windows Mobile 6.5 is completely dead in the water thanks in part to Micro$oft.

Oh, and guess what? I don't want a desktop to function as an application in Windows 8, so I'd rather have Windows 7 in a tablet, thank you very much. Metro is okay, but it does not fit me well with personality. In my opinion, it's not very aesthetically pleasing and Windows 8 (yes, I've tried Windows 8 Consumer Preview, so don't ever tell me I didn't) does not meet my needs very well.

In a positive note, having a single sign-in to Windows 8 for my mom and dad is a plus. This morning, my dad asked me "What is my password?" and I respond him with "The same password you use for your e-mail account." This is very useful as my mom and dad are so strongly insistent that they don't care to use a password when it comes to logging in to Windows or Linux, so I'll give Microsoft a nod for that. But me? I'm just using plain old Windows 7 in my laptop to log into Windows 7 with my own password and I'm very technically-inclined and my mom and dad isn't very smart in computers as I am, but I'm not going to hurt my parent's feelings.

[TheOldTopkick]

If or when our computers become the same as our smartphones, I might agree with the author. To do so they must be able to do anything our computers can do (possible). That includes correcting my terrible grammar. You must be able to fold a full size keyboard small enough to fit in a shirt pocket (not today) and a bunch of other things. Computers must for the immediate future remaine seperate creations. Each will do a job satisfactorly and neither does a job perfectly. They will both be around for a long time.

[NoahSILVA]

Windows 8... what? Seriously? It still uses an NT kernel on Intel, it's still the Windows we know and love/hate. A few superficial changes don't change that. The file system is still NTFS, it still has the registry, etc.

[samirsshah]

"The Windows 8 overhaul represents a classic "good news and bad news" situation for IT. The bad news is that Metro will present serious headaches for IT because of support issues and because new Metro apps may not play well with existing enterprise software. The good news is that the Windows 8 kernel will be used for Windows 8 tablets, so enterprises will be able to deploy and manage tablets more easily than they can now. Eventually, the Windows 8 kernel will be used on smartphones as well. So Windows 8 will ultimately make it easier for IT to deploy desktop, laptop and mobile hardware with a single tool."

That should be Microsoft's message to the enterprise.

[samirsshah]

"The good news is that the Windows 8 kernel will be used for Windows 8 tablets, so enterprises will be able to deploy and manage tablets more easily than they can now. Eventually, the Windows 8 kernel will be used on smartphones as well. So Windows 8 will ultimately make it easier for IT to deploy desktop, laptop and mobile hardware with a single tool."

That should be Microsoft's message to enterprises.