Microsoft Changing The Game...Again

In 1995, Microsoft introduced Windows 95.   95 changed things up  quite a bit.  No longer did Windows users boot up into DOS, and type in the "win" command to enter Windows.  From that point on, Windows may have gone through some changes, but none quite as huge as that one.   We've seen  an increase in driver databases, improved recognition, auto-installation, the "snap" feature, etc.   While there have been some duds along the way, Microsoft has continued to deliver operating systems that have maintained the lion's share of the PC market.

Windows 8 is another game changer.   New adopters may notice the changes.  The "Start" button is no longer the corner of the desktop.   "The entire screen is the start button" is one description of the change.  However, users will soon get to experience life without the familiar task bar.  Another thing that users will notice is that Windows 8 is even further tailored toward touch screen operation.   Desktop users will find that it feels more like a tablet operating system.

To me, this change reminded me of the change Ubuntu Linux made in changing from GNOME to Unity in their Natty Narwhal release.  With the increase in touchscreen monitors available, and new notebooks with touchscreens to take advantage of features available in Windows 7, users can take advantage of the features that are becoming intuitive, courtesy of tablets and smartphones. 

Reviews from the gaming community have been mixed, so far.   Some initial opinions of Windows 8 have likened it to either Windows Millennium, or Windows Vista, both of which were rather unpopular and had their share of perceived design flaws.   Other gamers, though, have expressed that while the layout of the OS was different, their games did not suffer any performance loss. 

Microsoft is banking on the shift toward portability here.  This may be true for some users, though the desktop and notebook will still hold a strong presence between gamers, businesses, and hardware enthusiasts.  Microsoft's new Windows Surface tablets soon to hit the streets, and will use the RT variant of Windows 8, along with being the only tablet preloaded with Microsoft Office. 

Time will tell just how the market responds to this change.