Microsoft Gives Windows Device Makers Their 2017 Marching Orders (zdnet.com)

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Microsoft Gives Windows Device Makers Their 2017 Marching Orders (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on Thursday February 2, 2017 @04:40AM from the roadmap-2017 dept.

Microsoft officials have some fairly specific ideas about what they want their Windows-device-making partners to build in calendar 2017. From a report: Microsoft wants its OEMs and ODMs to make more Windows 10 detachables, convertibles, and ultraslims. They also are advising their partners to make devices and peripherals that highlight the "hero experiences" of Windows 10 involving Cortana, Windows Hello authentication, and Windows Ink. And another wish-list topper: Microsoft is looking for more Windows 10 PCs that can power mixed-reality peripherals and that are ready for gamers and "media fanatics."

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So.... by thegarbz · 2017-02-02 04:44 · Score: 3, Interesting

Microsoft is asking it's OEMs to make Surface Pro competitors?
1. Re:So.... by HideyoshiJP · 2017-02-02 06:03 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Yes. If I recall, the point of the Surface was to kick other manufacturers in the butt so they'll start making quality and innovative hardware. If you recall, at the time, most manufacturers were only pumping out bargain basement Windows 7 machines that were barely qualified to toss into the scrap heap.
2. Re:So.... by PingSpike · 2017-02-02 07:25 · Score: 2
  
  Given that Microsoft basically abandoned most of the things they did with the Windows 8 UI it sounds more like those OEMs weren't dragging their feet but were just neglecting to hold a bag of shit MS was trying to hand them.
3. Re: So.... by Voyager529 · 2017-02-02 07:49 · Score: 2
  
  That would make sense if they were were doing something positive, just not what Microsoft wanted. There weren't a whole lot of user facing hardware innovations, just a race to the cheapest clamshell available, an initial boot time of four minutes or so, and half a dozen pop-ups on the first start from all the shovelware vendors, trying to meet the $300, $400, $650 price points. HP was busy photocopying MacBook Pro stylings with terrible heat dissipation and abhorrent touchpads, Dell was flirting with Android and the tablet market but couldn't commit, Acer was making their usual plastic, Asus was half decent if you were super careful about your DC jack, and Lenovo was going through that phase where they tried selling Acer-grade laptops with ThinkPad logos, with the sole exception of the dual-monitor W700 series that was epic if you could carry the 10-pound workstation after paying its $4,000+ price tag.
  The major PC vendors were busy cutting corners while Apple was making hardware people actually wanted...so yes, MS tried something different and soon after, the PC market started to rally.
4. Re: So.... by ArmoredDragon · 2017-02-02 11:19 · Score: 2
  
  Point two is exactly why OEMs have a "meh" attitude towards windows these days. It used to be that they could create their own product with its own bundled (or not) services.
  In other words, their product has to be basically identical to their competitors. That's also why windows phone failed where Android wins. Microsofties call it fragmentation and then talk about how bad it is, and then wonder why nobody gives a shit about their phones or tablets.
Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-02 04:44 · Score: 5, Insightful

Can't Microsoft just offer PCs with Windows 7 once again? I don't like Windows 8, or 10.
1. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-02-02 04:48 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Just switch off Metro and Cortana to use Windows 10 as a desktop OS. Not that much different than Windows 7.
2. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by JohnFen · 2017-02-02 04:54 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  You also have to add a few third-party applications to fix the rest of the stuff that Microsoft broke, such as the Start menu.
3. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Rick+Schumann · 2017-02-02 05:01 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  They forced us onto Windows 10 at work, I installed Classic Explorer and that gets rid of their retarded implementation of a start menu.
4. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Rick+Schumann · 2017-02-02 05:04 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  You can't uninstall Cortana though, it's embedded into the entire OS, and you can't just 'turn it off', either. The closest I've been able to come is a very brute force/nuclear option, which was to deny Windows the ability to execute anything in the subdirectory where the Cortana core files are, so there ends up being a bunch of errors in the System log because it can't start Cortana up, but it does keep it from running it. This also breaks a couple other things at the same time, but I can't say I've really been affected by that.
  
  You should also go through all the Task Scheduler entries, too, if you're worried about the 'phone home' problem, much of it is triggered through Task Scheduler entries, which you can go through and delete.
5. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by spire3661 · 2017-02-02 06:02 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Pro allows you to defer UPGRADES, not updates. The added control you paid for is being steadily chipped away. Pro is essentially home with a group policy editor at this point. Pro is no longer a 'business class' OS, thats reserved for Enterprise with its lovely annual licensing agreements.
  
  --
  Good-bye
6. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by iampiti · 2017-02-02 06:29 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  To get something like Win 7 you'd also have to remove the following things:
  - Ads for Office and Edge built into the OS.
  - The infamous telemetry that can't be completely turned off.
  - The annoying push to use MS' services (Ms account for login, Cortana, Bing, the Store...)
  - The "bug" that resets your default applications to Ms' ones every major update.
  - The inability to reject updates.
  - The built-for-touch apps that are the defaults (and, in some cases like the Settings app, the only option) even on desktops without touchscreens.
7. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Just+Some+Guy · 2017-02-02 08:14 · Score: 2
  
  Oh, don't forget "The misfeature that shares all your wi-fi passwords with friends, acquaintances, and random strangers in the subway".
  
  --
  Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
8. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by pr0fessor · 2017-02-02 08:18 · Score: 2
  
  I'm not sure which stuff you're referring to that the old one did and is now is broke in the new menu. It's more like missing or changed.
  In Win 7 you had two panes, pinned items an recent on the left and on the right was your regular folders and settings and it hid the pinned and recent in the left pane and displayed the all programs when you hit all programs. if you held you mouse over something in recent or pinned it would should you a list of files you recently opened with it.
  In win 10 you have two panes, the left pane shows all programs and you can add most used and recently added if you with the folders and settings collapsed into icons all programs is hidden when you expand the folders and setting by clicking start at the top. On the right pane there are pinned items. If you right click on an application it will show the documents you recently opened with it.
Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by QuietLagoon · 2017-02-02 04:45 · Score: 5, Insightful

Microsoft really should be listening to the device makers, not commanding them. Why is Microsoft still so friggin' arrogant towards its customers (a.k.a., product) and users? Hasn't the Windows 10 fiasco taught them any humility?
1. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by thebullshitpatrol · 2017-02-02 04:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  excuse me, it's called "bravery".
2. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-02-02 04:51 · Score: 2
  
  Microsoft is following the Apple model.
3. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by QuietLagoon · 2017-02-02 04:58 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  ...What makes you say this? Have you looked at MS's financials lately? They're doing great. ...
  Microsoft's enterprise cloud business is doing great. Microsoft's Windows' business is doing far less great.
4. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by ilsaloving · 2017-02-02 05:16 · Score: 2
  
  The one time we wish Microsoft *wouldn't* copy apple...
5. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by tlhIngan · 2017-02-02 05:27 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Microsoft really should be listening to the device makers, not commanding them. Why is Microsoft still so friggin' arrogant towards its customers (a.k.a., product) and users? Hasn't the Windows 10 fiasco taught them any humility?
  Device makers generally make "safe" devices. They'd churn out crappy ass laptops all day everyday.
  It took Intel a couple billion dollars to get OEMs and ODMs to make more than just $500 craptops and start considering making higher end laptops with nicer screens, thinner form factors etc. (This became the "ultrabook" form factor).
  But they were happy making $500 crappy laptops with crappy screens. Intel's investment let them build higher end machines that competed with Apple's machines and got people spending more money per laptop.
  Microsoft's just trying to urge manufacturers to stop making just laptops and consider other form factors, as well as add features like IR cameras (Windows Hello requires it for biometric photo ID). Sometimes the best way to get what you want is to ask manufacturers to add certain features and then offer discounts on stuff like license fees.
  Microsoft has also been encouraging PC makers to offer a "Signature Edition" not exclusive to Microsoft stores - these PCs have no crap ware installed at all and are basically Windows, necessary drivers and applications only.
6. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by ChatHuant · 2017-02-02 05:53 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  I don't think listening to device makers is always the best way to go. Until a couple of years ago the Windows computer hardware field was stale, with hardly any innovation. Most makers were engaged in a race to the bottom, trying to pump out the cheapest machine they could, while a few others, like Alienware, were looking at niche areas, like machines optimized for gaming. Microsoft had to jump in with the Surface line, which gave device makers quite a kick in the pants. The new line was quite successful, and it revitalized the field.
7. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by loonycyborg · 2017-02-02 07:11 · Score: 2
  
  Race to the bottom? You say it like it's something bad. It's consequence of competitive market existing. Once computers stop being relative novelty we can expect them to become somewhat longer lasting. Any other outcome is more than unnatural. After all you don't need to replace your hammer or screwdriver every year because it became obsolete. It's just a tool and you keep it as long as it does its job, and computer is in grand scheme of things just a tool too.
really makes you think by thebullshitpatrol · 2017-02-02 04:47 · Score: 3, Insightful

>microsoft is trying to force hardware manufacturers to build a cohesive apple brand image and UX for them (spread across 20 brands)
They have TOUCH SCREENS guys, how can they not be flying off the shelves?
"Hero Experiences"?? by JohnFen · 2017-02-02 04:48 · Score: 4, Funny

"Hero Experiences"??
That's the best laugh I've had this week! Thanks, Microsoft!
1. Re:"Hero Experiences"?? by freeze128 · 2017-02-02 05:24 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Everyone knows that Master Chief is the Hero, not Cortana.
I think that feature is a bug by JohnFen · 2017-02-02 04:52 · Score: 4, Insightful

These bets are familiar ones: [...] a constantly updated version of Windows [...]
Microsoft really thinks that the constant updating of Windows is a desirable feature? I disagree -- that "feature" is one of the top three reasons why I despise Windows 10.
1. Re:I think that feature is a bug by Rick+Schumann · 2017-02-02 05:10 · Score: 2
  
  If for some reason you're forced to use it, you should be able to go into This PC/Manage/Services, then Stop and Disable the Automatic Updates service. Of course that's just a stop-gap, you still don't get to pick and choose which updates you get if you turn it back on.
2. Re: I think that feature is a bug by tepples · 2017-02-02 06:23 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I don't see how a constantly updating Windows is much worse than a constantly updating Ubuntu?
  No automatic reboots. An update to a userspace library takes effect the next time you start a process that imports a particular library. Kernel and systemd updates take effect only after a reboot, but those are manual.
3. Re:I think that feature is a bug by iampiti · 2017-02-02 06:32 · Score: 2
  
  Agree. An OS should be stable, not something updated every few days/weeks.
  Also, every update should be well tested not like current Win 10 updates where each one adds 3 new things, fixes 2 bugs and adds 5 more.
  That development model might be ok for an unimportant mobile app, an OS is what makes your PC run it must be stable.
Sorry Microsoft. Your "hero experiences" ... by fahrbot-bot · 2017-02-02 05:03 · Score: 2

... generally make me want to "an hero".

--
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Dear Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-02 05:12 · Score: 5, Insightful

Hi Microsoft,
Thanks for all the features you're working on. I can tell you're trying and that's great. It's just that all I really want from windows 10 is windows 10. I know this is hard to understand, but when I read things like 'windows ink', I already know I don't want it despite not knowing what it is. To be clear, this means I want no cortana, ms account, hello, tiles, ads, edge, forced updates or telemetry. The OS I just described is win 10 enterprise LTSB, but you won't sell it to me (I've really tried to buy it too - your volume licensers won't even quote me for one license)
Windows 10 base OS is a GREAT OS. I want to buy it. You won't sell it to me. So my new Skylake build is running Windows 7.
I hope this feedback helps.
Regards
Anonymous Coward
"Given their marching orders"??? by Harold+Halloway · 2017-02-02 05:51 · Score: 3, Insightful

Giving someone their 'marching orders' basically means firing them. Therefore whoever wrote the headline has given a misleading spin to the story. As I read it, the headline says that Microsoft have sacked all their device makers. This is clearly not the case.
1. Re:"Given their marching orders"??? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-02 06:39 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  No, "marching orders" is when you tell someone what to do and give them no choice in the matter. Much like in the military, when a commanding officer gives infantry an order to march.
  Just because some dipshit has used it incorrectly to mean "fired somebody" in the past doesn't mean that it actually means that to anyone else.
Re:Laptops that work well with Linux Mint by chipschap · 2017-02-02 06:40 · Score: 4, Interesting

Linux Mint installs on a very wide range of laptops. Those few that it won't install on (I can't even think of one offhand) are definite exceptions. Linux Mint surely installs on more devices than Windows 10 (such as legacy PCs and laptops).
Is your point that it isn't easy to buy a machine with Mint preinstalled? That is certainly the case, but installing it yourself, or finding a friend to install it for you, isn't so hard.
It was a great feeling (at least for me personally) to buy a new Asus laptop, wipe the SSD of all vestiges of Windows, and install Mint ... and that took maybe an hour to do and a few more hours to get things customized the way I wanted.
Re:Laptops that work well with Linux Mint by Windowser · 2017-02-02 06:51 · Score: 2

What company that isn't a Linux Mint partner makes laptops that work well with Linux Mint?
System76

--
Avoid the MS tax, always buy I.B.M. PC's (I Built-it Myself)