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

Posted by msmash on 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."

21 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. So.... by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Microsoft is asking it's OEMs to make Surface Pro competitors?

    1. Re:So.... by HideyoshiJP · · 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. Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Anonymous Coward · · 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 JohnFen · · 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.

    2. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Rick+Schumann · · 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.

    3. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by Rick+Schumann · · 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.

    4. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by spire3661 · · 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
    5. Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7? by iampiti · · 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.

  3. Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by QuietLagoon · · 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 · · Score: 5, Funny

      excuse me, it's called "bravery".

    2. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by QuietLagoon · · 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.

    3. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by tlhIngan · · 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.

    4. Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders? by ChatHuant · · 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.

  4. really makes you think by thebullshitpatrol · · 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?

  5. "Hero Experiences"?? by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Hero Experiences"??

    That's the best laugh I've had this week! Thanks, Microsoft!

    1. Re:"Hero Experiences"?? by freeze128 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Everyone knows that Master Chief is the Hero, not Cortana.

  6. I think that feature is a bug by JohnFen · · 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 tepples · · 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.

  7. Dear Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · 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

  8. "Given their marching orders"??? by Harold+Halloway · · 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.

  9. Re:Laptops that work well with Linux Mint by chipschap · · 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.