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

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."

Comments

Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7?

[Anonymous Coward]

Can't Microsoft just offer PCs with Windows 7 once again? I don't like Windows 8, or 10.

Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7?

[Rick Schumann]

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.

Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7?

[spire3661]

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.

Re:Can't we just get PCs with Windows 7?

[iampiti]

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.

Is Microsoft really the one to give orders?

[QuietLagoon]

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?

Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders?

[thebullshitpatrol]

excuse me, it's called "bravery".

Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders?

[QuietLagoon]

...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.

Re:Is Microsoft really the one to give orders?

[ChatHuant]

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.

"Hero Experiences"??

[JohnFen]

"Hero Experiences"??

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

I think that feature is a bug

[JohnFen]

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.

Dear Microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:Laptops that work well with Linux Mint

[chipschap]

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.