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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."

6 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. 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 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.

    2. 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.

  2. 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".

  3. 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