Microsoft Needs To Do Better

Striving to become relevant in the so-called post-PC age, Microsoft has embraced the idea of making its own hardware. Torpedoes, or unhappy and crappy OEM partners, be damned, the software giant seems to be all gung ho this time.

Forget what used to be an on-again, off-again hardware adventure, this time, Ballmer and company seem serious enough to take their biggest stab yet at the hardware market.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveils the Surface family of PCs for 

Windows during an event in Hollywood, California.

Of course, Microsoft isn’t exactly a complete newbie in the hardware segment. It has had its share of wins and losses. While the Kin smartphone and the Zune media player bring too many cringe-worthy moments even for the most die-hard Microsoft fans, the Xbox gaming platform demonstrates how a determined and focused Microsoft can eventually rule even the most unwelcoming market.

Microsoft's Surface Tablet Finally (Officially) Arrives

After months of sketchy details, which prompted some analysts and critics to dub the tablet as another case of vaporware, Microsoft unveiled some more details about its Surface tablets.

A screengrab from Microsoft's TV ad for the Surface tablet

Complete with a music-and-dance TV ad, which showed off some of the tablet's eye-candy features, the "great unveiling" of Microsoft's pricing strategy for the Surface tablet, specifically for the Windows RT version, had most of the media in frenzy although not as rabid as those generated by an Apple product launch.

Nevertheless, the Surface announcements grabbed some serious media and analyst attention.

Microsoft to Turn Windows Phone Into Another Xbox

Microsoft, Nokia, and wireless operator AT&T threw a lot of their respective marketing muscles behind the Lumia 900 Windows Phone smartphone. Despite this, however, the phone, which has received much critical acclaim for its innovative design and refreshingly different mobile OS, posted so-so sales numbers.

It was not a flop. It was not a blockbuster, which Microsoft and Nokia badly need, either.

Nokia's Lumia 900 sold more units than expected; however, it was not big enough to give Windows Phone a significant market presence.

Things are looking bad for the smartphone partners. Things, however, are not desperate.

Things could improve a lot later this year, when Microsoft launches its next mobile OS, Windows Phone 8. And if we're to believe the rumors and leaks, the next-generation Windows Phone OS will come with some serious firepower.

A Microsoft-Branded Tablet Makes Sense, as Well as Enemies

Much has been said about why Microsoft should come up with its own tablet.

The reason most cited by IT columnists, bloggers, and all the other usual suspects is that by offering its own tablet computer, Microsoft can have control over the tablet's design and features, and most importantly, all aspects of the user experience.

Microsoft will launch its own tablet on Monday, some analysts claim.

Think of what Apple has done with the iPad — despotic control over everything about the world's most popular tablet computer. And consumers, millions of them, seem to love being told what to do. They love having no choice, apparently.

Saying Goodbye to Windows XP

In two years time, Microsoft will end all support for Windows XP, one of the world's most popular computer operating systems ever.

When April 8, 2014, comes upon us, the software giant will stop issuing fixes, security patches, or any other form of support for the OS and its millions of users.

Microsoft said it will stop all support for one of the world's most popular operating systems ever.

This is no big deal. Things like this happen all the time, in almost all industries. Automobiles, watches, even cosmetics, they all go out of fashion and become obsolete, or unimportant enough to merit a trip to history's dustbin.

Obsolescence, however, happens faster and more often in the high-tech world.

Finally, with Nokia's Lumia 800, Windows users need not be embarrassed by their phones

Let's admit it, most fans of Windows have been afflicted with smartphone envy, for the longest time. While lovers of the iOS and Android platforms have been proudly and at times brashly displaying their iPhones and Android phones, users of Windows-badged smartphones are surreptitiously using their own.

The humiliation, both self-imposed and bestowed by popular culture and market realities, has continued for quite some time. That is, until now.

Nokia's Lumia 800 eases Windows users' smartphone envy.

Last week's launch of the Lumia 800 smartphone by Nokia finally ends most Windows users' wait for a real "Windows smartphone." Finally, Windows users need not feel inadequate each time an Android or iPhone fan whips out his or her smartphone.

Microsoft and Nokia join forces in smartphone market

Of all the analysts who publicized their reactions to the Microsoft-Nokia smartphone deal announced on February 11, Blue Badge Insights founder Andrew Brust seemed to be the most rational I have seen so far. He said (in an interview with http://www.eweek.com/), "The two companies are on their respective back feet."

Brust added, "But they can certainly help each other: Microsoft gets global reach and market share from Nokia; Nokia upgrades from the somewhat stunted Symbian OS to something modern, touch-centric and contemporary in design value, through Microsoft's WP7."

Nokia president and CEO Stephen Elop and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer

Now, compare that with the vitriol and beratings mouthed by some other analysts, industry rivals and partners, and even consumers. These people seem to remain unable to forgive Microsoft for its role in the Wintel homogeny during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Seven Windows 7 per second

Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's in-house Windows blogger, in one of his recent posts, disclosed that his employer has sold 150 million Windows 7 licenses. And while Apple made some noise with its iPhone 4 and iPad sales announcements, including selling 3 iPads per second, Microsoft clearly stole some thunder with its "seven Windows 7 per second" announcement.

Windows MIA in the tablet PC wars?

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer can say whatever he wants about the tablet computer market's future, but all signs indicate that Windows most likely would never be a significant factor, at least for the very near future. Most industry observers concur that Windows does not figure much in the tablet PC scene.

It must be a rather painful and embarrassing situation to be in. Imagine, everybody is talking about the future of computing and nobody is saying anything about Microsoft and its flagship platform, Windows. Hey, even PC vendors who have had long history with Windows are turning out tablet PCs running on Android, Google's mobile operating system.