Windows 8 in the tablet and PC department has received a mild response, though it has been doing great in the Ultrabooks and laptop sections. We should not forget that Windows 8 is a totally different from what anyone is used to, and the transformation will take time to be successful. This OS with all its features and interface is just stunning, beautiful and a bit confusing to use for the first few days.
Microsoft has been the center of the tech solar system since its very inception and has only grown bigger over the years. Windows 8 also does justice to the history and enhances what is already a big settlement.
Windows 8 comes out with the message of ‘One Windows’, which means that your Windows Phone, Windows Tablet, Xbox and PC will all be running the same applications and XNA games; i.e. the same game will run on 4 different devices with a same or a different version depending on the hardware capabilities of the device. The user will be able to download the game in his/her Skydrive and the game will be accessible on either of the devices for playing through Microsoft Store; buy once and use everywhere.
From what we have observed; Windows 8 interface is just an expansion of the Xbox live and Kinect interface for Xbox 360, the whole metro concept clearly is an adaptation from Xbox GUI. And Microsoft has surely done an amazing job at it.
The new Xbox is rumored to come without a physical drive, which kind of makes sense now. Windows 8 comes equipped with Xbox live and will have the same platform as Xbox; hence a user will be able to play Xbox games on Windows 8, downloaded directly from Xbox live. How cool is that!
Imagine downloading a game through your phone on a tour and later playing it on your PC/Xbox at home. That’s the kind of cloud integration which eases life.
There have been complaints about Windows 8 not supporting older games. Microsoft has promised and almost delivered on their statement on support for older games meant for Vista and Windows 7; and in the future these issues will also be taken care of.
Users should also note that only a few games launched in the market support 64-bit natively. This is mainly due to the game using the video card to operate the game. As games become more demanding however the demand is for more GPU performance. Using the 64-bit version of Windows does provide for better performance. Hence, Windows 8 is a perfect platform for playing games provided the video memory is suitably selected.
In all this discussion, we miss the main point; over 85% of the PC’s and laptops worldwide will run Windows 8 in the near future, which will make Xbox the undisputed console king and we don’t see many users flocking to Apple or Sony stores for a Mac or a PS eventually. Not only will the PC and tablet market be affected; many of Android, iPhone and Blackberry users will convert to Windows Phone 8 just to be in line with the whole new environment which Microsoft is building.
Microsoft changed the world with Windows 95 and PC; it will change the world once again with the new Windows 8.
