Posted on 06/17/2012 8:54:11 AM PDT by SmokingJoe
It looks like Microsoft are about to launch their own Tablet device, probably running a version of Windows 8 (and yes, I’m assuming Taniyama-Shimura once more). I’m fully expecting a lot of commentators to talk about how inexperienced the Redmond based company is at making hardware. So let me point out two counter-examples before the big event for your consideration.
I’ll start with the Xbox 360. It’s had a pretty rough ride in terms of hardware with the Red Ring of Death and numerous issues early in the life cycle of the platform, but as Microsoft have understood the issues, the return rate has dropped to levels expected in the industry.
With over 67 million 360 units sold, don’t tell me that the 2012 iteration of Microsoft can’t do hardware. Xboxes continue to shift by the truck-load. It’s one of Redmond’s success stories of recent years, and is one of the major components in the digital assault on home media.
Then there’s the Zune HD. I’ll declare an interest here, and out myself as someone who actually bought a Zune HD early in 2010, and the 32GB unit is still going strong. The final portable media player in the Zune line got everything right – a touch screen display, a slick user interface that put the focus on exploring your music collection which of course was an early iteration of the Metro UI we see around Microsoft’s latest products. It made music fun, and was streets ahead of the iPod touch for listening and watching media
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Will the tablet be any different?
I think it may come down to pricing. All of the decent tablets with decent memory (iPad, Xyboard, Xoom) run in the $500+ range.
If they can create a tablet that is Kindle priced and doesn’t require service contracts with a provider (Imagine a $99 WiFi w/ no service contract from a wireless carrier) it would break open a lot of markets.
Umm...no.
The first XBOX worked just fine, Halo(1) XBOX Live were great from the get-go. No RROD’s on the original XBOX. So it took them one version to get the XBOX right.
Plus worldwide, the original XBOX outsold the Nintendo Gamecube, which was released at about the same time as the XBOX.
“Will the tablet be any different?”
Read the above.
After 10 versions they can’t get something that should be as intuitive as Windows Media Player right.
Windows Mobile has always sucked.
They expect me to believe that now they figured out how real human beings interact with devices?
Color me skeptical.
Well, my definition of "right" doesn't include a 30-50% failure rate on the XBox 360.
Huh?
Windows Mobile has always sucked.
It's Windows Phone now for you mate, and its great. The Lumia 900 running Windows Phone is Amazon's highest rated smart phone, even with more reviews than any other smartphone.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/top-rated/wireless/2422313011/ref=zg_bs_tab_t_tr?pf_rd_p=1331612862&pf_rd_s=right-8&pf_rd_t=2101&pf_rd_i=list&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1QC8YMZF5NWE6JWPBPT7
They expect me to believe that now they figured out how real human beings interact with devices?
Naaaah. They don't expect anything from any Applebot. Applebots will be Applebots. Nothing new in that. Meanwhile, the XBOX says, “Hello!”
Color me skeptical.
**Rolls eyes”. Call me not surprised by that reaction.
>>Sounds like, from your perspective, Microsoft has never, and will never, get anything right. <<
Windows is pretty good, well, every other release is (of course you have to replace your system with one twice as powerful to run the latest one). Remember the definition of Windows 7 — “XP that works.”
Office was great. Well, until Office 2010, which ruined a perfectly good product. And I am an extensive user of Office so don’t tell me that is “perception.”
I will stay with Windows as my platform, but I don’t trust Microsoft to make anything untrained people can use (XBox was a fluke).
For the moment, Microsoft is a fact of life. Were Windows to be widespread replaced tomorrow and no longer necessary, I would not shed tear one, despite my extensive knowledge (I can still do Netbios, although they ruined that, too).
I do not own a single Apple device. My wife has an iTouch and we will be replacing that spoon.
Chuckle! You obviously can't read. The first version of the XBOX was umm.. the XBOX (aka XBOX 1), which had no RROD, was very sturdy and reliable, and had about the same return rate as other consumer electronics item. XBOX 360 is the SECOND version of the XBOX. And did I mention it outsold the Nintendo Gamecube?
Get it, Mr “Refuse To Face Reality” Applebot?
>>Huh?<<
Media Player continues to be unusable crapware.
Does MS still sell the Xbox at a loss, or are they finally making a profit from it?
I won't even bother to repudiate that ridiculous assertion.
>>Windows Mobile has always sucked.
Agree. But at TechEd last week I had the opportunity to hold a Win Phone with the Metro UI. I liked it. For a device the size of a Win Phone the Metro UI is comfortable and makes sense.
For a Tablet, OTOH, I’m not so sure. There were a fair number of folks using tablets at TechEd, and I watched how they used them. I didn’t see anybody using a touch-screen keyboard with the same efficiency as those using a laptop keyboard.
Tablets may be great for consuming whatever, but I don’t see them as a device for producing content upon.
I don’t see a tablet replacing my laptop. But I might consider one for reading Kindle books.
So they got it right, THEN made one that has 30+% failures, and took several tries to get that straightened out.
OK, whatever. Good luck with your purchase.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/microsoft-kill-zune-brand-introduces-xbox-music-features-services
No
“or are they finally making a profit from it?”
They are, with the caveat that they don't actually seperate XBOX profits from that of Windows Phone etc which are all part of the Entertainment and Devices Division of Microsoft.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 Division Sees $1.32 Billion Profit For Fiscal Year 2011
Why dont we ask the internet?
“OMG I hate M$. This is gonna be so FAIL. M$$$$ needs to go out of business and stay out of EVERYTHING. Windows8 is retarded ugly! Vista 33.0!!!! Open source is the future! Ipad rulz! Nobody I know likes Windbloz 8. Steve Ballmer is a monkey boy!!!!!”
So yeah I guess that clears that up.
>>I won’t even bother to repudiate that ridiculous assertion.<<
I (try to) use it. It is a contention. It sucks.
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