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Ballmer: Windows 8 biggest thing since Win 95'

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shinobi602

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In an interview with The Seattle Times, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sat down with technology reporter Janet Tu to discuss the company's future. Surface, Windows 8 and Microsoft's rivalry with Google and Facebook are just a few items which were touched upon. Read the entire interview here.

This year and the beginning of 2013 should prove to be an exciting span of time for Microsoft. Some of Redmond's biggest shakeups are slated to launch in the coming months, including the arrival of Surface, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Office 2013.

Incidentally, Microsoft has already sent out invitations for an October 25 event in NYC, where details of Windows 8 should emerge just prior to its official launch.
The imminent onslaught of new milestones even prompted Ballmer to label 2012 as the software maker's "most epic year" yet.

Q: You've talked about this year being the most epic. Is there another year in Microsoft's history you could compare this to? Maybe the launch of Windows 95?

A: You know, Windows 95 was certainly the biggest thing in the last 20 years until now. I think Windows 8 certainly surpasses it. It's a little hard to compare things like the founding (of the company) and the introduction of the first popular PC and the system that popularized it, but it's at that scale.

Source: seattletimes.com, Interview with Steve Ballmer
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During the interview, Ballmer made it known that Windows 8 might be the biggest thing since Windows 95, praising the company for trying to "re-imagine the world from the ground up with Windows 8". He also exhibited a seemingly unflappable conviction for Windows 8, stating his firm belief that the new OS is a fantastic product and it will do great after launch.

When asked if Microsoft's Surface would compete with the iPad on a price or features basis, Ballmer stated, "If you look at the bulk of the PC market, it would run between, say, probably $300 to about $700 or $800. That's the sweet spot."

Admittedly, $300-$800 is range which seemingly lacks precision, but it is interesting to note that this range of prices doesn't dip low enough to corroborate last month's rumors of a $200 device. However, it does indicate that Surface will likely target a wide price gamut, even if Microsoft does narrowly miss the sub-$200, ultra-budget tablet market -- an area where Amazon's $159 and $199 Kindle Fires are likely to continue their dominant reign.

Source
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Darklord said:
Fuck he's a weird looking guy. Can't someone teach him how to present himself of stage?
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I've always said that Steve Ballmer is Uncanny valley incarnate. Technically, there's nothing un-human about him, but he's still somehow not human.

PrfrU.gif
 
This biggest thing leaves me very unexcited. I am quite satisfied with my windows 7 on both my laptop and Desktop. Sorry Microsoft but I would most likely skip this version of windows.
 
I'm pretty unenthusiastic about Windows 8.

Having said that, I'm not all that concerned about Microsoft, considering that most of the contention here is whether one Microsoft product is better than another Microsoft product and not the product of their competitor(s).

Syphon Filter said:
remind me what was wrong with it. i forgot.
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If you don't have a tablet, the XBox heug interface is pointless and having to specifically leave it to use the legacy Windows interface is redundant. Performance-wise, it's somewhat on par with Windows 7 (it's not quite there yet, but it'll probably get there eventually), so it's not like there's a really compelling under-the-hood reason for many users to upgrade.

EDIT: You were talking about ME. ME was unstable and ugly.
 
Ballmer seems like the kind of guy who'd kill his mom to sell a product. Which is why I usually filter out everything he says.
 
Syphon Filter said:
remind me what was wrong with it. i forgot.
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Probably the only OS from Microsoft where you could almost guarantee seeing a BSOD more than the desktop whenever you booted.

It was horrificly bad.

There was the odd urban myth or legend of somebody, somewhere who managed to boot it more than a few minutes without a crash, but never any truly convincing evidence.

Lucis said:
I don't get all the haters.

If you don't hate 7, why would you hate 8?
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Metro, it's enough to put someone off the whole OS
 
Lucis said:
I don't get all the haters.

If you don't hate 7, why would you hate 8?
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Because it has a little thing called Metro that is woven into the OS, even in 'Desktop mode' it's still lurking - And it's awful. Then you can spend a lot of time removing it and hey presto, you end up with a butchered Windows 7. Plus it's an awful interface Metro, it simply doesn't work in a desktop environment as an intuitive platform. People keep saying it's a tablet OS and no truer words have been spoken because it is, a tablet OS where they crammed Windows 7 into it.
 
Lucis said:
I don't get all the haters.

If you don't hate 7, why would you hate 8?
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Because 8 is terrible (for desktops), 7 is awesome?

8 absolutely shits on generally accepted UI designs and paradigms? (for desktops, mostly)

Windows 8 is going to be a disaster sales wise (desktops)
 
Jobiensis said:
Metro/Win8 UI is a clusterfuck. The underpinnings are good.
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DopeyFish said:
Because 8 is terrible (for desktops), 7 is awesome?

8 absolutely shits on generally accepted UI designs and paradigms? (for desktops, mostly)

Windows 8 is going to be a disaster sales wise (desktops)
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I have been using RTM for a month now. First on 1920x1200 24 inch now on 2560x1440 27 inch desktop. I don't see what's wrong with it. Press windows D when it boots up, you are in desktop. press windows if you want to launch anything, type it in, press enter (or ctrl shift enter if you want to run as admin). There aren't many things on metro now. But i suspect the eco system will be built and even for desktop I can see a use for it.

I feel that a lot of performance things are improved too compared to 7.

I wonder how many of the haters have actually used 8
 
I used to think Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo (hell, even SEGA) were such cool companies. I can't believe I have a completely opposite opinion on them now.
 
W8 is certainly their most daring version of Windows. It's taking a chance with the touchscreen UI getting unified with the desktop.

I'm not a fan but I give them props for trying something slightly dangerous.
 
Computer said:
I used to think Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo were such cool companies. I can't believe I have a completely opposite opinion on them now.
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Sony is at times incompetent, but I think they have the heart in the right place. Microsoft has always been supershady and obnoxious to me.
 
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