Microsoft's November security updates include critical Windows 8 and RT patches

Ease of use 8.6 Speed 8.4 Configurability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.7 Openness 6.9

Get better reviews from people who actually have this product!

write a reviewsee all reviews ?

View the original article here

Microsoft's Big Gamble Could Be Linux's Big Shot

Now that Windows 8 has made its long-awaited and widely trumpeted debut, there seems to be a fresh air of excitement and purpose here in the Linux blogosphere.

This, of course, is not to say that many of us here are particularly excited about Microsoft's new OS, per se. Quite the opposite, in fact: Many of us are excited about the opportunity Win 8 means for Linux.

"In the past the Linux has failed to capitalize on Microsoft's errors and capture new users," explained the TuxRadar crew in a new Open Ballot poll, for example. "We want to know what you think the Linux community can do this time around to bring dissatisfied Windowsers into the Linux fold.

"Is it all about the hardware, or should we emphasize the community? Should Linux users or Linux companies lead the charge? Should we target businesses or home users?" TuxRadar wondered.

Down at the blogosphere's Broken Windows Lounge, bloggers had no shortage of ideas.

"This is the question that's often on my mind," Google+ blogger Linux Rants began.

"At this point, Linux is in an interesting position in that its interface (which before was considered 'foreign') may actually seem more familiar to the average computer user than the interface for Windows 8," Linux Rants explained.

At the same time, "our ever-present problem is still there, and that's the fact that Linux has a reputation for being hard to install and even harder to use," he added.

"Linux needs to push OEMs to ship computers with Linux pre-installed and configured, and then those same OEMs have to be convinced to tell people about those computers -- often," Linux Rants suggested.

"The one thing that Linux really lacks is an advertising department," he noted.

"Even OEMs that support Linux tend to push it to the back shelf, where it's hard to find," Linux Rants concluded. "Linux needs to be shown to the general public and compared to Windows 8; that alone could easily double Linux's share of the market."

Indeed, "today GNU/Linux runs on just about every kind of computer, from gadgets to clusters of mainframes in every part of the world," blogger Robert Pogson pointed out.

"The only problems are retail shelves in North America and Europe, where all one can find that's a PC has that other OS," he noted. "That's nothing that GNU/Linux can solve.

"Retailers have to wake up and look at the shelf-space that's stagnant with Wintel PCs not selling," he asserted. "They've had three quarters with much reduced turnover of Wintel PCs as Android/Linux is selling like hotcakes on the next aisle. Wake up and sell some GNU/Linux PCs!"

Google+ blogger Kevin O'Brien took a similar view, but with a caveat.

"I think there is an opening, but it may close quickly," O'Brien told Linux Girl.

"People who try Windows 8 on a desktop or laptop will hate it, but that is what will be pre-loaded," he pointed out. "If they want Windows 7, they will have to actually purchase it, which most of them have never done.

"That is where Linux has an opening," O'Brien explained.

That opening, however, "won't last long," he predicted, "for two reasons: 1) most of the Linux desktops use desktop environments that will be at least as foreign as Windows 8 (e.g. GNOME, Unity); and 2) if there is any noticeable movement to Linux, Microsoft will enable some kind of free 'downgrade' to Windows 7."

Linux distros need to concentrate "more on 'familiar' and 'works' than on being innovative," consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack opined. "Otherwise Windows 8 users will take one look at Unity or GNOME 3 and simply buy an Apple."

Along similar lines, Slashdot blogger hairyfeet rattled off five requirements:

1. "Within five years, 100 percent of drivers must work on update, as we retailers can't sell systems that are gonna break in six months," hairyfeet began.

2. "CLI HAS to die, NO excuses," he said.

3. "A 'HELP ME!' button that will allow Suzy the checkout girl to easily connect to a volunteer to work on her system, similar to Windows remote assistance," hairyfeet suggested.

4. "NO hardware roulette!" he added. "The era of 'let the devs do it' with regards to drivers is over; it's time for the hardware makers to supply drivers -- which they can't do as long as Torvalds and friends constantly futz with the guts." Still, "if Suzy can't walk into ANY B&M and buy add ons for her computer with 100 percent confidence, you have FAILED," he said.

5. Finally, "settle on a DE and STICK WITH IT," hairyfeet concluded. "No more switching horses mid-stride, no more 'Distro A uses B, Distro Foo uses bar.' If you want to have OPTIONAL DEs that's fine, but the defaults for everybody need to be the same so that resources can be focused on making the defaults as trouble- and bug-free as humanly possible."

Then again, in some ways, Linux has already won over the masses, Google+ blogger Alessandro Ebersol pointed out.

"Not the traditional GNU/Linux -- not Arch, nor Debian, nor Puppy -- but Android, which is the best commercial Linux distribution," Ebersol explained.

"The average Joe is waiting for something like XP," he noted. "Android is what comes closest: easy-to-get apps, a big number of apps, and Google to back it up."

Hyperlogos blogger Martin Espinoza saw it similarly.

"If Linux wants to lure more users, it can be Android," Espinoza told Linux Girl. "This is so far the most popular Linux-based system with the users, and they're the ones who give the computers a reason to exist.

Katherine Noyes has been writing from behind Linux Girl's cape since late 2007, but she knows how to be a reporter in real life, too. She's particularly interested in space, science, open source software and geeky things in general. You can also find her on Twitter and Google+.

View the original article here

Microsoft's Hitting the Hard Stuff

Microsoft could be developing its own Windows Phone hardware, according to media reports that surfaced on Friday. The software giant is reportedly working with Asian suppliers to create a new handset.

While Microsoft has several partners that are bringing out Windows Phone 8 devices, including Nokia and HTC, this would be the company's first foray into the handset market as a hardware manufacturer.

Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the rumors. "We are big believers in our hardware partners, and together we're focused on bringing Windows Phone 8 to market with them," spokesperson Nina Huang told TechNewsWorld.

The fact that "soft" is in the company's name doesn't mean that Microsoft hasn't dabbled in hardware in the past. Over the years, it has introduced a number of hardware hits, along with a few misses.

"The company has a long history with hardware, and its most successful product has been the Xbox game console," said Ian Fogg, senior principal analyst and head of the IHS mobile sector at IHS iSuppli.

"It has a long history making mice and keyboards, and has made other consumer hardware such as the Zune. However, hardware has not been the core part of their business," Fogg told TechNewsWorld. "It has not been a core part of their strategy -- but there are a couple of things here. This is part of a strategic shift at Microsoft that is happening at the moment in terms of how they bring products to the market."

CEO Steve Ballmer made it clear in an Oct. 9 shareholder letter that Microsoft was making a significant shift, repositioning itself as a devices and services company.

This change in strategy for Microsoft is not entirely unexpected -- especially considering the changing consumer-technology landscape. The traditional desktop faces increased competition from both tablets and smartphones; moving into smartphone hardware development could just be a natural response from Microsoft.

"Apple is a strong and growing company," said industry analyst Jeff Kagan. "Microsoft is starting to follow much of what Apple is doing, hoping to be as successful on their side of the fence. Google is another. They are an Internet browser company who is spreading their wings. They are now also the leader in the smartphone business, with Android."

It could be said that Microsoft is simply following Apple's and Google's lead, but is this really the most obvious response?

"This speculation has been around for some time," said Chris Silva, industry analyst at the Altimeter Group.

"On one hand, Microsoft has asked partners, specifically Nokia, to hitch their wagon to its star. To go out and create a Microsoft-branded device might try those relationships," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Conversely, if you look at Google's approach to getting Android to market, it seems to be doubling down on its pure-Google device family with the recent expansion of the Nexus device family," Silva told TechNewsWorld, "possibly an indicator that going to market directly -- though still with a named partner, in the case of Google -- is better for the advance of a new OS on mobile."

Another possibility is that Microsoft has two plans in place and can handle however the market reacts to Windows Phone 8.

"The company has done tactical hardware with its previous devices," said Fogg, "but by bringing a phone to market, this is the company's move to strategic hardware."

Plan A in this twin strategy could be to ensure that the very best hardware is provided to the end user.

"This could give Microsoft control over the overall product," Fogg told TechNewsWorld. "It is clearly because they understand [that] to have the full benefit of what the software can offer, they need to have it integrated with the very best hardware. By producing their own hardware, there is less danger that one rough edge will undermine the device."

In this way, Microsoft could produce a signature device rather than an also-ran, which could motivate its partners to innovate.

"This is what they are trying to do with the Surface," said Fogg. "They are trying to boost products in the market and push the partners. This is not that different from what Google is doing with the Nexus line. It is a way to show off the best of the products and drives innovation in the platform.

Plan B could be to ensure that the platform doesn't suffer if the partners don't deliver, don't innovate, and don't produce products that capture the market.

From Microsoft's perspective, that possibility is almost unspeakable.

"What happens if the partners fail with devices for Windows Phone 8 and go to Android instead?" asked Fogg.

If that scenario should unfold, the rationale underlying Plan B is that instead of merely being a signature device, a Microsoft-produced handset could do the heavy lifting to drive the platform.

"This is the fallback plan," said Fogg, "but it comes as Microsoft is also refreshing the entire product line. It is almost as if they are relaunching the company at the same time. It is part of the big shift to the strategic products."

View the original article here