Windows 8:Fragmentation of the hardware ecosystem is inevitable

[JMH]

Summary: When it comes to the differences between Windows 8 and Windows RT, it’s going to take more than a sticker to educate users.

With about six months to go until Windows 8 is available, OEMs are beginning to offer us a glimpse at the hardware they plan to use to tempt our wallets and purses open.

We’re already starting to see some interesting ideas and innovative hardware designs for categories of products that didn’t exist a few months ago.
It’s becoming clear is that Microsoft’s next operating system will result in significant fragmentation of the consumer hardware platform, and on a scale that we’ve never seen before.

Windows 8 will fragment the consumer hardware platform into four distinct categories, three of which will be new to the majority of consumers.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/...m-is-inevitable/19885?tag=mantle_skin;content

 

[Laxer]

So many new touch screen toys!!!

Interesting that their goal is to progress at twice the speed of Moore's law...

 

[Temmu]

ms and their touch screens. eek, and yuck.
as far as traditional computing - laptops & desktops, who even owns a touchscreen?
i'm in no rush to give up the speed of typing / mousing for the slowness of leaving fingerprints all over my screen.
are you??

 

[Laxer]

My phone is all touch screen... I do miss a physical keyboard but not enough to get another phone...

The invention of slide keyboards like swype truly revolutionized touch screen computing in my book... I couldn't imagine typing everything out without it.

 

[Corrine]

Temmu, Although I agree with you on preferring a keyboard, Microsoft didn't invent the touchscreen and, as Laxer pointed out, touch became popular on smartphones long before it was considered for PC's. Touch screens were actually invented in 1971.

The first touch screen desktop PC available to a wide market was developed and marketed by Hewlett Packard. The computers went on sale in 2008.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5017292_touch-screen-pc.html