Top Bananas | Tag Archives: Microsoft

Clinging to the Past (The Surface tablet vs. the iPad)

Posted on December 4, 2018 by admin Posted in Hardware, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: Microsoft is comparing their Surface tablet with the iPad.

Microsoft’s latest ad pokes fun at the iPad as a “toy” that is no longer suitable for older children who really need a computer like Microsoft’s Surface tablet. While Microsoft’s Surface tablets are really ultraportable laptops, they can work as tablets although most people likely don’t use them exclusively as tablets. The real appeal of the Surface tablet is the ability to run Windows, which can run a variety of programs from Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Visual Studio to AutoCAD and Adobe Premiere.

Yet if you were around in the early 80’s, you might remember when mainframe and minicomputer users dismissed PCs as “toys” that couldn’t do what “real” computers could do. In case your memory is foggy, mainframe and minicomputer users were absolutely right in claiming PCs were simply underpowered compared to mainframe and minicomputers, and this state of affairs remained completely true right up until the time PCs were more cost-effective and good enough for most people. Then mainframe and minicomputers rapidly fell out of favor to the “toys” that were more powerful PCs.

Think the same thing won’t happen with Microsoft’s latest comparison of their Surface tablet to the iPad? Right now, laptops like Microsoft’s Surface tablet can run more variety and powerful programs than the iPad, but Adobe Photoshop is coming to the iPad along with AutoCAD. Apple even claims that the latest iPad is 92% faster than most laptops on the market today. Considering that the Surface tablet isn’t the fastest laptop around, the latest iPad’s processor is probably on par (or even surpassing) the power of the Surface tablet.

Wait another year or two and the iPad is rapidly growing in power and versatility while the laptop world of Windows and Intel (commonly known as WinTel) progresses at a much slower pace. That means the iPad will eventually surpass traditional laptops if not next year, then within the next two or three years. This is exactly the same trend that mainframe and minicomputer users fought against PCs and lost, and this is exactly what Microsoft is facing with the Surface tablet compared to the iPad.

In the long run, the Surface tablet is minimal tablet features but its biggest strength is its ability to run Windows. On the other hand, the iPad’s processing power is growing exponentially and as more apps appear on the iPad, it’s only inevitable that the iPad will soon equal and eventually surpass the Surface tablet.

So for Microsoft to compare a Surface tablet against an iPad is no different than mainframe and minicomputer users comparing their big iron machines against the “toys” that were called PCs. As we saw with mainframe and minicomputers, the PC eventually took over the computing market. That means if trends continue, the iPad will eventually take over the personal computing market despite being labeled a “toy” just like early PCs were dismissed as “toys.”

The future of computing is the iPad, which is advancing rapidly, and not the Surface tablet, which is hobbled by clinging to Intel and Windows. If you want a great laptop today, you might want a Surface tablet today. However, if you want a great computer tomorrow, chances are good it’s going to be an iPad.

The Surface Go Mini-Laptop

Posted on July 10, 2018 by admin Posted in Hardware Leave a comment

What it is: Microsoft released a smaller, cheaper version of the Surface tablet.

At one time, netbooks were popular since they were small, light, and cheap. They were also slow and under powered due to weak processors, which made them a compromise solution where their only advantage was their diminutive size. Because netbooks were a step backwards in terms of features and powers compared to regular laptops, they ere easily dumped when Apple introduced the iPad.

In comparison to netbooks, the iPad was also light and relatively inexpensive compared to a laptop. The huge difference was that the iPad was designed to grow and improve while the netbook was designed to use older generation technology to keep down costs. Not surprisingly, the iPad essentially killed the netbook market.

Then Google introduced inexpensive, maintenance-free Chromebooks and these helped kill the iPad in the education market where schools care more about costs and maintenance. chrome books have also helped kill sales of Windows laptops too so that’s why Microsoft has decided to compete by offering the $399 Surface Go, a smaller Surface tablet with a weaker processor as well. Essentially the Surface Go is trying to compete with the iPad and Chromebook.

If you want a tablet, the iPad is the best solution. Even Android tablets pale in comparison. If you want an inexpensive laptop, Chromebooks are still cheaper and easier to maintain for organizations like schools. Only if you want to run Windows programs on an inexpensive laptop will the Surface Go appeal to you.

For people looking for a light, low-cost Windows laptop, the Surface Go may be perfect. It’s still going backwards in terms of processor power but it doesn’t sacrifice much else besides a smaller screen in return for a lower price. The big question is will the Surface Go become popular?

Probably not because it’s geared towards people who want to run Windows programs, and many people are learning they don’t need Windows. They can use Chromebooks and access basic computing tasks like word processing and email, or they can get an iPad to do similar basic computing tasks. For those who absolutely need Windows compatibility, the Surface Go is fine, but it basically lets you run common computing tasks using Windows programs. Since you can do common computing tasks on a Chromebook or iPad, there’s little incentive to use an Surface Pro unless you absolutely have to use Windows.

The Surface Go may be a decent product, but it alone can’t reverse the general trend away from dependence on Windows. If you absolutely need Windows compatibility, then get a Surface Go. For everyone else, a Chromebook, an iPad, or even a smartphone may still be all anyone needs.

The Mythical Microsoft Folding Computer

Posted on July 3, 2018 by admin Posted in Hardware, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: Microsoft has a rumored foldable computer called Andromeda.

At one time, Microsoft shared dominance of the smartphone market with Nokia and Blackberry with their Windows Mobile operating system that they even licensed to Palm Computing at one time. Then Apple introduced the iPhone and made all smartphones up to that point obsolete. Microsoft tried to get back into the mobile market with Windows Phone and then tried to take on the iPad in the tablet market with Windows RT. Both flopped.

Windows Phone was a decent operating system, but few companies had a reason to license Windows Phone from Microsoft when they could just use Android for free. Likewise, Windows RT was Microsoft’s attempt to create a tablet operating system that flopped because Windows RT couldn’t run any software designed for Windows or Windows Phone.

Now Microsoft is rumored to be working on Andromeda, a folding computer that consists of two screens, similar to Microsoft’s Courier project years ago. That shows Microsoft has been experimenting with dual screen devices for years. While some people want Microsoft to release this rumored Andromeda device, others believe this device may never reach the market because there’s no need for it.

According to the latest rumors, Andromeda is meant to be a folding computer you can fit in a pocket. It’s not designed as a smartphone but as a companion device. Right away, people may wonder do they need to carry another device besides a smartphone? Some people carry tablets but the bulk of carrying a tablet makes them impractical in many cases. Thats’s where Andromeda’s folding concept comes into play.

Ideally, this device would fold to be easy to carry, yet fold open to be useful. However, will the split between the screen make this device clumsier to use than a regular tablet? Will the convenience of folding a device in half make up for a clumsiness of a screen split in two? Even more importantly, what type of operating system will Andromeda use? Will it rely on Intel x86 processors to remain compatible with most windows programs or will it use ARM processors for maximum energy efficiency?

Andromeda looks like an interesting concept, but how much will it cost and will people embrace it? As a substitute for an iPad, Andromeda’s main advantage is its smaller size when folded in half. Andromeda’s main drawback is that if it relies on Windows, it will likely be clumsy to use on a device without a keyboard.

Ultimately, the question boils down to whether Andromeda solves a pressing need at the right price for most people. The device looks interesting but if the price is too high, it won’t sell. If the price is reasonable but the device doesn’t seem to solve any pressing problems, then sales will be weak.

Andromeda is an interesting concept that will likely be revised by other companies, but for now, it may just be a prototype that will never become a real product.

Are Keyboards and Mice the Best User Interface for Gaming?

Posted on June 26, 2018 by admin Posted in Hardware, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: Microsoft may hand keyboard and mouse support to the Xobox One game console.

Game consoles like Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Playstation make life easier for developers because they know exactly what type of hardware to expect. Unlike the PC that can come with varying amounts of memory and graphics card capabilities, game consoles are generally fixed. However, gamers have discovered a unique problem. PC gamers rely mostly on a keyboard and mouse while console gamers rely mostly on joysticks.

With cross-platform games like Fortnite becoming popular, keyboard and mouse gamers are dominating their joystick playing competitors. That’s why Microsoft may offer keyboard and mouse support for the Xbox.

Such support could allow gamers to gravitate towards the Xbox at the expense of the Playstation if they find that games are easier to play with a mouse and keyboard. That means Sony will have to offer similar keyboard and mouse support as well or risk falling behind. If more gamers start embracing mice and keyboards, that could limit joysticks and other devices to second class status.

Essentially, this is part of the demise of game consoles. PCs are far more flexible than game consoles in the same way that people prefer PCs over the Macintosh since its’ far easier to customize and modify a PC compared to a Macintosh. If people don’t like the closed architecture of a Macintosh, why would they settle for the closed architecture of a game console? Especially if a game console doesn’t support a mouse and keyboard that allows players to defeat non-mice and keyboard users with ease?

Mice and keyboards are likely going to be standard user interface devices for years to come, thanks to gaming. In fact, mice and keyboards might be around longer than game consoles which are being threatened by mobile devices on the one hand and PCs on the other. Given a choice between a game console and a gaming PC, more people are looking at gaming PCs, and that could spell the end of the game console in the future.

ARM Processors are the Future

Posted on June 25, 2018 by admin Posted in Business, Hardware Leave a comment

What it is: Qualcomm is readying a Snapdragon ARM-based processor for PCs and Apple is reportedly doing the same.

In the old days, everyone had to use a Windows PC for everything from instant messaging to maps. Then smartphones arrived and now most people rely on smartphones instead of PCs to do many tasks. That means people are far less dependent on PCs and far more dependent on mobile devices like smartphones and to a much less extent, tablets.

The processors powering PCs are x86 processors made by Intel and AMD. The processors powering mobile devices are based on energy-efficient ARM processors. Apple makes their own ARM processors called the A-series and Qualcomm makes a similar ARM-based processor called Snapdragon. The huge problem is that x86 processors are powerful but not energy efficient. That’s why ARM-based processors are getting more powerful while retaining their energy-efficiency. It’s only a matter of time before ARM-based processors are both more powerful and more energy-efficient than x86 processors. When that happens, there will be little reason to use x86 processors any more.

That’s why Microsoft is trying to shift Windows to ARM-based processors and that’s why Apple is rumored to be shifting the Macintosh to ARM-based processors from x86 processors sometime in the future. ARM-based processors already use less power than x86 processors and when they’re more powerful, x86 processors will have no advantages.

In the server market, ARM-based processors generate far less heat and require far less electricity to run. In the ordinary PC market, ARM-based processors allow laptops to run longer on batteries. When both PCs and smartphones rely on the same processor, it will be easy to run the same programs and share data between the two.

Now how will Microsoft and Apple shift their computer users to ARM-based processors? Microsoft has tried in the past and ran into problems with compatibility. Most Windows users want to run their old x86 Windows programs, so Windows on ARM processors must also find a way to run x86 Windows programs as well.

Apple has this same problem with the Macintosh. If Apple shifts the Macintosh to ARM-based processors, people will still want to run their older x86 Macintosh programs in addition to running Windows programs too. The best solution may be to simply create a computer version of a mobile device.

Apple can create a laptop and desktop that runs iOS and relies on a keyboard and a mouse/trackpad. Ideally this new computer should have a different name than the Macintosh to avoid confusing people. Then Apple needs to shift Macintosh users to this newer computer by offering a compatibility bridge such as including an x86 processor inside this new computer. That would let it run older Windows and Macintosh programs.

Whatever form this transition takes, it must be seamless or people will reject it like people rejected Windows RT for not being compatible with Windows. The future is ARM and that future is coming soon.

Microsoft Adopts Blockchain Technology

Posted on June 22, 2018 by admin Posted in Business, Software Leave a comment

What it is: Microsoft and Ernst & Young teamed up to create a blockchain to track royalty payments for game developers.

When most people think of blockchains, they only think of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. That’s because cryptocurrencies are the most popular and common use for blockchains, but it’s not the only use. The main use for blockchains is to act as a transparent and trustworthy ledger. That ledger can track anything from cryptocurrency prices to royalty payments, and that’s exactly what Microsoft plans to do with their blockchain.

Right now, game developer royalties are tracked but this information isn’t always easy to find or even accurate. Microsoft’s blockchain hopes to make this royalty payment system accurate and transparent, allowing game developers to see their royalties at any time and verify that they’re getting paid on time and the proper amount.

Blockchain technology can theoretically be used for tracking any type of payments beyond royalty payments to game developers. Think of authors, musicians, and photographers. Kodak has created their own cryptocurrency to help track royalty payments for photographs. That way any time anyone uses a copyrighted photograph, they’ll have to pay a nominal fee and that transaction will get recorded in Kodak’s blockchain.

Whether Microsoft’s blockchain experiment proves feasible or not isn’t as important as the fact that a large company like Microsoft is willing to try. This should point out the flaws of blockchains and also the advantages. Others will learn from Microsoft’s experiment and create additional blockchains of their own. Eventually blockchains should be commonplace because of their open and accurate nature.

Remember, cryptocurrencies aren’t the only use for blockchains. If you want to get rich, you can avoid cryptocurrencies and focus solely on blockchains. That’s a far more stable route, much like investing in the companies that make slot machines and run casinos rather than gambling money in a slot machine yourself.

Blockchains are here to stay. Now we just have to figure out how to use them in business where Microsoft’s blockchain experiment is just one of many that will show us the potential of blockchains in everyday life.