Is it time for Microsoft to Split Windows in Two again?

[JMH]

Before Microsoft moved to the Windows Server / Windows XP platform there were two distinct Windows platforms that, while they shared the same code-base had separate development teams and separate aims.

For ten years now we’ve had a single platform and a single code base and the result has been impressive with the complaints about the Windows platform being buggy and insecure now gone and complaints instead aimed at third-party companies such as Adobe.

I’m wondering though if it isn’t time for Microsoft to skim a consumer focus for Windows 8 and future Windows development. Let me explain why.

A year ago anyone using a Windows Mobile device, which included myself still had to contend with a smartphone version of the desktop operating system, with the Start Menu and traditional pull down menus, dialog boxes and so on. It simply was never going to work with modern touch screens and so, in a period of only 18 months, Microsoft re-wrote completely from scratch an entirely new and innovative Smartphone OS and the result is, at the very least, impressive.

Is it time for Microsoft to Split Windows in Two again? | Windows 8 News

 

[whs]

I guess it is a matter of development and maintenance cost - and ultimately of price. A new line of operating systems costs a LOT of money. Like a new line of car models in a car factory.

 

[JMH]

I guess it is a matter of development and maintenance cost - and ultimately of price. A new line of operating systems costs a LOT of money. Like a new line of car models in a car factory.

The democratic system rolls on regardless..

Upgrade feeds on upgrade & novelty dangled in front of the tireless consumer never fails to excite interest.

 

[swarfega]

bad idea. I dont want to be in the situation of having an inferior version of windows (win9x) to the superior (winnt).

 

[Lebon14]

Good read. Thanks for the link!

 

[Win7User512]

I think they are on the right track now. Don't mess with it.

 

[FerchogtX]

Split it in two??? to get problems with the OS kernel as 9x plattaforms had? No, thanks, NT kernel was the best could happen to us since windows 95...

See ya!!!

 

[jimbo45]

bad idea. I dont want to be in the situation of having an inferior version of windows (win9x) to the superior (winnt).

WINNT was the most HIDEOUS version of Windows ever to be released -- certainly for a workstation -- it was almost IMPOSSIBLE to get any sort of "plug and play" device to connect without going through endless hoops and for a workstation user this really soured the whole Windows experience -- Windows NT was later known as Windows NeanderThal or Windows No Thanks.

As for getting any sort of Wireless connection -- you had to have a Doctorate in Communications, Understand the whole dogs dinner that was called RAS (Remote Access Services) and a slew of other stuff and even then it didn't connect half the time -- a throughly disappointing Windows experience for any end user on a laptop / workstation.

Probably the most user unfriendly OS I've EVER used including a load of Linux Distros.

IT Tech guys loved it because they were the only people who could understand it and it stopped people using things like USB devices, portable disks, etc etc.



Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 server were so so much better in almost every respect.

Windows XP was essentially born out of the W2003 server line.

Splitting the OS into server and desktop / workstation lines might be OK but the trouble is if they do this then the server line is likely to go totally corporate --in spite of the fact a lot of individuals and small business are increasingly using servers in all sorts of places.

With Corporate type development you won't get very opportunity to develop support for loads and loads of totally new hardware that individual users tend to attach to their machines. Basically Corporate requires stable and "boring" type systems whereas individuals want and expect to use state of the art hardware devices.

Development at this end is far more costly to provide than for the corporate sector so we all know what would happen here.


Currently the corporate market virtually pays for Windows development. Without that Windows 7 might cost 450 - 500 USD for a home user or even considerably more -- now that would surely encourage the pirates like nothing else.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Vertex]

Split no, cooperate with each other better, yes.

I think the teams of different roles should cooperate so that their areas work perfectly with each other and in turn give us better machines and better services. They are doing well on this track, what they can do is bond better and maybe we can expect better from them.