better hardware options. The problem with Android is that the experience is highly fragmented for two reasons: Multiple very different versions of Android are out in the market and there is no hardware standard. With Windows 8 it seems likely they will follow WP7’s example of setting ‘hardware minimums’ that keep fragmentation from becoming an issue. The shear number of choices of Android devices can be confusing to some consumers. After all, consumers might think “this $80 tablet has Android on it, and so does this $300 one, so why spend so much since its the same OS?” In reality that $80 tablet has a 350MHz MIPS (or maybe ARM) processor, limited app support, and few functions. Microsoft will have hardware options without the fragmentation, and that’s a good thing. So in short, what does Windows 8 have to offer versus Android and iOS? It will have more options than Apple’s iPad, less fragmentation and better security than Android, while still offering many of the same ‘good’ features of both. Is that enough to ensure its success? Only time will tell. What is your opinion of Windows 8 when leveraged against the other major mobile competitors? Share your thoughts below!]]>
All Comments
The current mobile market is a DEJA VU of the early PC market.
The PC with GUI was popularized by Apple and Microsoft jumped on it with the IBM clones. The CLONES RULED by offering the masses a wide range of choice in specs and in price.
The smartphone and multi-touch tablet was popularized by Apple… again!. But Google (not Microsoft) jumped on the market with the release of the ANDROID. Like the clones, the DROIDS WILL RULE by offering the masses a wide range of choice in specs and in price. (they rule the phone now and will soon rule the tablet market)
In a world of gazillion gadgets with gazillion specs and nearly similar functionality — what really matters is CHOICE and the ABILITY TO BUY your choice. Apple will always maintain a steady following and market share (as it did with its MACs) but because it is only ONE SPECIES, it will be overwhelmed as by newly evolved CLONES and DROIDs.
ATTACK OF THE CLONES AND DROIDS
The current mobile device market is a DEJA VU of the computer
market of the past. The PC with GUI was popularized by Apple, then Microsoft
entered the fray as the LIFE FORCE of the IBM clones. By offering the masses
a wide range of choices in PC specs and prices, the CLONES ruled the market. The
smartphone and multi-touch tablet was popularized by Apple (again), but this time
Google (not Microsoft) is attacking the market with its arsenal of ANDROID
desserts and devices (the droids). Like clones,
DROIDS are invading the market by offering the masses a wide range of choices
in specs and in price. Droids rule the
phone market now and are poised to rule the tablet market in the near future.
In a world of gazillion gadgets with gazillion specs (most with common functionality)
what matters most is CHOICE and the ABILITY TO BUY a particular choice.
Apple will always maintain a steady following and market share (as it did
with its MACs) but, because it is only ONE SPECIES, it will be overwhelmed by rapidly
evolving DROIDs. Apple will approach a “saturation point” …
but DROIDS? No. They will only keep on multiplying and mutating. They will evolve into new forms, new variants,
new species, new distros … making it harder and harder for Microsoft to stage
a comeback. For all you know, they might even breed with Linux distros
and invade the desktop PC/enterprise space.
What’s becoming more and more obvious is that the DROIDS (not Apple) present
the greatest challenge to Microsoft’s comeback as ruler of the gadget world.
For Microsoft to have a chance, it must employ the same old tactics when
it led the ATTACK OF THE CLONES, including alliance with many developers and
hardware manufacturers and use of a variety of weapons. Microsoft
must release different flavors of Windows for different mobile
devices (e.g. WP7 phone edition, WP7 tablet edition, Win8 tablet edition, Win8
desktop edition, etc.) – just like what it did for PCs. Even in the world of gadgets, “phenotypic diversity”
is key to survival and victory. Only by
offering consumers a wide range of mobile device choices and options will
Microsoft be able to counter the ATTACK OF THE DROIDS.
May THE FORCE be with
Microsoft… AGAIN!!!
ECM2 BLOG 12/30/11
Thank you for an interesting comparison of the platforms, but you left out the biggest reason that I am looking forward to Windows 8: Full computer functionality on a tablet. Right now I use my home computer and laptop extensively for things that are really awkward with the iPad or Android. Like writing a letter or watching a movie. With Windows 8 I get the portability of a tablet but I don’t loose all the great stuff that my full-size computers can do. I think that’s a big winner. Why would I want an Android or iPad when I can have a full Windows computer packed into my tablet? I wouldn’t — I expect Windows 8 to dominate. Honestly, I think they could have just ported Windows 7 to a small form factor and would have already dominated the tablet market.