Monday, March 11, 2013

Windows 8 Device Choices Baffle | Goodbye IT, Hello Digital Business

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Kevin Casey
Kevin Casey
 
Windows 8 Device Choices Baffle Buyers

I'm all for choice, but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.

It strikes me that this is a growing problem for Microsoft's Windows 8. When the revamped operating system catches a would-be buyer's eye, there's quite a bit of work required to a make a smart purchasing decision from a hardware standpoint.

That's thanks to inconsistent and confusing terminology, branding, categorization and specifications. One user's "tablet" is another user's "slate." Depending on who you ask, the day of the week, and who knows what other variables, a Windows 8 device like Dell's XPS 12 might be called a tablet, ultrabook, touch PC, convertible, hybrid, transformer -- you get the idea. (Dell calls it a "Convertible Touch Screen Ultrabook ™." Yes, that's a trademark symbol. Intel registered one for the term "ultrabooks.")

Then there's this minor detail of Windows RT, the stripped-down version of Windows 8 that runs on some devices -- a distinction that might easily be lost on the unsuspecting buyer.

"With so many choices and so little practical information available from manufacturers about when each device is a better fit, it means that buyers have to do more research to make a decision," said Forrester senior analyst David Johnson in an email to InformationWeek. "This doesn't simplify or shorten the buying process and could make them delay their purchases indefinitely."

Johnson added that the differences -- both significant and subtle -- between various Windows 8 models aren't always apparent to buyers until they've had a chance to use the devices. A road warrior might be better suited for a device with a built-in keyboard instead of a true tablet, for example, but they might not figure that out until it's too late. "This is something that we think many buyers will not fully grasp until after they've made their purchase and have to live with their choice for the long term," Johnson said.

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