Dan Bricklin on Surface Pro

Dan Brickin comments  that Microsoft Surface Pro is really an Excel machine.

I think that's a good way of thinking. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that Microsoft ought to be releasing an "Excel Appliance". Much as Google's ChromeBooks are basically browser appliances, Microsoft could have released an "Office Appliance" that booted straight into Office, ignoring the rest of the paraphernalia of an OS and storing / sharing documents in the cloud. It could have created an app-store of Excel plugins. Included Skype and email as part of the mix.

I'd have called it "Surface Excel" and buried the toxic W****** brand for once and for all.

The End of Windows?

This is basically the end for Microsoft. Or, at least, for Windows.

Or let's put it this way. Microsoft threw away technical compatibility. Windows 8 on Arm won't run old Windows software. Microsoft threw away UI continuity - pushing people towards a new tile based interface for touch.

Microsoft kept the brand name "Windows" and the principle that this is the one OS that must run everywhere.

And that didn't pay off.

They must, must, surely see that that is a failed strategy. There is no brand-loyalty to "Windows".  There is no way to lever domination of the enterprise desktop to domination of the personal pocket device. Or casual web-surfing device. The Windows legacy is now just the albatross around the M$ neck.

Windows 8 AOL ’96