Windows 8 hasn’t exactly been the catalyst for change that many in the industry were banking on. Part of the problem has to do with Microsoft’s implementation of touch – a feature that works great if you’re on a tablet or notebook with a touchscreen but not so well for the average desktop user. This is just one of the many issues that are being addressed with the upcoming Windows 8 update according to at least one PC OEM executive.
Acer CEO J.T. Wang recently told The Wall Street Journal that Microsoft is making a number of changes to Windows 8 thanks largely in part to input from OEMs. Wang is the first to concede that touch delivers a ton of possibilities to PCs but Microsoft also needs to take care of the rest of the world that doesn’t need touch.
Other big changes are likely in store for Windows 8 as well with the pending update. Earlier this week Microsoft’s Julie Larson-Green confirmed that a public preview of Windows Blue will be launched during the company’s Build conference next month. Specific features weren’t mentioned but most expect to see the return of the Start Button as well as an option to boot directly to the desktop – effectively bypassing the Modern UI for users that don’t need it.
According to Wang, it’s a transitional period for Microsoft – a company that was once considered to “live in heaven.” With the update, Wang said Microsoft is coming back down to earth after learning how people living on earth think.
