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Are you concerned that Windows 8 with its radically redesigned UI and Metro style Start menu will be too much to swallow on the desktop? It's a valid concern, though it doesn't appear to be scaring off businesses and IT departments, both of which are already showing strong interest in Microsoft's upcoming OS well ahead of its 2012 launch.
InformationWeek surveyed 973 tech professionals working at business IT organizations and found that many of them have already started mapping out plans for deployment.
"We were surprised that, even at this early stage, Windows 8 is already on the radar for many IT organizations," said Art Wittmann, VP and director of research and reports at InformationWeek.
Windows 8 is a bit of a gamble for Microsoft. Even though it will be possible to work within a traditional Windows Explorer desktop, it's clear Microsoft is targeting tablets and touch interfaces in general. At the same time, the Redmond software giant is making sure to include IT-friendly features like native support for desktop virtualization and Secure Boot technology.
Comments are closed on this article
Tech_Geek and N...
November 16, 2011 at 7:21pm
I think that windows 8 looks promising, but people running old programs will have problems with compatability.
And by the way im part of todays youth, and i prefer to have a laptop with a 16- 17" screen, and also laptops have better preformance than tablets. way better. u can't play cellfactor revolution, or any of the best, and most realistic pc games out there on a tablet. if u could u wouldn't like it, because the game realism would have to be cut back for preformance issues. Desktops and Laptops will always live on.
And also i care about what is in the computer, like if it has quality parts, or cheap parts. If it has 2Gb of ram, or does it have 8gb of ram. I care about preformance,because i engineer video games, and play preformance relying video games, and applications. and yes i am todays youth, in high school.
trhl4589
November 03, 2011 at 5:11pm
heres how i see it. 2 windows in 1 os, thats windows 8 for ya,
windows 8-start menu
windows 7-desktop
windows 8-ribbon
windows 7-control panel
windows 8-two windows in 1, windows 7 desktop, while u have windows 8 start menu/internet explorer 64 bit
windows 7-task bar pinning
windows 8-start menu button, control panel menu, settings and all in the taskbar of windows 7
windows 8-mounting and iso image with no third party =)
windows 9- lol not yet lol
windows 7-make a system image
imma stop for now i can go all day with this lol
MastaGuy
November 03, 2011 at 11:44am
I'm sad too see the Windows 7 UI go. I loved it on XP, (but not on Vista :D)
I'm interested to see however if people mod Windows 8 to make it look like Windows 7
praack
November 03, 2011 at 5:56am
Microsoft usually targets some small business partners early to showcase during launch as thier success story. These include start-ups , design studios or other areas that have unique needs not easily replicated.
Not usually mid size companies or the enterprise
the partnershp includes close tech support, sometimes machines supplied by MS, all custom configured
would not doubt some of those participating in the survey are in that program. Others may be interested in the tabet functions sine the ipad is making it;s way in.
but as a desktop replacement- well not sure if Touchscreens will be gracing all the cubicles and offices rightawy to make that happen
maxeeemum
November 02, 2011 at 3:50pm
I doubt it too! It's a survey so it depends on how the questions are asked. Most businesses still run XP so they would be looking to the future. Once they look into it they will go with Windows 7 or wait to see and hope Windows 9 is better. Informationweek is just trying to sell their magazine.
Holly Golightly
November 02, 2011 at 3:21pm
I think everybody in the whole wide world is ready for Windows 8. Bring it out already, because Windows 8 is the future. There, I said it!
Wingzero_x
November 02, 2011 at 5:13pm
Not everybody is infatuated with Microsoft so much that they blindly buy into Microsoft's every terrible idea/product! Hell I bet if Microsoft said they were reviving BOB you would gush about that too!
Holly Golightly
November 02, 2011 at 5:36pm
Windows 8 is not a stereotypical evolution. It is a revolution in how we use our computers. Perhaps even more revolutionary than Windows 95... This new OS is simply going to blow your mind. I can promise you that.
Teeebs
November 03, 2011 at 4:48am
Dumbing things down to Apple levels is now "revolutionary"? Nice sales pitch.....NOT buying it....
Holly Golightly
November 03, 2011 at 10:17am
You forget that Apple sells... And if Microsoft needs to be dominant, they need to cater to what the people want. And people want simplicity. Just like how Windows 95 simplified things from the DOS era. How about trying something out before saying such negative things. Gosh, ever heard of the term "don't judge a book by its' cover?"
Teeebs
November 03, 2011 at 9:35pm
Apple sells a tiny fraction of what Micro$oft sells, so they are dominant already. Not everyone wants a dumbed down and limited operating system. Not impressed by eye-candy.
And this is NOTHING like the giant leap from DOS to Windows. Not even close. It's just Windows 7 with a bunch of new "features" thrown in and a tablet interface (UGGGGHHH).
Guess there's another saying that applies here. Something about a sucker being born every minute. So just out of curiosity. You're on Micro$oft's payroll, right??
maxeeemum
November 03, 2011 at 10:42pm
Yes! Probably Steve Ballmer pretending to be a high schooler! Has to be a M$ employee no doubt!
Holly Golightly
November 03, 2011 at 10:10pm
The only one who is a sucker is you. You criticize a product that has yet to be released. It seems you have some sort of phobia about the unknown. Maybe if you gave the new interface a try, maybe you would fall in love too. But to say a product is going to be bad without even trying it is just plain wrong.
I hate to say this, but Apple is the most valued company right now. The iPads and iPhones continue to outsell whatever Microsoft makes. Hopefully things will change of course. As for OSs, yes, nothing beats Windows. Hands down, I agree with you. Everything runs on Windows. Windows 8 brings forth a new definition of simplicity. No more icons. Everything is a fully interactive widget. If you noticed, tablets are a hot sensation in the market right now, while desktops sit in the corner collecting dust. Laptops are starting to feel redundant at their price. Heck, half of my marketing class are now using iPads. Imagine them using tablets from Microsoft?
Nobody said the UI of Windows 8 is exclusively for tablets. Actually, you can control the UI with a simple mouse click. Best part is you have a choice. You can either run the cool mode, or the good 'ol fashion desktop interface. With Windows 8, you have a choice that caters to all markets. No more boring exclusivity. Something for everyone. This is why Windows 8 will be a revolutionary leap to the computing of tomorrow. Hey, if you do not like the future Microsoft is headed... There is always Windows XP running Internet Explorer 6... If you really want to stick with the classics.
Teeebs
November 04, 2011 at 12:04am
Desktops sit in the corner collecting dust? WTF?? So which tablets do you play games on exactly??
So if the main "improvement" is the addition of a pointless tablet interface that I can use with a mouse, then there's absolutely NO point in upgrading from 7. A lot cheaper that way too... Sorry, I've seen 8 in action, and have yet to see a compelling argument to shell out more $$$ to Micro$oft....
Your sales pitch SUCKS.....bet you're failing that marketing class, aren't you?
Holly Golightly
November 04, 2011 at 11:32am
I do not know what the hell you are talking about. I do not work for Microsoft and my major is not marketing.
Go to any Best Buy or MicroCenter or whatever, and you will see that the desktop section is pretty empty. Laptop section is starting to shrink too and must share that space with tablets. Fact is tablets sell... Microsoft see's that loud and clear.
You know... If you were a manager, you would be the type that is flooded with marketing myopia. You failed to understand the scope about the computing business. Back to the subject. Most younger people want tablets. They are cool, stylish, and slim. You can take it anywhere with you no problem. This is the first truly mobile computer out there. While you stick to the good old time, many people would be upgrading to this new form factor.
Teeebs
November 04, 2011 at 2:05pm
There's my problem, I don't shop for computer parts at Worst Buy. My mistake for shopping at an actual computer store that doesn't push the latest fad.
And young people want whatever shiny new things the advertising cretins are telling them they need, and mommy and daddy are willing to open their wallets yet again.
Fact is, there are TONS of things you simply CANNOT do on a tablet. So despite what you and the kids in your class think, desktops and laptops are NOT going anywhere....
Holly Golightly
November 04, 2011 at 2:31pm
Hey, don't tell me... Tell that to Apple, Google, and nVidia. It seems their primary focus is tablets an other mobile platforms.
Kids are our generation of tomorrow. Tablets will be the new standard of tomorrow. Do you really think those kids are going to want to buy slow Dells and cheap HPs? Think again.
It is not only kids, but people in general want quality products. No more cheap, plastic anything. Heck, the upcoming Asus Transformer Prime will have a quadcore processor that is more capable than an Intel Atom, and it will have a 16 hour batter life with the attachable keyboard. Tablets can play games and do office documents just like a regular computer while being efficient. The laptop form factor will die before the desktop no doubt. Laptops are a useless middle ground that can only top at 5 hours of battery life, and yet can not match the performance of a desktop. Why not just get the two extremes? One being extremely portable and efficient and affordable, while the other being extremely powerful and very cool.
I do not need to tell you what sells and what doesn't... The sales charts speak for themselves. Just do a search online.
Teeebs
November 05, 2011 at 1:28pm
"powerful and very cool"
First of all, no tablet on the market today is all that powerful. Most modern desktops and laptops will still run circles around them all day long.
As for cool, that is highly subjective and has absolutely NO bearing on performance. Stupid kids like bling, what else is new....
And yes, while kids may be tomorrow's consumers. A lot of them will eventually grow some sense, and have a "what were we thinking" moment.... :)
So what does all this have to do with Windows 8 being a pointless update? Especially for business IT clients who are still mostly running XP.... (veered so far off topic my GPS has gone blank)
Holly Golightly
November 05, 2011 at 10:51pm
I meant desktops being powerful and cool. I already knew that desktops will be more powerful than a tablet. I just feel that desktops and tablets complement each other best. Desktop: play games, do video editing, and run any other power hungry programs... Tablets: easy to take with you on the go, and stay connected. By having both desktops and tablets, you truly get the best of both worlds while the the laptop has become a pointless middle ground really. I am a desktop user before a mobile/portable user no doubt. However, I know tablets already outsell desktops in big retail chains and that desktops are meant for the enthusiasts such as myself. Nothing wrong with that at all.
Windows 8 is a universal solution for all. It is the one OS that can work on tablets, laptops, and desktops. True connectivity across all platforms no other OS has been capable of. I mean, sure Windows 7 has done this... But in a rather sloppy way and lets not forget that Windows 7 is not optimized for a touch interface, natively speaking. Windows 8 will be the best solution for all platforms, I just know it.
Corporate firms will have to upgrade out from Windows XP onto something else. Support may die by 2013 so... They will have a choice. They can either go with Windows 7 which is reliable, but released back in 2009, or go with the absolute latest and start off fresh with Windows 8. Lets not forget that 8 takes half of the resources of 7 and supports a broader range of devices and processors. Right now, as the article states; Microsoft is working on implementing security features for corporate users. It will be the latest and greatest... Who can turn that down? Let's just wait for the finished product to make our judgements... How about that?
Athlonite
November 10, 2011 at 8:00pm
please people can you not feed this troll she gets grumpy if you feed her
TechLarry
November 02, 2011 at 1:16pm
Yeah, they are interested. As in "Ok, how much is this one gonna cost to deploy, and how many problems will it cause us?"
There's already lost productivity over those stupid Ribbon Bars in office.
Wingzero_x
November 02, 2011 at 5:04pm
And if you go back in time, you'll see how businesses were looking forward to Vista too. How did that pan out?
Deviate
November 02, 2011 at 1:13pm
Why do I doubt this?
How much did MS pay InfoWeek to fabricate these survey results?
