Microsoft’s Big Day of Confusion

(I am a day late getting this blog out. Sorry, but I had to make an unscheduled trip to Yuma, where I still am)

Yesterday, in New York, Microsoft officially introduced two products into the world . First is Windows 8, the newest version of the Windows operating system. The second is Windows RT, the Windows operating system that does not run Windows-based software. What?

Windows 8 is not exactly what you are used to using. It has a split personality. Part one is a Metro-style interface with big clunky colored tiles like you might see on a tablet (in fact you do see them on Windows RT tablets, except they don’t work the same). Part 2 is a desktop interface like you see on Windows 7. There is no start button on either interface and there are so many other changes that you will have to learn a whole new way of doing things. A browser in Metro is different than one running on the desktop. Its like having 1.5 browsers, like Explorer, on the same system.

As for RT, well it is for tablets only. There is no desktop (except for Windows Office). You must load all apps from the Windows App Store. Want your favorite Windows programs on you tablet? Forget about it. To buy a Windows RT tablet, such as the Microsoft Surface ($500 without keyboard), is a huge leap of faith for the consumer since there are hardly any quality apps available at the present time…compared to the iPad and Android tablet which number in the hundreds of thousands. 

So are you confused yet. If I hadn’t read so many articles on the two products, my head would be spinning. So let me boil it down to this: if you are thinking about either products…WAIT!! No need to rush. Learn more before leaping. If you are thinking about buying a Windows tablet, don’t buy the RT tablet. Rather buy a real Windows 8 tablet running an Intel processor. Then you can run your favorite Windows apps. There is an Acer tablet available now for the same price as a Windows RT Surface tablet.

In the meantime, read some of the reviews below. For Windows 8, I’ve included a favorable review and one that is not so favorable. As for RT, article #5 below will give you a roundup of the major reviews. So read, and decide for yourself.

Win8 vs. Windows RT: What to know before you buy

“Windows RT is the version of Windows 8 that doesn’t run Windows programs.” That’s really the heart of the matter — and it’s the source of ongoing confusion for consumers, sales clerks, and others who really should know what you can — and can’t — do with the two OSes.

Windows 8: Do you need it?

After months of build up, Windows 8 is almost upon us, and readers want to know if they need Microsoft's latest offering. I consider a number of usage scenarios, ranging from home users to enterprise.

Windows 8 Review

This is the good review, although it does point out significant flaws. I thought the scores were a little high based on some of the comments.

Windows 8 review: Yes, it's that bad

A desktop OS for tablets and a tablet OS for desktops, Windows 8 is guaranteed to disappoint nearly everyone

Microsoft Surface RT Reviews Are In - And They're Mostly Mediocre

As analysts said earlier this year, apps will make or break Windows RT - and right now there simply isn't a good supply of quality apps available. Probably the highest-profile app right now is Netflix; after that, the quality drops off sharply.

5 big things that baffle me about Microsoft Surface RT

I thought the company had a winner. But then it became apparent that there were two Surface tablets, one that runs full Windows and one that runs a weirdly shrunken-head version of Windows. This second version, called RT, won't run all the Windows applications we've come to rely on all these years.

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Office Web Apps Update Now Available

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