Your Mobile Site

This week, Microsoft presented Windows 8 at their Build 2011 event. Windows 8 is meant to be run on both desktops as well as laptops. It is Microsoft’s official standpoint that, however awesome tablets may be, they aren’t going to permanently replace desktops anytime soon. I tend to agree. So how does Microsoft’s Windows 8 fare on desktops and tablets?

First of all… Windows 8 is going to radically change the interface. Say goodbye to the old point and click interfaces that you’ve been working with for as long as you can remember. The Metro Tile system is going to be your interface to your Windows 8 device in the near future, whether you are running it on a tablet or a desktop.

The Metro interface looks totally rad. But keep in mind that it’s going to take some getting used to. Microsoft points out that there will not be an alternative interface available that will allow you to navigate yourself through your system by old fashioned point and clicking.

Second… Windows 8 comes with SkyDrive cloud based storage integrated. The SkyDrive service is owned by Microsoft, naturally. Windows 8 also natively supports NFC, meaning that you’ll be able to make mobile payments with your tablet, or use it as an electronic key. And then there are all the other thousand applications I haven’t thought of yet.

Third… Windows 8 is going to be completely compatible with Windows 7 applications. Can you imagine the possibilities? Everything that runs on your Windows 7 desktop right now, will also run on your future Windows 8 tablet.

Windows 7 compatibility is a pretty smart move by Microsoft, because it means they won’t have to build an application base from scratch. Microsoft has so far performed notoriously bad in the mobile device market. They’ve been stomped on by a certain Android. But now that they’re bringing their existing application base to the mobile platform, they very well might be able to take a slice of the mobile market!

Interesting developments!