Microsoft, capitulation and the end of Windows Everywhere

Re:Microsoft, capitulation and the end of Windows Everywhere by spiralpolitik on Tuesday July 28, 2015 @08:03PM (#9965445)

I think we will see the traditional business desktop replaced with docking station with smartphone as processing unit. Ubuntu kind of had the right idea with the way Ubuntu phone morphed from a mobile oriented OS to a desktop oriented OS when plugged into dock, screen, and keyboard. For 99% of business uses this would be sufficient power. The remaining 1% would keep their traditional desktops.

I'm actually really surprised Apple hasn't gone down this road as it would be a really easy way to increase OS X market share if every iPhone suddenly became a Mac when plugged into a dock.

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Re:Microsoft, capitulation and the end of Windows Everywhere by lewisl9029 on Wednesday July 29, 2015 @12:59AM (#9966291)

This is what I want to see happen as well, but the software and the hardware just aren't there yet.

We don't have a well-polished OS that can seamlessly transition from a single-app-at-a-time smartphone UI to a simultaneous multi-app desktop UI depending on the size of the screens attached. Windows 10 comes close in terms of the transitions and polish, but only scales down to a tablet interface, rather than smartphone. The Ubuntu attempts at this just severely lack polish when trying to use it as a phone.

On the hardware side, ARM is too limiting in terms of software availability, and x86 just doesn't have anything that fits in a smartphone power envelop and can also handle a much heavier workload when used as a typical workstation.

We're seeing some rapid progress on both fronts though, so I'm hopeful it won't be too long before someone finds the right formula.

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Re:Microsoft, capitulation and the end of Windows Everywhere by aswanson on Tuesday July 28, 2015 @08:18PM (#9965507)

I think we will see the traditional business desktop replaced with a docking station and smartphones as processing unit Laughing. A buddy and I wanted to make a startup based on this back in 2006. "The Flip phone as a platform!"

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