What the Hell Microsoft?! You're actually doing exciting things!

Posted by Steev182 on September 13, 2012 05:08 pm 2

I've been using Apple products since 2004, as they were, in my opinion, the most exciting tech during that time. Yeah, I tried Linux/Meego/WebOS/Android at certain times too, but came back to Apple mainly because of the ecosystem.

Then I installed Windows 8 on my home pc (which had been a Hackintosh for some time, but used less and less since owning an iPad).

Windows 8 on a desktop is a great experience, even with no touch screen. On a touchscreen, (there's one I have access to) it is really nice too. The UI is somewhere near where I'd hope OSX is once iOS completely assimilates it. I feel like Apple were too cautious with Dashboard, Mission Control and Launchpad. They should've made these more integral to the system, rather than optional. So Windows 8 vs OSX 10.8 - Windows 8 is the winner here.

Windows Phone 8 feels more modern than iOS does now. Before my first iPhone, I had an HTC TyTN. Whilst my iPhone now is leaps ahead of the experience I had with the TyTN, I'm starting to feel like it's a generation behind WP8. As long as Microsoft can get it ready for November, I will be changing to a Lumia 920.

Xbox 360, Kinect, Smart Glass, really, enough said. For one game - Madden 13, I'm not convinced with the kinect voice integration - there's a commercial with Paul Rudd showing exactly why I don't like it for this game - he walks in with food as his friend is 1st and goal and he shouts 'Spike', the ball is spiked and it messes up the play. However, Smart Glass with Madden, being able to look through your playbook on a tablet, this is what I've been waiting for when playing at home with friends...

Outlook.com, yeah I had a hotmail account back in the day and then went GMail for years. Now I'm iCloud/gmail, but trying out Outlook.com, it's the cleanest web interface and has a really rich experience. Skydrive integration for attachments is great, much like Sparrow/Dropbox. That's really cool, and I'm actually in the process of making my way over from GMail/iCloud to Outlook.com.

Surface, I think this will replace my iPad 2 when it is available.

Office 2013 looks great and Outlook 2013 just reminds me of how awful Outlook 2011 and Mail are at really organizing mailboxes.

Server 2012 and Hyper-V are showing some really great features too.

The main apps I want will be Hulu and Netflix, then some great xbox live games, add ons for things like Forza, NFL/NHL (think modify car on the phone, get home and the car is ready to race - manage your Madden team while you're coming home from work, sim that game against the Browns and once you're home, show the Patriots that they just can't beat the Giants...). These are things that Apple has hinted at, but they just don't have the controllers or apps/games down for Apple TV.

I don't think Microsoft (or anyone else for that matter) has come up with a product line as well heeled as this and the future is looking really bright.