Both versions of Windows took a step closer to general availability this week and IT pros got a glimpse of what lies ahead for other Microsoft products. Here is what the IT community had to say.
"I believe if such a chess game were being played, it would be a mistake."
- Wes Miller, analyst at Directions on Microsoft, on the dangers of Microsoft's
purported plan to deliver Office 15 for Windows devices before offering it for the iPad. Since
news of the strategy surfaced last week, there have been reports that there will be an official
Office app for the iPad by November of
this year. To intensify the tablet productivity battle further, Google
recently acquired Quickoffice, a mobile application that enables editing of Microsoft Word,
Excel and PowerPoint files. You can read more about Office
alternatives for the iPad on SearchConsumerization.com.
"If this could be concluded one way or the other, imagine how great it would be to not have
to hear people talk about it every two weeks. That would be super."
- Alex Wilhelm, of The Next Web, hoping
for a resolution to the rumors of Microsoft purchasing Nokia – just one of several questions
that could be answered during the Windows Phone Summit on June 20 in San Francisco. While the
invitation for the developer-focused event is vague, offering only "a sneak peek of the future of
Windows Phone," many think that the Windows Phone 8 operating system, code-named Apollo, will be
front and center. Find more mobile phone news at Brighthand.
"I think his number one message needs to be about Microsoft's plan for the cloud, both
private and public."
- Analyst Rob Helm,
previewing the keynote speech to be delivered by Microsoft Server and Tools president Satya
Nadella during the company's TechEd event next week. TechTarget will be at the conference, and
we've assembled a list of the main
Windows topics we expect to make waves in Orlando. Expect some juicy quotes next week.
"There's really nothing to cry about, people, you're almost getting two OSes in one. At
least, that's probably how Apple would market it."
- An Engadget commenter adding his two cents about Windows 8, which hit
the Release Preview stage last week. This optimistic outlook was in the minority, with many
more colorful – and less printable – opinions from users who dislike the new Metro-style design.
Slate's Farhad Manjoo offers further context on why the redesign will require
some adjustments.
On the other side, Brien Posey pointed out how VARs can convince their clients that an upgrade would be worthwhile. Related: The Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate was also made available last week, with few real changes from the beta.
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