Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one company that is trying to straddle the line between the PC experience and the tablet world with its Windows 8 operating system, which is due out in late October. One developer who has several months’ experience working with the OS says that puts Microsoft in a great position – to not be labeled due to the OS’s hybrid nature. This might just lead to an easy transition from Windows 7 and XP users, plus could make for a nice platform for those who have already gotten used to the touchscreen tablet interface experience.
Can Microsoft Corporation make enough of an impact in the mobile space (tablets and smartphones) with this new OS to make itself a vialbe third option to the iOS from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and the Android from Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). One developer spoke out this week and said “this is exactly what Microsoft needs,” according to Givit developer Greg Kostello. Windows 8 looks to be so different not only from previous Windows incarnations, but even different from nost operating systems in the market – as evidenced by the unveiling of hybrid laptop-tablet devices that would run Windows 8.
“It is much more like an iPad experience,” Kostello said. “But it is an interesting combination now having played with Windows 8 for [several] months. I find myself using both the keyboard and mouse interface and the touch interface when I have a device that supports both. The mouse gives you a lot of precision that you’re fingertip does not. … I think what Microsoft tried to do was to blend the best of both worlds, giving you the ability to use your mouse if you like but to migrate to a touch interface if you like. And I think they’ve done a fine job of blending those two together.”
Could Windows 8 just be the “bridge” OS that will help longtime Windows users make the transition to a more mobile, touchscreen interface n order to make the move to a future Windows OS? Whatever the case, Kostello is one definite fan of the new Windows by Microsoft Corporation.
“I’ve been developing for the Web or for Apple and Android products for quite some time, but for me this is the most exciting thing that Microsoft has done in a long time. The last time you saw something this exciting was when they came out with Kinect, and I think that Microsoft is trying something new.”
If that endorsement means anything, it could be an exciting time not only for Microsoft Corporation but for investors in the stock, like hedge-fund manager Seth Klarman of Baupost Group.
