Microsoft chief strategist doubts longevity of tablets

Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie has made some interesting comments this week, claiming that he remains doubtful that media tablets are anything more than a fad.

The officer does admit that Microsoft was very late on tablets, however, and should have introduced an optimized OS earlier.

Says Mundie (via Xbit):

I think there's an important distinction - and frankly one we did not jump on at Microsoft fast enough - between mobile and portable. Mobile is something that you want to use while you are moving, and portable is something that you move and then use. These are going to bump into one another a little bit and so today you can see tablets and pads and other things that are starting to live in the space in between. Personally I don't know whether that space will be a persistent one or not. [...] I don't know whether the big screen tablet pad category is going to remain with us or not.

Microsoft is expected to launch its Windows 8 tablet-optimized OS next year and some manufacturers are releasing Windows 7 tablets this year.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 1 Apr 2011 2:28

be4dusk

Where did he say he was doubtful?? He just admitted he didn't know.

1.4.2011 03:20 #1

KillerBug

If he does not know, then he has doubts. If he has doubts, then he is doubtful. Of course, to have doubts about the future of tablets is like having doubts about the sun rising...anything is possible, but some things are highly unlikely.

Who cares what microsoft thinks about the future of mobile computing? This is the company that launched the worst failure in mobile history (the Kin). This is also the company that launched a mobile OS in 2010...and didn't even include copy-and-paste or multitasking. Oh, and then they released updates to it that did not add these features, but did brick about 10% of all devices it was used on. The truth is that Microsoft has been trailing in the mobile OS game and they are falling farther behind every day...the only way to appease the stock holders is to claim that it is just a fad.

1.4.2011 05:16 #2

lissenup3

Originally posted by be4dusk: Where did he say he was doubtful?? He just admitted he didn't know. Quit playing semantics tard.

He wasn't saying he didn't know as if someone asked what the weather is tomorrow or how far from the sun the earth is..........his quote of "Personally I don't know whether that space will be a persistent one or not" IS A STATEMENT OF DOUBT and ANYONE with half a brain would interpret as such.

1.4.2011 10:23 #3

salsa36

Anyway we are using apple products, Ipads who cares about microsoft tablets.

1.4.2011 10:29 #4

robertmro

Denial isn't just a river in Africa.

1.4.2011 13:24 #5

bw5011

I agree with the author.. When is the last time you carried your tablet out with u and kept it with you the entire time. I can do everything that tablet can do.. actually more with my smartphone.. I have the Evo 4g and love it.. I also just purchased the HTC Arrive and love it even more than the Evo.

1.4.2011 20:29 #6

KillerBug

if you see tablets as overgrown smart phones, you are missing the eventual goal...pc replacement. At least 95% of people never use their pcs for anything that a tablet with a keyboard dock couldn't do. Instant booting plus extreme portabilty and a super simple os that backs up all your data to the cloud...most people would prefer this over a pc or mac...and the lower price point won't hurt either.

1.4.2011 21:48 #7

Jemborg

Originally posted by KillerBug: if you see tablets as overgrown smart phones, you are missing the eventual goal...pc replacement. At least 95% of people never use their pcs for anything that a tablet with a keyboard dock couldn't do. Instant booting plus extreme portabilty and a super simple os that backs up all your data to the cloud...most people would prefer this over a pc or mac...and the lower price point won't hurt either. Pretty much what I was gonna say.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

2.4.2011 11:04 #8

pc_engine

Originally posted by KillerBug:
Who cares what microsoft thinks about the future of mobile computing? This is the company that launched the worst failure in mobile history (the Kin). This is also the company that launched a mobile OS in 2010...and didn't even include copy-and-paste or multitasking. Oh, and then they released updates to it that did not add these features, but did brick about 10% of all devices it was used on. The truth is that Microsoft has been trailing in the mobile OS game and they are falling farther behind every day...the only way to appease the stock holders is to claim that it is just a fad. Yes, Microsoft has the Kin and Apple has the Pippin. Most big companies can lay claim to at least one flop. Secondly, Apple, IIRC, released their mobile OS without copy and paste or multitasking. Many analysts are predicting that WP7 will overtake RIM and Apple and secure the number two position in the mobile market, behind Android, due to the Nokia deal with Microsoft. The fact is, tablets, as they are now, are not mature and are nothing more than toys. The iPad, or any other tablet can't really do anything more than my Android phone. In fact, my Android phone can do many things the iPad can't. Microsoft is working towards a tablet, but are actually trying to make a PC replacement, or alternative. I think that Mundie was simply expressing his doubts of the current tablet market - doubts I share.

2.4.2011 19:38 #9

Jemborg

Originally posted by pc_engine: Originally posted by KillerBug:
Who cares what microsoft thinks about the future of mobile computing? This is the company that launched the worst failure in mobile history (the Kin). This is also the company that launched a mobile OS in 2010...and didn't even include copy-and-paste or multitasking. Oh, and then they released updates to it that did not add these features, but did brick about 10% of all devices it was used on. The truth is that Microsoft has been trailing in the mobile OS game and they are falling farther behind every day...the only way to appease the stock holders is to claim that it is just a fad. Yes, Microsoft has the Kin and Apple has the Pippin. Most big companies can lay claim to at least one flop. Secondly, Apple, IIRC, released their mobile OS without copy and paste or multitasking. Many analysts are predicting that WP7 will overtake RIM and Apple and secure the number two position in the mobile market, behind Android, due to the Nokia deal with Microsoft. The fact is, tablets, as they are now, are not mature and are nothing more than toys. The iPad, or any other tablet can't really do anything more than my Android phone. In fact, my Android phone can do many things the iPad can't. Microsoft is working towards a tablet, but are actually trying to make a PC replacement, or alternative. I think that Mundie was simply expressing his doubts of the current tablet market - doubts I share.
Crikey! If we're gonna talk about flops... how about something that never lived up to it's hype but in fact became a standing joke. I give you....

But KB's right in post #7 when he says that, "if you see tablets as overgrown smart phones, you are missing the eventual goal..."

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

3.4.2011 02:57 #10

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