News No Desktop for compact Windows 10 devices

Good to know that my HP Stream 7 which I use primarily for playing point-and-click games on Steam on the go will still be able to do that once I get the upgrade

 

Microsoft wouldn't be Microsoft if at the last moment it didn't make some completely asinine decision that will gimp their product and confuse the market.

 

I don't see this as confusing the market, if anything they are trying to avoid that by not allowing both Windows Phone 10 AND Windows 10 to both run on similar sized devices as now there is a clear and decisive cut off point.

 

Well, yeah, it does:
- current 8" devices will inherit Windows 10 with desktop and legacy compatibility
- new 8" devices will get Windows 10 without desktop and legacy compatibility
- other new 8" devices will get Windows Phone 10 without desktop, which is not Windows 10 without desktop, but for all purposes looks the same.

So there will be 8" devices in the wild, some with desktop and legacy compatibility, some without, and some with an entirely different OS although superficially it looks the same --until you try to install a legacy Windows Phone app.

It would be better to make a clear cut-off between under-8" devices with Windows Phone 10 (without desktop) and 8" and over devices with full Windows 10 and legacy compatibility, let the consumer choose how they use the device (especially if hooked up to KB+Mouse and monitor).

 

8" and above get the desktop. It's daft IMO, if it's capable of running the desktop then let it be accessed. Sure it won't be ideal but I can choose to use only Modern if I wish. If they are that worried about people being confused by it then let the option to access it be in a setting somewhere and disabled by default.

 

For most people's uses of the devices, I can see why they've made this decision. Using the desktop on the HP Stream 7 is, as you say, a bit awkward - but I put up with it because it's the only way to run Steam on the device.

A friend of mine bought the same device the same day that I did, and sold it on a week later for a 10 inch device.

 

Thing is Nexxo, MS can never with with users. If they leave the options open some complain it is too fragmented and if they close it down then other complain for different reasons. They are trying to make changes and 'old'' systems are inevitably going to caught in the crossfire. As these devices filter out there will be less problems. You also have to remember that a huge number of users simply won't be updating regardless of whether it is 'free' or not.

I can also see why they will have these options. A small device is likely to have lower power hardware and certainly a small battery. Why would you force WP on it and run functionality (calling, etc...) for a device that doesn't need it? Same goes for locking off the desktop on less than 8" devices, I am sure this enables a more streamlined operation and frees up valuable resources. I can't see this being much of an issue 6 months after launch of Windows 10.

 

The logic is sound, but having the same OS have different software compatibility on different devices is not. Just create a different OS --even if just by name.

 

Mindows: 5" or lower
Phindows: 5.1 to 6.9"
Tindows: 7" to 9.9"
Windows: 10" or greater

Done.

 

What about Dindows for Desktops, instead? Much less confusing than Windows, imo.

 

Microsoft wants it all with the same name. I guess it helps with usage statistics.

 

This reminds me of a 'Lindows' [later Linspire after legal threats iirc] a linux distro whose USP was iirc the fact it was, from a ui point of view, a linux knock-off of windows...


Also, how is screen size determined? if i connect a 7" tablet to a 50" tv do I get me some desktop?

 

Let's see if I've got this right, Microsoft want to unify peoples experience across devices by dividing them in two, based on the type of hardware ?

They seem fixated on telling customers how they should use their devices.

 

Too close to Tindows, although Uldows hardly rolls off the tongue does it?

 

Sindows... for all yo' porno needs...

 

I can understand it being disabled by default or even not installed if that is an option, but having it as a hard and fast but artificial limitation is just silly.

I assume the desktop mode doesn't spring into life if you plug your device via MHL or micro HDMI into a larger display either.

 

What's more, you can't run legacy software. Because that worked out so well for the Surface RT.