RSSMicrosoft misses a perfect opportunity for Windows 7 and multitouch
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published October 22, 2009, 12:41 PM
Here are some observations after having watched Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's Windows 7 rollout, as streamed live from a Soho loft earlier this morning: Although I'm on record as praising Windows 7 (at Vista's expense), Microsoft missed a window here to make its new product more tangible and more interesting to consumers.
We saw plenty of demonstrations today about multitouch, which will at some point be perceived as a key feature of Windows 7 once more people are able to get their hands on it. But the only two routes Microsoft presented this morning were through expensive touch-sensitive TVs (which don't make sense to folks who prefer remote control) and through a new class of PCs that has yet to find a proper form factor, let alone make its way from the factory.
And yet there will be at least some multitouch-ready applications, mostly derived from that ancient photo gallery demo we first saw prior to the release of Vista. But if Microsoft truly wanted to make multitouch the talk of the town...since it is also in the peripherals business, one wonders why the company didn't think to make even an early class of Windows 7-ready multitouch pads available for the everyday consumer.
It wouldn't have had to be much, although something on the order of Apple's multitouch-sensitive zero-button mouse would have been a serious game-changer. Essentially, it could have been a corded USB device that's placed beneath the mouse pad, maybe with suction to the table below. Nothing but a multitouch pad in a frame, plus a bundled way to get the apps (through Windows Live) to make it do something.
Such a device could have been bundled with Windows 7 upgrades in retail stores. Or it could have been a Windows 7 upgrade, for at least one SKU, since there's no real reason anymore to put little software in big boxes unless there's something else in the box.
If customers had had available to them a way to plug in something for under a hundred bucks right now, and see Windows 7 multitouch at work, rather than wait down the road until probably Christmas 2010 when they might be able to afford one of these glossy multitouch devices, then Windows 7 would have been the game changer Microsoft needs it to be, right out of the box. Consumers would have had something they could hold in their hand that demonstrates the gulf between Windows 7 and Vista, rather than a plethora of online reviews from folks who are just now trying Win7 for the first time and proclaiming, "It looks the same to me; I don't see any difference!"
Apple's pre-emptive strike on Tuesday, covered at length by Betanews contributor Joe Wilcox, appeared to me at first to have been a way of evening up the score for just this move by Microsoft, had it actually made that move. Apple's clever way of dressing up its MacBooks so that folks don't notice that more of them are lacking Firewire, is not exactly a game changer by itself. But the zero-button, multitouch-sensitive "Magic Mouse" combined with these elements does evolve Mac's form factor, and gets the product further out there to a broader class of consumers, even while it retains its stake on the premium segment.
Microsoft's response at this point appears to be not to dignify Apple by looking as though it's responding to Apple's challenge. However, I seriously doubt that if Ballmer were to have taken the stage today with one of these devices in his hand, however crude it may have been with respect to what multitouch could eventually become, the first words out of consumers' mouths, or even the second, would have been, "I bet this is all because Apple came out with that cool mouse the other day!"
It would have made the new Apple mouse a non-issue, and it would have made any discussion about Apple declaring war on Windows...in the year 2009, seem a little inflated in hindsight. Ballmer had been on a run with his newfound ability to convert potentially damaging issues into non-issues, especially with government regulators worldwide, but also in terms of product competition (Office 2010 multi-format support being the best example).
A simple and inexpensive Microsoft multitouch device, even if it were only semi-cool with a few apps to support it, would have rendered anything Apple did earlier this week a non-issue. Ballmer missed his chance.
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No- it's around for a while. But since it's used more by consumers than business users, I think opening it up will allow for some interesting consumer level products. In the enterprise, it's all about eliminating .pst files because of all of the technical and legal hurdles they present.
Score: -1
|I am including the video of the one handed SoftFrog on tablets and mobiles. These are both in Beta stage, yet are working very well. Because the FrogPad IP is multi touch, we are using both multi touch and single touch technologies on our SoftFrog. FrogPad is now a proven User Interface.
I suggest that it can be an alternative/additional user interface for all Multi Touch applications.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te9O8HavQpQ
http://www.frogpad.com/New_SoftFrog_Without_IP.mp4
Score: 0
|one would have to be within an arms distance to touch multi screens plus having to move the arm up and down frequently can become burdensome.
also it sounds like for desktop monitors there may be a hazard for people going blind for being that close to a screen constantly.
sounds like a similar problem with the ipod causing deafness or cellular phones causing cancer in some people and cell towers killing thousands of migrating birds who sit on them for a short rest.
so the worldly question is, "is technology getting better at aiding us socially or is it getting better at exterminating us?"
junk and fast food is already doing its part, wouldn't you say?
Score: 0
|Why MS bother to make one by themselves?
There is something called bamboo touch...
Score: 0
|Kinda looks like the author did much homework on this. Multi-touch products are on the market for Pc's. Check out http://touch.wacom.com. Lenovo has a really nice ThinkPad X200 Tablet with Multi-Touch Screen. I'm using the non Mutli-Touch version. ELO TouchSystems also has a variety of different options in many sizes.
Agreed on the missed opportunity. I'm thinking it's calculated. Not wanting to overshadow Windows 7 as a whole with a feature that good be seen as a gimmick. Tablets didn't take off like Microsoft had thought. They're more cautious on it for now.
Score: 6
|Happy Windows 7 Day Everyone!
Score: 2
|Happy Mac rip day to you too!
Score: -11
|I have no use for Multi Touch either. Like they have on a vertical screen like the new HP computer? Anything that takes my hands off the keyboard eats into my time and productivity. Besides, has anybody looked into the ergonomic issues of reaching out and holding your arms, in an unnatural position, for hours on end? Here's a problem (read: lawsuit) just waiting to happen. Makes my arms hurt just thinking about it. I could see Multi Touch on a tablet computer, but then you have to be bent over a table or your lap trying to see the darn thing. How can you be productive typing on a keyboard that you can't even feel?
Sorry, but maybe I'm getting too old, when all I care about is being productive while reducing eyestrain and back pain, while ignoring the "cool" factor, which for me, just doesn't compute.
Score: 3
|Actually there are multiple applications of multitouch on windows 7 specifically in the industrial application of which I have seen demos working on Windows 7 beta OS . Belieive me it does save time and increase productivity from the position I am looking at . I do agree with Scott here that MS has definitely missed a big window here which they may never again get back.
Score: 0
|To be honest I don't care about Multi Touch. Several of my devices offer it but I simply prefer using a scroll wheel for zooming in most instances for example. It's a nice to have but even on my unloved iPhone I hardly use it.
Score: 1
|I've thought about this but haven't really figured that a "pinch" zoom would be that much harder to accomplish than a "ctrl-scroll"...and can be done with only one hand.
Of course, if you have mouse-buttons dedicated to it, then you still get it one-handed, but have to program that mouse button on whatever PC you're using it on. My hope would be that such a multi-touch device would have the pinch as a default gesture no matter what you plug it into.
Score: 1
|Scott, how many multitouch ready apps are out there? MS isn't worried about it because there aren't yet apps ready for it. This article is a massive waste of bandwidth.
Score: 1
|Apps are automatically MT enabled for most common features if they are programmed using Windows libraries as they should. Yet see my comment above...
Score: 2
|Let's think about that for a moment...Why aren't there many multitouch apps ready?
First of all, how much time have developers had to make these things? Easily several years. But what has prevented their moving into the mainstream is the obvious reason: There's no way for the masses to make use of it. This is a problem that could be very easily solved.
The phrase "massive waste of bandwidth," I've learned, refers to any article or even statement made online with which the measurer of said waste disagrees.
-SF "Bandwidth Hog" 3
Score: 2
|FT "Live" A:
Ballmer: "The notion of speed, simplicity, and form factor...and peripherals, we haven't even really gotten to the peripherals."
You aren't counting chickens before they hatch, are you, Scott?
Score: 3
|No, actually Ballmer made a statement of fact right there. "We haven't even really gotten to the peripherals." No truer words were spoken today.
-SF3
Score: 0
|Ah...
Came across to me as if they hadn't gotten to that point in the "show" yet...
Score: 1
|Meh... Still don't see the point of a multi-touch mouse.
A multi-touch pad about the size of the mousepad would beat the hell out of that any day. Where are those devices?
No seriously...where? I want to buy some.
Score: 6
|A simple multitouch pad, either with a heavy frame or something that holds it down to a surface, would spell the end of the mouse for at least this one desktop of mine. There's no way I wouldn't prefer to use gestures rather than select stuff from menus. And even though it could be much larger than the touchpad on a laptop, the mouse pad it would replace would be larger still.
How long has this been in development now? I'm thinking seven years at Microsoft alone, certainly longer for labs outside of Microsoft. If 2010 isn't the year of the multitouch alternative, then I might actually believe it will never happen.
-SF3
Score: 3
|I hear ya. I've been wanting something like this for years... Mice need to go away. Trackballs are better, but the multi-touch pad would be better still.
Score: 1
|Plus one!
Score: 1
|Check the latest generation MacBook Pro. The multi-touch pad is built-in!!! I can't imagine what the next generation (to be released soon) will contain ;>).
Score: 1
|Great! How do I hook it to my PC?
Oh, right....
Don't want tit built in. Hate built-in. I want the peripheral.
Score: 1
|@ PC_Tool: "Don't want tit built in" Is this a Freudian slip? If I make such a slip, I can blame it on a "senior moment". I suspect you have no such port in the storm.
Also, I had no idea those were available as peripherals. Call me old fashioned but I like them built-in.
Score: 0
|*laughing*
Ah...Oops?
"I can blame it on a "senior moment". I suspect you have no such port in the storm."
Depends. Is 35 considered "senior"? I know it is in some schools of thought. I'll just blame it on my twitchy fingers. ;)
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|@ PC_Tool: I have a son older than that.
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|@ PC_Tool: You have to admit your slip gives multi-touch a whole new meaning.
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|Now that's what I'm tawkin' about! ;)
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|Woohoo... pinch-zoom! =)
Score: 1
|You sick, deranged, hilarious bas****. :p
Score: 0
|Sounds like you want a Wacom Touch. The smaller mouse pad sized model costs $69 US.
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=1909
Works great integrating with Windows 7, although I sprung the extra $30 for the Wacom pen & Touch.
Score: 0
|Been hearing about this one....haven't seen a decent review of it yet though. Time to see if it's on NewEgg. Thanks.
Score: 0
|Microsoft has multi-touch mice in development, and using their previous products they should end up pretty good, overall it was a fantastic launch, i enjoyed it
it was awesome that Microsoft let Kylie introduce Ballmer lol http://is.gd/4w5y0 everyone loves her lol, showing the software giant has a human face
i liked the 17 screens demo, some say that took guts, knowing what sometimes happens during demos ;) BUT those who have used Windows 7 know its capable of probably 40 screens on a standard PC today, smoothly when everything is loaded, so 17? walk in the park really
all the new hardware was very appealing as well ;D
you can't rain on this parade scott ;) you can try, but you'll fail
btw, Apple offered nothing to the table with their recent products, the white low end MacBook got a revamped plastic body, Wow? along with some of its features taken away, the mouse looks very awkward to use, though still cool, i'm looking forward to what other vendors have to offer soon. and a larger screen to stare at, nothing even remotely groundbreaking
Score: 4
|What would you expect? Microsoft headed by Steve Ballmer a.k.a. Monkey Boy always goofs up in some way. They've got their eyes to focused on being the next Apple and as always they fail.
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|your endangered os snow leopard is being dethroned!! poor ignorantworld7
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|lol @ ignorantworld7 ;)
Score: 1
|Ever since Windows try to be more stable, reliable, appealing and secure they tried and fail poorly and even times laughable!
98 = BSD, 30th day crashes
Me = mistake, unfinish job
XP = weakest protection, hiccup and crashes
Vista = slow and buggy, joke to upgrade
7 = *yawn* what? you're now more stable? ....zzZZ
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|*yawn* what? you're trolling again? ....zzZZ
Score: 4
|Educating the ignorant and trolling are two different things. I think like myslef Slim_Is_In is guilty of the former and not the latter. Now go and play with your Mac rip, Vista 7.
Score: -10
|@internetworld7 : Great gentleman with a good sense!
@PC_Tool : How could you be so blind, leaving your head in the sand too long?
Score: -7
|Gotta love the pathetic little trolls. Always going around trying to justify there actions, or there choice of wasting money. Makes me laugh every time.
Score: 2
|Gotta love the pathetic little sheep, Always pile up with cheap garbage and dirty infected system!
Makes me laugh every time.
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