Windows 8 Success

First, some background.  Windows 8 is the next version of the world's most popular OS, and it is going to be rather different, with an interface called Metro, that looks like this. 

 There is also another big change, in that it is going to run on ARM processors, though under the name of Windows RT.  The biggest difference between 8 on x86/x64 processors and RT on ARM processors will be the support of legacy apps.  Windows 8, when installed on your desktop, portable, or even x86/x64 tablet is going to run every app that you already own.  Windows RT will only be available pre-installed on ARM tablets, and will only support new apps written specifically for the Metro UI, and delivered through the Microsoft Market. 

Now, obviously these Metro apps are going to be key to the success of Windows RT and the new Windows ARM tablets that we should see before the end of the year.  Unfortunately, there may be the same problem that we are seeing today with Windows Phone 7.  While there are more Windows Phone 7 apps everyday, there are still many great apps that you can get on iOS or Android, but not on Windows Phone 7.  Getting a good slate of apps for Windows RT is going to be very important. 

Strange to say, but I think that the long term success of Windows 8 will also depend on Metro apps, and yes, I mean the desktop version.  Tech writers have often complained of the jarring effects of going from the Metro Desktop to the old style desktop.  I believe that acceptance of Windows 8 and the Metro UI are going to hinge on keeping users in the Metro UI, and not on ensuring that all their old apps work. 

I am concerned that developers may ignore Metro.  Many of them may not care if their app won't run on Windows RT, and that means they will have little incentive to work on Metro versions of their apps.  I am not picking on Adobe, but I see two programs from their stable that are prime candidates, Photoshop and Acrobat, and I don't mean Reader, but the full Acrobat for creating and editing PDF files.   

Will Adobe really care if Photoshop and Acrobat won't run on Windows RT?  Remember that Windows RT means ARM tablets, with the same processing power as Android tablets, and the iPad.  Full Photoshop is not available for these operating systems.  What do you get through iTunes?  Photoshop Express.  The reviews are mostly saying that this is not even the best Photo Editing app available for iOS.  Will Windows RT see any better?  Probably not, since like the other ARM tablets, there really isn't enough processing power for full Photoshop. 

When Windows 8 is installed on desktop and portable systems, there will be plenty of processing power for Photoshop, but will their be a Metro app?  Since the present app will be able to run on Windows 8, without alteration, how much incentive will Adobe have to spend the time, and effort...which will equate to money...to convert the app to run in the Metro UI.  Acrobat may not require the processing power of an x86 processor, but it is primarily a business app. It isn't something that most home users need.  Again, Adobe might forgo the expense of converting since they know that the app will run on Windows 8 without doing anything.  And, Adobe certainly isn't the only one that might take this route. Heck, Microsoft has already stated that Office will not be running in Metro, though there will be a limited version of Office that comes as part of Windows RT.  Software vendors  can have their developers fix bugs and add functionality to their programs, or they can spend those same man hours on getting the apps converted to the Metro UI. 

Which are you willing to bet on? 

The experience of using Windows 8 is not going to be improved by constantly shifting back and forth from Metro to the Windows 7 style desktop, and users who find themselves mostly working in the old desktop mode are going to complain, asking why they cannot default to the mode where they do most of their work.  Also, why would you upgrade to Windows 8, when working in Windows 7 is more convenient for most of what you do? 

If Microsoft is really committed to Metro as the future of Windows, then they need to find a way to convince application developers that they should convert to the Metro UI, and I haven't seen much incentive given.  Of course, I am not a developer, so I might not have noticed.   

Keeping people out of the old desktop mode means more apps that run in Metro.  This is important for the long term strategy of Microsoft and Windows, because if Metro is the future, then either Windows 9 or 10 needs to leave off the old desktop and no longer support non-Metro apps.  If it is going to succeed, that process needs to start now.