Thanks to overpriced and underpowered hardware Windows RT is stuck in a bad situation. Even on the software side Windows RT's memory footprint is way way waaay too big.
While I don't believe RT is going to become dominant platform on the PC side of things, I do believe that it can become the third player against Android and iOS. I have several ideas on what to do to change Windows RT for the better. I'd be interested to hear the rest of the communities idea's for improving this baby OS.
1. Change the Name
To the average consumer, Windows RT is completely meaningless. And to the power user, Windows RT is confusing. I mean, logically from a neutral standpoint, how does Windows RunTime make any sense for the name of a tablet OS? Given Microsoft's penchant for using the word slate instead of tablet I think there's a clever solution, Windows Slate.
Now, you may have to explain at first that a slate equals a tablet(or on an even baser level, an "iPad") to a normal consumer. Slate is much easier term to comprehend than a mysterious RT suffix. Not only that, it rhymes with Windows 8, creating a subconscious correlation with its bigger brother. Even after Window 9 comes out Windows Slate will have become enough of its own brand to continue with the name.
2. Kill the Desktop
It was almost necessary for the original version; because even now Metro Office hasn't been released. Desktop with RT.1 is not necessary IMO. We have our updated settings in Metro, it's time to grow up and remove the legacy UI that the platform can't even use(in the way it's meant to be used). Removing the desktop brings us to my next point...
3. Lower the Footprint
14.7gb useable on a 32gb device? No. That kind of bulkiness in a tablet OS is unacceptable. It doesn't seem right to sell a device that's closer to 16gb than it's advertised size. Disclaimers don't count. John Smith over there isn't going to see that little asterisk. He's going to see the larger print 32gb.
4. Merge with Phone
I think Windows Phone should merge into RT on a tablet. I'm talking about app compatibility on RT's side. We have 16:9 devices that are awkward to hold in portrait. I think it makes sense to be able to use phone apps in that use case. Not to mention it would help fill any holes in the Windows App Store.
5. Continuing the Trend
I think what I've imagined here is exactly what Microsoft is driving towards: clarity, simplicity, cleanliness, and compatibility.
Those are my thoughts on the matter. What are you thinking?
While I don't believe RT is going to become dominant platform on the PC side of things, I do believe that it can become the third player against Android and iOS. I have several ideas on what to do to change Windows RT for the better. I'd be interested to hear the rest of the communities idea's for improving this baby OS.
1. Change the Name
To the average consumer, Windows RT is completely meaningless. And to the power user, Windows RT is confusing. I mean, logically from a neutral standpoint, how does Windows RunTime make any sense for the name of a tablet OS? Given Microsoft's penchant for using the word slate instead of tablet I think there's a clever solution, Windows Slate.
Now, you may have to explain at first that a slate equals a tablet(or on an even baser level, an "iPad") to a normal consumer. Slate is much easier term to comprehend than a mysterious RT suffix. Not only that, it rhymes with Windows 8, creating a subconscious correlation with its bigger brother. Even after Window 9 comes out Windows Slate will have become enough of its own brand to continue with the name.
2. Kill the Desktop
It was almost necessary for the original version; because even now Metro Office hasn't been released. Desktop with RT.1 is not necessary IMO. We have our updated settings in Metro, it's time to grow up and remove the legacy UI that the platform can't even use(in the way it's meant to be used). Removing the desktop brings us to my next point...
3. Lower the Footprint
14.7gb useable on a 32gb device? No. That kind of bulkiness in a tablet OS is unacceptable. It doesn't seem right to sell a device that's closer to 16gb than it's advertised size. Disclaimers don't count. John Smith over there isn't going to see that little asterisk. He's going to see the larger print 32gb.
4. Merge with Phone
I think Windows Phone should merge into RT on a tablet. I'm talking about app compatibility on RT's side. We have 16:9 devices that are awkward to hold in portrait. I think it makes sense to be able to use phone apps in that use case. Not to mention it would help fill any holes in the Windows App Store.
5. Continuing the Trend
I think what I've imagined here is exactly what Microsoft is driving towards: clarity, simplicity, cleanliness, and compatibility.
Those are my thoughts on the matter. What are you thinking?