Microsoft's big 'Copilot+ PC' launch has been a total disaster

[Windows Central]

After the Windows Recall debacle, Microsoft's Windows 11 Copilot+ PC launch has been a bit of a disaster for everyone involved.

Microsoft's big 'Copilot+ PC' launch has been a total disaster : Read more

 

[jonzie23]

I've read the article and still would love some clarity over a couple of things.
1. Recall is mentioned a thousand times, is it really that big of a feature that it will sell the systems? In my opinion it still doesn't warrant forking out extra money on Copilot+ PCs. They are pretty much in the same boat that Apple was, when their new silicon was first launched - they simply need to offer more.
2. Is Apple really that far ahead with Apple Intelligence? What ground-breaking/exciting features does it offer that people should splash their money on? They are pretty much in the same boat, there is literally nothing exciting about AI on laptops at the moment. Windows Search sounds like a step in the right direction. Having Visual Studio use it would be cool or maybe some real time movie upscaling. Image generation just doesn't do it anymore.
3. 'Apple Silicon is now ahead again, but that will only be the case until PC chip makers release their next-gen chips in 2025' - ahead in what? I assume it meant energy efficiency and nothing more than that. Again, is that really a selling point?
Does it allow for better code compilation, does it load apps faster, does it allow for faster search in the system, does it offer something that's not possible using other chips? Does it improve the user experience in a meaningful way? Or is it just ahead in in benchmarks running on Apple's closed ecosystem, and being tailored to a specific spec to make it look better than it actually is? I'm assuming that it's none of the former, and all of the last point.

In the end, where Apple leads is in it's marketing, which is nothing new. And MS, as usually, is terrible in that department and their PR (Xbox has already taught us that a long time ago).

 

[Jcmg62]

I think this article is based less on fact and more the personal frustration of the writer that this one feature, Recall, has been delayed.

It's a massive stretch to say that the 2024 Co pilot + PC launch has been a disaster. Reddit, X and almost every other tech journal has been nothing but positive about these new devices.

Apple's rollout of thier AI vision has been slower than Microsoft's. Heck, they launched a brand new phone entirely on the basis of new AI features, when it had precisely zero to begin with. None. Nadda.

Recall will come. Or it won't. Either way, these new PC's, particularly the Arm versions, are absolutely crushing it.

Dial back the negativity.

 

[Zac Bowden]

I think this article is based less on fact and more the personal frustration of the writer that this one feature, Recall, has been delayed.

It's a massive stretch to say that the 2024 Co pilot + PC launch has been a disaster. Reddit, X and almost every other tech journal has been nothing but positive about these new devices.

Apple's rollout of thier AI vision has been slower than Microsoft's. Heck, they launched a brand new phone entirely on the basis of new AI features, when it had precisely zero to begin with. None. Nadda.

Recall will come. Or it won't. Either way, these new PC's, particularly the Arm versions, are absolutely crushing it.

Dial back the negativity.

I am not personally bothered about Recall being delayed. I am documenting how its delay has affected things for Microsoft's partners and end-users. Speaking with sources, I know Microsoft's partners are unhappy with how the Copilot+ PC launch happened.

Recall was the main selling point of Copilot+ PCs, and it not being there all these months later is a real blow to OEMs who planned entire marketing campaigns around it. I purchased a Copilot+ PC solely for AI features like Recall, and the fact that I am still waiting for it is rough.

I never said Snapdragon X PCs are bad. I think they're incredible. I say as much multiple times in the article. But that doesn't mean the Copilot+ PC launch hasn't been bad. Copilot+ covers more than just Snapdragon, it covers Intel and AMD PCs too. Those Copilot+ PCs are currently missing 100% of Copilot+ features. It's a complete mess, a total disaster you might say.

If the point of Copilot+ PCs is next-gen AI experiences and features, the fact that we still have no real AI features shipping is a blow to the entire launch. Sorry you disagree, but that's just a fact.

 

[Zac Bowden]

I've read the article and still would love some clarity over a couple of things.
1. Recall is mentioned a thousand times, is it really that big of a feature that it will sell the systems? In my opinion it still doesn't warrant forking out extra money on Copilot+ PCs. They are pretty much in the same boat that Apple was, when their new silicon was first launched - they simply need to offer more.
2. Is Apple really that far ahead with Apple Intelligence? What ground-breaking/exciting features does it offer that people should splash their money on? They are pretty much in the same boat, there is literally nothing exciting about AI on laptops at the moment. Windows Search sounds like a step in the right direction. Having Visual Studio use it would be cool or maybe some real time movie upscaling. Image generation just doesn't do it anymore.
3. 'Apple Silicon is now ahead again, but that will only be the case until PC chip makers release their next-gen chips in 2025' - ahead in what? I assume it meant energy efficiency and nothing more than that. Again, is that really a selling point?
Does it allow for better code compilation, does it load apps faster, does it allow for faster search in the system, does it offer something that's not possible using other chips? Does it improve the user experience in a meaningful way? Or is it just ahead in in benchmarks running on Apple's closed ecosystem, and being tailored to a specific spec to make it look better than it actually is? I'm assuming that it's none of the former, and all of the last point.

In the end, where Apple leads is in it's marketing, which is nothing new. And MS, as usually, is terrible in that department and their PR (Xbox has already taught us that a long time ago).

1. You may not think Recall is a big deal, but I know that the entire Copilot+ PC launch was built around it. Recall was supposed to be the blockbuster next-gen Windows AI feature shipping this summer, and its delay threw a big wrench into Microsoft's and OEMs plans around marketing and selling hardware. You don't have to agree with it, but that's just what happened.

2. I never said Apple is far ahead with AI. I said Apple is shipping AI. We're still waiting for Microsoft to ship any impactful NPU-based Windows AI features that warrant buying new Copilot+ hardware. Mac users are no longer waiting.

3. Once again, Apple Silicon is ahead in performance and efficiency. It doesn't matter to most people, but it matters to some.

 

[ryan.shultz]

I've read the article and still would love some clarity over a couple of things.
1. Recall is mentioned a thousand times, is it really that big of a feature that it will sell the systems? In my opinion it still doesn't warrant forking out extra money on Copilot+ PCs. They are pretty much in the same boat that Apple was, when their new silicon was first launched - they simply need to offer more.
2. Is Apple really that far ahead with Apple Intelligence? What ground-breaking/exciting features does it offer that people should splash their money on? They are pretty much in the same boat, there is literally nothing exciting about AI on laptops at the moment. Windows Search sounds like a step in the right direction. Having Visual Studio use it would be cool or maybe some real time movie upscaling. Image generation just doesn't do it anymore.
3. 'Apple Silicon is now ahead again, but that will only be the case until PC chip makers release their next-gen chips in 2025' - ahead in what? I assume it meant energy efficiency and nothing more than that. Again, is that really a selling point?
Does it allow for better code compilation, does it load apps faster, does it allow for faster search in the system, does it offer something that's not possible using other chips? Does it improve the user experience in a meaningful way? Or is it just ahead in in benchmarks running on Apple's closed ecosystem, and being tailored to a specific spec to make it look better than it actually is? I'm assuming that it's none of the former, and all of the last point.

In the end, where Apple leads is in it's marketing, which is nothing new. And MS, as usually, is terrible in that department and their PR (Xbox has already taught us that a long time ago).

The article is full of inaccuracies, statements with no support, and biases. I'm guessing it was written just to draw attention.

 

[naddy69]

Recall was a horrible idea, and I said so months ago when it was first announced. It was basically built-in spyware.

It should have been - indeed still should be - a separate app that costs $20 or so. It should have a large legal agreement that you must click through before it installs. It should NOT be built into Windows.

Having a PC (or anything else) that watches AND RECORDS everything you do is just creepy. It is the Apple 1984 ad come true. Paying for/installing a separate app because I actually want my PC watching everything I do makes it less creepy.

That it was originally not encrypted/secured was just mind bogglingly stupid. A classic "What the heck were they thinking?" THIS was the worst thing about Recall.

All of which is why Recall turned out to be a disaster. Recall is what killed enthusiasm for "CoPilot PCs".

A few weeks ago, the big news was that people can change the Copilot key to do something else. Which says all you need to know about this whole disaster.

 

[Matt_]

After 10-15 years working on Linux with Open Source tools and frameworks I was tempted to return to Microsoft because of Copilot. We signed up for one of their Partner Benefit AI Packages because "Office with Copilot" was included in the list, only to find it wasn't the right Copilot... This was "Office with Copilot (previously Bing Chat Enterprise)" rather than the integrated "Copilot for Office" tool I wanted to try. Somehow we were supposed to know that the magic words "previously Bing Chat Enterprise" means it's a different Copilot... In fact, I was told we couldn't even add a paid Copilot subscription to this 365 licence because it's not the right type of 365 licence, lol. Effectively Microsoft blocks Partners who have paid to buy into their infrastructure from adding paid subscriptions to their premium golden AI tool.

Of course, to make this unpleasant discovery I had to access one of the 365 Licence Keys and waste a load of time installing, testing and reporting the issue. I presumed Microsoft would refund the Partner Benefit AI fee but after a month back and forth with support they refused saying "you viewed the key, see our terms and conditions, blah, blah, blah!". I escalated and tried to complain but haven't heard a peep for months. Well MEH!

Looking around I found there is massive confusion about what Copilot is, there are so many different Copilot terms and descriptions.... It seemed Microsoft wasn't ready for AI, they had no direction or vision, just a bunch of disparate tools with the Copilot buzzword which they hoped would hit a spot and woe betide anyone who pays money to discover they have the wrong Copilot.

Well lesson learned, thanks M$. As a direct result of wasting this £350 I didn't buy a Copilot PC.
For AI we went with the ChatGPT paid subscription and we've been delighted to spend our money with a grown-up company...

Meanwhile Microsft continues to flounder like a headless AI chicken and this report months later confirms more of the same.