News Week of February 12, 2012

Microsoft's Windows 8 Faces Challenges in Tablets, Traditional PCs

But that success creates an issue for Microsoft as it seeks to promote this latest operating system: How do you sell satisfied customers on the idea of upgrading so soon?

The answer: You tell them that Windows 8 is uniquely suited to handle the challenges of the tech landscape as it�s evolved over the past three years. That it�s equally suited for tablets and traditional PCs, and that the adjustments to the interface by Microsoft engineers�including significant tweaks to file systems and security�will make lives easier for everyone, from teenagers to power users.

However, that might not prove enough to convince everyone who�s purchased a Windows system within the past two years to shell out the money for Windows 8. Remember that a majority of PC users clung for quite some time to Windows XP, which (thanks to any number of software updates over the years) evolved into a solid workhorse of an operating system; according to Net Applications, it still occupies some 47.19 percent of the desktop market, followed by 36.40 percent for Windows 7. In other words, people don�t easily give up their old OS. This is potentially bad news for Windows 8 if it wants to quickly eclipse its predecessors in overall sales.  (Source:  Nicholas Kolakowski, eWeek) 

Air Force to Go Tablet PC Shopping: Up to 18K iPads or Android Devices

According to Bloomberg, the U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Command is planning to buy anywhere from 63 to 18,000 iPad 2 tablets � or similar tablet devices � to replace pilot and navigator bags that can sometimes weight up to 40 pounds.

While the Air Force's presolicitation calls out Apple's tablets by name, a follow-up interview with Lt. Col. Glen Roberts, AMC public affairs director, by Nextgov's Bob Brewin indicates that the organization isn't tied to any single product at the moment � "[it] is looking for a tablet device, not necessarily an iPad," Roberts said.   (Source: David Murphy, PC Magazine)