Ruslan Drinko

Tablets become obsolete within a year or a year and a half, incl. The future fate of the platform is not important. Unless software developers will not spend their time on it and there will be some “hunger” of applications.

Ruslan Drinko

Anton

Ruslan Drinko: Vadim, I think here http://www.oszone.net/user_img/vadblog/windows-rt06.png meant Acer W510 ;)
Tablets become obsolete within a year or a year and a half, incl. The future fate of the platform is not important. Unless software developers will not spend their time on it and there will be some “hunger” of applications.

Well, the same Android is updated without problems, with iPads it’s a little more complicated, but Windows is a no-no, or will the Windows Blue RT firmware come via WU?

Xitroff

Is iOS more difficult to update than Android? :))) You made my day :)))

Anton

Vadim Sterkin: Anton, what do you mean “updated without problems”? If the OEM does not support the update, you are left alone with problems. If you are interested in solving them, that is your choice, but such consumers are in the minority.

Vadim, there are always problems, but for a handy IT specialist they are solvable, aren’t they? An ordinary user, if he wants, will take the device for repair (not necessarily authorized) and they will do it for him there.

Xitroff: Is iOS more difficult to update than Android? :))) You made my day :)))

IOS has a strictly defined list of supported devices, but Android is completely open to manipulation; if you have direct hands, it’s not difficult to twist it.

AndrewTishkin

Georgiy

I've been eyeing the tablet market for a long time, but I haven't made a choice yet. Finding a suitable device is also complicated by the fact that I don’t yet see “my” tablet in the entire huge assortment. For me, many completely opposite factors are important at once: from screen resolution and weight, to the ability to install third-party applications and a set of ports. In general, I have a dream: to replace a laptop with a tablet with a docking station (keyboard case). But so far I don’t see anything more interesting than http://www.kupaworld.com/products.php. And although the price is high, and I have not yet seen this miracle in the vastness of Russia, I think that a device of this kind can well replace an ordinary laptop. And everything else (in my opinion) is an armpit Internet + TV\player+reader\player... Fortunately, I don’t need such an “advanced” gadget! As for the rest, I’m sure: tablets are the future.
Best regards, Georgiy.

Xitroff

Anton:
Vadim, there are always problems, but for a handy IT specialist they are solvable, aren’t they? An ordinary user, if he wants, will take the device for repair (not necessarily authorized) and they will do it for him there.
IOS has a strictly defined list of supported devices, but Android is completely open to manipulation; if you have direct hands, it’s not difficult to twist it.

iPhone 3GS, released in 2009, has the current version of the OS. iPad 2 (2011) too. Which Android was supported at least half of this time? Why should the user cut something? This should be the vendor's concern. Regarding Windows RT and the “interest” of developers, many call it stillborn

Denis Borisych

There is one good quote in the article
“But, paradoxically, the Z2760 has made it almost impossible to buy Windows on ARM devices!”
I'd like to rephrase it
But, paradoxically, there is practically no point in Windows on ARM!

It’s not at all clear to me why we should make another under-axis.
They are like uncut dogs, and then there is Microsoft with its developments.
And if there is no way to drag all the software onto this platform, then there is no point in it, because the main point is that Vyn, no matter how much they criticize her, has a huge number of applications of any kind and focus + the ability to write some things for it “ on my knee."

Anton

Vadim Sterkin: Anton, why does an ordinary user need to take his tablet for repair so that they can make him a new Android for money?

Vadim, Android quickly acquires new features with each version than any other mobile OS, it becomes faster and more customizable. And the security of the system increases.
IMHO, it’s nonsense to buy the most crooked Windows RT, which can do even less than the currently developed Firefox OS.

... and also the most expensive OS in terms of cost (both for vendors and for the end user (he also bears the burden of the OEM cost)

Denis Borisych

Vadim Sterkin,

Vadim, let’s not get childish, there is a huge layer of highly specialized software that exists only for Windows, a good example is restaurant and other systems.
Unfortunately, the tendency in our country is that it is easier to buy third-party (foreign) software and maintain it, not to mention the fact that most software for enterprises and laboratories of the “agroprom” generally works under DOS and has no analogues.
I was engaged in “anonism” for 2 months, rewriting grain procurement software for Windows, which had been working God knows how long under DOS and was written about 15 years ago. but now in the laboratory there is a normal computer with a normal OS (win7) and sane software, which works equally well under all versions of Windows, except for AWS.

AndrewTishkin

I'm ok.

Vadim, maybe you still have the picture in your cache?
I’m talking about the one that comes after the words “not only for consuming information.”

And it’s not just me - an external check confirms the absence of the file. For example:
http://www.bertal.ru/index.php?a764214/www.oszone.net/user_img/vadblog/windows-rt04.png#h

Anton

Vadim Sterkin: Denis Borisych, I am aware of highly specialized software. Do you need software for harvesting grain on your tablet? And why do you think that an OS for tablets has no right to life just because such software will not work on them?

Agree, Vadim, the tablet should be universal - the younger brother of the PC, but no longer a nephew. Previously, everyone bought tablets so as not to take a laptop on the road, but now they don’t run anything other than Engrybirds on them. So, entertainment, and nothing more... From the same iPad, it is impossible to upload anything to the network except through iTunes, and Android requires synchronization with a PC. It would be better to make a 10-hour battery for tablets with Windows 7 or buy devices with Windows 8 Pro

Anton

Vadim Sterkin

Vadim, people haven’t yet invented anything better for contacts than the iPad (IMHO). Windows 8 RT is still unfinished. When Windows Blue RT comes out, and maybe even Windows 9 RT (if Microsoft doesn’t abandon its plans), then we’ll talk about whether to buy it or not.

Dmitriy

For me, the most important thing about a tablet is its integration with my other devices, in particular, what this number of applications voted for. Without applications and integration, a tablet even with 8 cores will be just a stove. and here it would seem that MS could shoot with her mouth, but she stepped on the same rake as earlier with the zuna.

Vitaly K. ©

For what? It doesn't even need to be close. What I like about Android is that it is a self-sufficient system. If you have direct hands and the right device, you can at least sew custom firmware, look at it, roll back to a backup without connecting to a PC. I’m not talking about downloading any content in any convenient way, even movies via torrent, and installing any applications. Neither iOS nor VinRT have the above; they are tied to a PC and can do little without it.
For some reason, VinRT made a desktop. Why is it on the tablet? In desktop OS tiles. Why are they there? It is because of these misunderstandings that neither Vin8 nor VinRT are selling well.

The entire operating system is ported to ARM, which means Windows RT has the desktop and all the apps that come standard with Windows.

But opposite “Maximum number of SMB connections” for VinRT is empty.

By the way, Android is also available for x86 architecture. Thanks to the Dalvik virtual machine, most of the software does not even require recompilation; it runs this way, except for games and other software that uses the NDK.

Vitaly K. ©

Vadim Sterkin: I also understand if a developer came and said - well, I’m missing a, b, c and d in WinRT, so I can’t implement d, f, g and h in my application.

Option - in RT there is no support for native applications without hacking the system, so you can’t just take it and recompile it to the ARM version.

Vitaly K. ©

Anton

Vadim Sterkin Now I need Windows RT."

Vadim, “a man loves with his eyes.”

Vitaly K. ©:
Option - in RT there is no support for native applications without hacking the system, so you can’t just take it and recompile it to the ARM version.

Vitaly, Vadim By the way, regarding the jail: is it tied or not? Does Microsoft still have a warranty on the system after application?

Vitaly K. ©

Anton: By the way, regarding the jail: is it tied or not? Does Microsoft still have a warranty on the system after application?

What I don’t know, I don’t know. It is unlikely that the manufacturer encourages this, and it is unlikely to be of high quality - the system is poorly distributed and is not interesting to hackers.

Vitaly K. ©

Anton

Vadim Sterkin

Vadim, regarding Apple, don’t confuse God’s gift with scrambled eggs. Jobs' company does not seek to combine the concepts of Mac and iOS; on the contrary, the further it goes, the stronger the convergence goes. Microsoft, on the contrary, is puffing up its sweat to unite both the x86 and ARM ecosystems. This is why a number of geeks are tempted to port applications. Remove at least the name Windows from the ARM product, remove the desktop - and everything will fall into place.
By the way, it’s always a great mystery for me: will Windows XP x64 run on a regular intel-corei5 laptop without an emulator or not?

Vitaly K. ©

Anton: By the way, it’s always a great mystery for me: will Windows XP x64 run on a regular intel-corei5 laptop without an emulator or not?

It will start on its own, the problem is in the drivers for all kinds of hardware such as WiFi. Switching hybrid video cards will not work at all, only the one built into the processor, or, at best, you can switch to using only an external one.

Alexei

In my (and not only my) opinion, MS greatly missed the mark with the Metro concept. Just as this interface is pointless on desktop PCs, RT is also pointless on tablets.
What do we expect from windows? Of course, the ability to launch our favorite application. What do we get? Just an office, a bare market and the illusion that we have a full-fledged Windows.
IMHO, Android will solve comparable problems in comparable time for much less money

Denis Borisych

Vitaly K. ©,

It starts up and works, sometimes you need to change the Beavis.

Denis Borisych

Vadim Sterkin: No one is upset that MacOS apps don't work on iOS and vice versa. But when it comes to Windows RT, the labels “unfinished”, “unfinished”, etc. immediately appear.
No, I understand that the consumer may get confused - he wanted Windows 8, but it turned out that there was something missing. But here are the comments from people updating Android themselves, recompiling XP x64, rewriting cereal applications. But something is missing somewhere...

Yes, just those people who will buy a tablet with Windows in order to get exactly “that same Windows”, and not its likeness, otherwise it’s just another expensive technical castrato.

Denis Borisych

Vitaly K. ©,

Given the existing restrictions, users are also not interested.

Denis Borisych

Vadim Sterkin: Vitaly, this is not because it’s “not finished”, but because that’s what we intended :)

This is precisely why when the small ones released the first tablet computer, there was no excitement, and when the iPad was introduced, the world crap with joy.

Denis Borisych

Vadim Sterkin: Anton, excuse me that I didn’t wait, but today I asked the question “To whom Now I need Windows RT."
And cliches like “not finished” are in favor of the poor. I also understand if a developer came and said - well, I’m missing a, b, c and d in WinRT, so I can’t implement d, f, g and h in my application. You get blah blah.

but from your point of view it turns out “I don’t care what bullshit, but it’s a BMW,” so what?
It’s just that in expectations it’s one thing, but in practice, as always, it’s another...

Denis Borisych

Vadim Sterkin: Anton, the device must match your range of tasks. If you need software for grain procurement, buy a tablet with Windows 8. If the main thing for you is to be on VKontakte, Windows RT will be enough for you.

Vadim, everyone has their own range of tasks, you can’t please everyone, it’s just an option when another platform appears, instead of a proven and working Windows, and even it’s completely shredded, without the ability to run your favorite applications, and also with the price of the issue being like a “stub” ", seems very doubtful to me.
In such situations, I will buy an Android, both cheaper and more practical.

If I show you Windows Phone (that's also an OS), the anticipation for these apps to launch will be even higher - it's Windows after all, why not? And now I show you a tablet with Windows RT. It's not Windows 8, mind you, but you 100% expect the OS to run the same apps.

The problem is based on a lack of knowledge about the OS. Since the mass consumer does not have this knowledge, the problem can only be solved by marketing. And then Microsoft had a problem.

Because most devices come from OEMs, the company can't control their names to highlight functional differences the way Apple does. Moreover, even with its Surface, Microsoft made the mistake of deciding that the RT set-top box was enough for customers to understand the difference.

Hence the perception, which is very negative. And so much so that you are ready to forget about your favorite software and buy Android :)

Denis Borisych: and from your point of view it turns out “I don’t care what bullshit, but it’s a BMW” so what?

metro-holivare, and even here it is visible well, because the topic is related.

When entering into polemics with me in the comments, people forget that I have already said all the most important things in the text of the post. Some people don’t even read it, and some draw conclusions from it that are directly opposite to those stated in the text. And this quote of yours is an excellent illustration of the last point :)

To make it clearer, here is a simple exercise. Re-read the entry from “Who needs Windows RT now” to the end. Now, based on this block, try to formulate an answer for me in one short thesis.

sokrat

It seems that Windows RT, with such demand, will have to be abandoned as a failed project. Therefore, in 5 years it will most likely not become obsolete, but will be completely phased out.
But perhaps Microsoft dreams of cross-platform (in terms of hardware) and therefore will persistently push Windows RT further (they know better).
I have a tablet on regular Windows 8, and I chose it for only one reason - a minimum of movements when switching to the tablet. With Windows RT, you will again have to look for analogues, which is not much different from changing the platform.

Denis Borisych

Vadim Sterkin: Denis Borisych,
your rhetoric is entirely based on the problem of false expectations. I will slightly exaggerate the examples below to highlight it. If I show you a microwave, you will know for sure that it cannot run Windows applications. If I show you a tablet with Android or iOS, you will also know this, but somewhere the thought may flash - what if there is all sorts of virtualization. But it doesn’t occur to you to call them under-axes and trims.

This is for the simple reason that between Androids of all versions and iOS there is almost complete cross-platform, which is expressed in the fact that software written for 1 iPad works on 4, and the difference between the mobile version for phones and the version for tablets is almost non-existent, in any case In this case, the interchangeability is almost complete, it all depends only on the amount of hardware on board (it’s clear that a tablet without 3G cannot make calls like a phone)

If I show you Windows Phone (that's also an OS), the anticipation for running these apps will be even higher - it's Windows after all, why not? And now I show you a tablet with Windows RT. Note, this is not Windows 8, but you 100% expect this OS to run those same applications. The problem is based on a lack of knowledge about the OS.

the problem is not here, the problem is the lack of banal compatibility between products of the same line of different versions, a clear example is MS Office, no one has such leapfrog with versions

Since the mass consumer does not have this knowledge, the problem can only be solved by marketing. And then Microsoft had a problem.
Because most devices come from OEMs, the company can't control their names to highlight functional differences the way Apple does. Moreover, Microsoft, even with its Surface, made the mistake of deciding that the RT set-top box was enough for customers to understand the difference. Hence the perception, which was very negative. And so much so that you are ready to forget about your favorite software and buy Android :)

then you don’t need to position it as Windows 8 and that’s it, then there won’t be any expectations, it’s just that if the special software doesn’t work under RT, then it won’t work under Android, and under Y-OS either, but all other things being equal, Android is simply cheaper and simpler and more functional.

But this is another interesting phenomenon that I observe on my blog. It manifested itself most clearly in the metro-holivar, and even here it is visible quite well, because the topic is related. When entering into polemics with me in the comments, people forget that I have already said all the most important things in the text of the entry. Some people don’t even read it, and some draw conclusions from it that are directly opposite to those stated in the text. And this quote of yours is an excellent illustration of the last point :)
To make it clearer, here is a simple exercise. Re-read the entry from “Who needs Windows RT now” to the end. Now, based on this block, try to formulate an answer for me in one short thesis.

Conclusion
Due to the negligible difference in size/weight and battery life between ARM and Clover Trail tablets, there is no consumer benefit to Windows RT devices (even if we assume they are not more expensive). On one side of the scale there is little need for Office 2013 RT in a tablet, the inability to run third-party classic applications, and on the other there is nothing to put.

The situation may improve if Microsoft starts listening to users rather than effective managers. The only question is whether they need it.

Anton Additionally, I looked through various types of information, there are tests of the Pi Calculator program.
Of course, I am not a specialist in electronics and computing technology, but a user who has a certificate in the specialization “Computer in a modern office”...
If you don’t mind, could you at least briefly describe how long the hard drive of a modern PC can last without breakdowns?
Thank you for the information provided. Alexander.

Anton

Vadim Sterkin: Anton, I don’t impose anything on anyone. So it would be better for you to refrain from comments in such a tone.

We'll wait and see, but I'm afraid there won't be a miracle

Vadim Sterkin:
Meanwhile, as I already said, software for MacOS does not work on iOS and vice versa. Those. the situation is exactly the same.

I don’t respect the bitten one and I sincerely consider it technical castrato No. 1, I work on it only because I got it almost for free.

Vadim Sterkin:
What kind of leapfrog is this with Office versions and what specific lack of compatibility do you mean? If we mean 2003 and DOCX, then this is not even serious.

doc-x is not even a problem, it's just a feature
But what about the incompatibility of macros in different versions of the office, the worst thing in Excel, when a document is edited in different offices, the document is totaled and can no longer be restored by any means, I wrote a letter to MS support, but they never really answered me, please provide the files to you Unfortunately, I can’t because these are documents related to working with contractors (the funny thing is that these files are displayed absolutely correctly through Dropbox from an iPhone). By the way, the problems with version compatibility do not end there.

Vadim Sterkin:
Of course not. They seemed to be trying to isolate themselves (they called it RT, not 8), but they couldn’t really convey the difference, which is what I wrote about in the comments above. And this is exactly why the post appeared :)

There are 2 errors here
1) if the MS product had been called win-mobile/winOS or something else, it would have been positioned more correctly (by isolating it from the classic system)
2) in your article you say that this is not Windows almost at the very end of the article, which many probably did not read, which again causes a certain problem of perception and “righteous anger”.

Vadim Sterkin:
Mmm... You rewrote the conclusion in your own words, but I wanted to understand how you see my answer to the question “Who needs Windows RT now” based on what I wrote. Let me remind you that the request was generated by your comment:

The answer I see is something like this: this OS is not really needed by anyone yet, but it will undoubtedly be of interest to many enthusiasts and simply curious people, of course, if it gets rid of a number of problems inherent in the original system.
In reality, it will become in demand if the MS unties it from the device and makes it possible to put it on a vacuum cleaner or on a refrigerator.

My colleagues who see the Microsoft Surface on my desk often ask whether it’s worth looking at tablets with Windows RT at all. Well, thanks to , I still found the strength to write such an answer...

Windows RT or Windows (PRO)?

The first thing I want to say is that the idea about the inferiority of RT (if we are talking in terms of tablets), which has been circulating on the Internet since its release, is inherently ridiculous.

Actually, what is the main difference between RT and non-RT? Basically 3 things:

• processor architecture (RT is ARM only)
• source of program installation (Windows Store or manually for desktop)
• some features of the OS itself

Program installation source . I’ll start with this point, since this is the main direction of attacks on the OS.

Yes, in the general case, you can install and run only software from the Windows Store on RT (I wrote “in the general case”, because all the pre-installed desktop software, as well as a number of other utilities that can be installed separately, for example Remote Debugger , work quietly) or install via Sideloading (but this is also only a Windows Store style application). However, to what extent is this a significant limitation?

My personal opinion, which is strengthening day by day, is that you can work comfortably on a tablet. only with programs specially designed for this purpose!!! Working with regular desktop software is a pain!

• if you plan to use the tablet only as a tablet (the idea turned out to be more peculiar, but I think it’s understandable), then forget about the desktop software and look at what’s in the Windows Store. If you have any specific software, check with the supplier whether he plans to release a tablet version (if he plans, then it is logical that it will be a Windows Store style application, even if it will not be distributed through the Store itself).
• if you can’t go without legacy programs, look for a transformable tablet with a full keyboard (and just figure out how much you actually need a tablet - maybe a laptop will be better)

Processor architecture

If they ask me if the Surface slows down, I will answer, alas, yes, this happens. True, I’ll immediately make a reservation that I observed brakes in the following three cases:

• Some toys. Luckily I'm not a gambler, so this doesn't bother me much.
• IE when opening more than 10 tabs with Flash (on regular pages I opened 2 dozen - everything works surprisingly quickly)
• Office RT. Again, it should be noted that “slows down” in this case means “works approximately like a regular office on my budget 5-year-old laptop.” Those. I can work, but the comfort level of my usual workplace is inferior.

There are probably some other scenarios, but I haven’t come across them.

Although no, I’m lying – SilverLight has not yet been ported to ARM. For some this may be critical.

Differences in the operating systems themselves

To be honest, after six months of use, I never ran into any restrictions that would hold me back. And judging by this article Windows 8 editions, this does not threaten me (the only thing that comes to mind is the inability to connect to a domain to install corporate software, but, as far as I know, we are not yet developing any corporate software for certain devices - everything is Web only).

Instead of a resume

Having looked at the article, I understand that there are no discoveries or revelations in it. Windows RT is a normal tablet OS, in no way inferior to Android or iOS (and what they did with the interface of the latest iOS makes me want to cry, but that’s just a remark...).

The current situation, when, being an almost complete copy of a regular desktop OS (there is a desktop, all the software installed for it works...), it does not allow the use of third-party software for the desktop, is temporary. I am almost 100% sure that as soon as a full-fledged Metro Office is ready, the desktop will be removed from it completely - because there is nothing for it to do there.

In general, of course, there are special use cases, but this is not for me. My needs from a tablet are banal:

• Reading books (the only thing is that I read technical literature in PDF and CHM and no eInk is a competitor here)
• Internet surfing (a special bonus – Flash works)
• Mail and Skype. I use it, although rarely (there are enough workers)
• Entertainment: games, videos, music - extremely rarely, but I didn’t experience any problems.

For all this, a tablet and software from the store are enough.

In general, I just like Surface. It’s somehow stylish, or something... And if I were to buy a tablet now, I would definitely think about Surface 2 (fortunately, it eliminates many of the shortcomings of the first one).

But other RT tablets (for example, the same one from Nokia) deserve attention.

Update system - principles of operation and time

In Windows RT, they didn’t bother to philosophize, but simply transferred the update policies and principles from the desktop version of Windows. This means that each program, as well as the operating system, receives its updates separately. Moreover, unlike iOS/Android, where operating system updates come rarely and in the form of a single file, in Windows RT this happens for each component of the system. For example, only the browser or certain services can be updated, and so on. In terms of efficiency, this is a win-win option, which however has serious flaws in the mobile world.

The first is the frequency of updates. The operating system checks them every two days and when it receives an update, installs it and then reboots. There is no way to get around this flaw. After a reboot, all your open applications, work files and other information are not re-opened (information is not lost, but the state of the tablet and open programs - none of that) In my opinion, this is a huge drawback for the mobile device and for the tablet.

Another point is the update speed. Here I was faced with simply indecent waste of time. For example, installing the MS Office update package took 45 minutes. And this is after downloading the installation files, just a clean installation on the tablet. Installing the 106 MB Russian language pack took about 10 minutes and also after downloading the file.

Some updates that require a restart of the computer take tens of minutes to install. For example, in this video you can see how this happens.

I'm not mentally prepared to wait ten minutes for the system to reboot and then start working with it. This simply goes beyond any limits of common sense. And it's also a legacy of Windows RT growing out of the desktop. It seems to me that the update system should be redesigned so that the system starts quickly and the update does not take so much time. It’s not pleasant to look at the screen and wait for the system to update itself, without really understanding what it is.

Email client - plus People, Messages, and Calendar programs

The logic is mysterious why four applications were added to one package at once - “Mail”, “Messages”, “People” and “Calendar”. At the same time, the Metro interface has separate tiles for each function of one application. Let's try to deal with each of them and start with mail.

Mail

On tablets, the quality of the email client becomes an important factor; people read letters and respond to them. The only tablet manufacturer that decided to release a device without mail support was Blackberry - as a result, the company hastily completed the client, since users simply did not realize such a revolutionary approach.

From Microsoft I expected a program that, although it would not work like MS Outlook, would present a large number of functions in a light, beautiful package. I was completely disappointed, since problems begin with registering any POP account (there are some in the list, but the program does not support them and asks to change the type to IMAP).

My attempt to set up corporate email failed. An attempt to configure my MS Exchange also failed because the “Accept all SSL certificates” option was missing. It is possible that you are lucky or you use exclusively Gmail or other network mail, then there should be no questions. But for those who are focused on corporate email, there is freedom for headaches here. And it's genuinely frustrating.

Another point widely advertised in one of the first videos about Surface is the long startup time of the application. This is a common situation for most pre-installed programs after the system is rebooted and before the first call. You need to wait ten seconds, calling again takes a couple of seconds. The program is inferior to all tablets on other OS (it makes no difference whether it is the first launch or the second, the same time is spent).

In the mail settings you can find exactly one option - to group mail by conversations. That's all. If you were expecting something different, for example, filters, the ability to customize your mail more carefully, then there is none of this. In the settings of individual accounts, you can set a signature for messages, specify whether external images will be loaded, and set the update frequency. And nothing more.

My disappointment with the mail cannot be expressed. This is not a working tool, it is a crutch that is suitable for housewives who write one or two letters and do not require absolutely anything from the program. Considering that it is impossible to install MS Outlook (it is not included with MS Office for RT), and there are no other email programs for RT, I don’t know what to say. This is just a big minus that spoils the impression of the OS and devices on it.

Messages

This part of the application is another attempt to embrace the immensity and offer the consumer the opportunity to communicate in the Live messenger or Facebook Chat. Messages has no other options. This looks all the more interesting because Live is disappearing and will be merged with Skype. Facebook Chat directly receives your messages, but there's a slight catch. In my case, he lost about half of the messages written to me. Why? Don't know. But I didn’t even look into this issue, since the value of this “application” is rapidly approaching zero. Its clarity and convenience, to put it mildly, do not stand up to criticism.

People

This is not only a notebook with people’s contacts (they can be taken from Facebook, LinkedIn, Outlook, Hotmail, Google, and also received from Twitter or Skype). Recently, it has become fashionable to add notifications from social networks to such programs, this one is no exception. You can see everything related to messages for you on one screen - such a “feed” looks rosy and rich - not very convenient. You can also answer from the program. Some people might like the idea of ​​viewing each contact’s messages on social networks. But usually people prefer to read the entire feed. Why they reinvented the wheel here is absolutely incomprehensible to me. There are third-party clients for social networks, they are much better, although they do not reach the programs on other platforms.

Calendar

Just like Mail, the calendar cannot be considered similar to an application familiar from the desktop version of the OS. This is a heavily reduced functionality option. You can make new notes and synchronize with network services. Extremely simple and concise.

MS Office – for students and at home

The main complaints about all tablets with Windows before the advent of Windows RT were the presence of fans, short operating time, and the gluttony of the system, which is no different from laptops. And these were not mobile devices in the full sense. With the release of Windows RT, everything has changed, but Microsoft's logic in adapting the office defies comprehension. Thus, for Windows RT only the version for students and home use is offered, it is included in the package. And this is a huge plus that is widely emphasized. A real office on a tablet. In fact, the office is convenient for viewing files (it reads all formats, there are no problems with this - it is a complete copy of a regular office). You can correct something from time to time (doing it with your hands from the screen takes a long time and is unusual). But it is absolutely impossible to fully work in the office suite without using the keyboard. This package was simply transferred to Windows RT and minimally adapted for finger control. Most menus are very lacy, which creates a dissonance with all tablet programs where controls are made visible.

The mystery and inconsistency of this decision also lies in the fact that in the first half of 2013, MS Office will appear for the Android and iOS platforms, the developer, as you guessed, is Microsoft. And these versions are adapted to work with a touch screen. Moreover, they have all the benefits of the current version of Office, and there will also be an equivalent for Windows RT. The only difference is that Office for other platforms will have to be purchased, but on RT tablets it is pre-installed and, as a rule, free.

Another illogicality of the decision is that Microsoft for some reason believes that the corporate sector should exclusively choose Surface Pro and similar tablets with fans, short operating time and full-fledged Windows 8. And any version of MS Office is available there. The problem is that if your organization uses only licensed software, then you will not be able to legally use Office in Windows RT (there is simply no license and corresponding version for the corporate segment). I can’t wrap my head around this, since Windows RT was created for tablets and this is the company’s main product that can be mobile. Windows 8 does not have the advantages that Windows RT has, although they are spoiled by the company’s ideology.

I see no point in describing each of the programs included in the package. The OneNote interface is slightly different from a similar program on Windows 8, but the differences are not dramatic. Other programs are like two peas in a pod and are similar to the desktop version.

In my opinion, the only way to get the most out of having MS Office is if you have a keyboard. In its absence, the package is not so convenient in editing mode, but it allows you to view files and, if necessary, edit something. And there are many different “buts” here, one of the key ones is whether such a bundle is needed in the tablet. Initially, even with the first iPad, people rushed to buy the Pages program, as well as connect external keyboards to type texts. The number of those who tried to create such a scenario for using a tablet was noticeable. But, according to my observations, this scenario did not take root; after all, the tablet acts as a device for reading information, and not for creating it. In this aspect, I would like to see MS Office as simple and convenient for finger control and quick creation of presentations. But not an exact copy of the desktop version, adapted for touch screens.

And what touches me most is that when you select a line to enter text in Office programs, the on-screen keyboard does not automatically appear; you have to call it up!

For myself, I still couldn’t decide whether I liked having MS Office on Windows RT or not. In my usage scenarios (a lot of work with text, including on the road), I never once had the desire to try to make edits on the tablet. Sometimes I read texts from the mail, but that’s all. Perhaps this is a separate topic for discussion about the scenarios that we will touch on in the MS Surface review. For some, having a full-fledged Office is vital.

Application store - availability of programs

Windows RT uses the Windows 8 kernel, but that's where the similarities end. In particular, applications for this operating system must be written separately, and their number at the moment is not amazing. About a hundred programs, most of which are of no interest. At all. There are almost no games and they have long been known on other platforms.

I was surprised by the fact that Windows RT apps tend to take up more space than those on iPad or Android. It turned out that the application contains all the graphics for different resolutions (up to 2560x1440 pixels), while on the same iPad, a developer can publish an application build for a specific resolution in the store. In practical terms, this explains why apps take up more space. I don’t see any particular problem in this; I’m confused by the fact that the enthusiasm of developers and the emergence of a large number of developments for Windows RT are not yet visible. Typically, developers focus on popular platforms, since in this case the chances of selling applications are higher. In the case of Windows RT, the popularity of the platform is one big question mark, so you can expect the main applications to come from Microsoft. Just look at the “Games” (New) section to make everything clear about the activity of the developers.

The cost of the applications that are presented is at the level of other platforms or more expensive. The pricing policy does not imply dumping, so there is no need to talk about greater availability of existing applications at cost.

Weather

There is no point in describing the Weather application, except that this is the first application in my memory that displays advertising. This is a pre-installed program and the third screen shows various banners. In my opinion, this is disrespectful to buyers of Windows RT devices. Some manufacturers use advertising (like Amazon), but then they charge less for the device, and users consciously subscribe to such a model.

Internet Explorer

In the first part of the review, I noted that IE is presented in two variations - on the desktop (maximum settings and the old interface) and in the new Metro UI. The new version does not have any settings, but there is gesture control (returning one page forward or back). This is the tenth Internet Explorer.

The browser works quickly, there are no complaints here. It displays the content of various sites well, scales to fit the screen size, and zooms with both fingers and by double-clicking on the text. Fast, pleasant and has quite a sufficient number of settings. Over the entire period of time, I looked at about a hundred sites and never experienced any problems. The disadvantages include the lack of synchronization of bookmarks with other computers, but this can be solved by installing add-ons (I didn’t come across any). But in theory it should appear quickly. It is possible that there is such an option somewhere, but again I was unable to find it.

Multimedia – music and video

The built-in applications for playing music and video are made in the Metro UI style, some may like them, but I would still like to see a full-fledged Windows Media Player. He is not here. However, as well as support for FLAC and other formats out of the box - only the most basic and familiar ones. In video, the situation is approximately the same, to which is added the lack of support for subtitles, “heavy” formats and HD video in these formats (AVI may not be readable at all, sometimes it is readable, but the picture is jerky). In my opinion, this is a problem in the execution of specific programs and the lack of codecs. As soon as third-party players appear, these shortcomings will be solved. The only question is when they will appear. At the moment, Windows RT is inferior to Android tablets from Samsung (support for all possible codecs), as well as iPad (third-party programs, for example, VLC).

When playing a video, for some reason the screen brightness is dimmed all the time, the picture becomes not very bright. The user cannot influence this behavior of the system, tested on three tablets from three different manufacturers.

Other programs – Skype, voice prompts and others

In no case do I intend to thoroughly describe all the programs that are in Windows RT; you have already read the basics about the operating system and its capabilities. But there are several points that also affect the perception of the OS and the ease of use. In particular, there is the Narrator application. It is called up by long pressing the center key and begins to voice everything you press on the screen. Made for those who have difficulty seeing. And it’s wonderful that people with low vision are taken care of. But. It turns out that very often this program is launched accidentally. And it turns into torture. It’s difficult to enter a password to unlock, and it’s also difficult to do anything else. In a word, it was necessary to make sure that the assistant did not launch accidentally, and then everything would be fine.

In the gallery you can view images, scroll through the list, change the size of pictures, and select the ones you need. Everything is familiar. There is a separate small utility for quickly viewing files, including graphics. A couple of times I caught XPS with the program simply freezing.

It remains to say about Skype, which can be downloaded from the store. This app has a Metro style look and absolutely terrible navigation. The convenience of previous desktop versions seems to have been completely forgotten; the contact list is difficult to navigate. I don’t know what to say here - you can only use it under pressure, and very quickly on a tablet with Windows RT I gave up even trying to do this and switched to a phone.

Microsoft's latest approach to trying to create a competitive offering in the tablet market has once again been downright unsuccessful. My expectations were too high, I can safely admit that. But what I encountered in practice turned out to be simply an unfinished and raw product that would traditionally take a long time to be perfected. The only problem is that ideologically there are a lot of controversial decisions embedded in the architecture of Windows RT, and these decisions will not allow creating a truly mobile OS. It runs on exactly the same hardware as Android, but manages to be less energy efficient (minus 15-20 percent depending on the operating mode). And these are congenital diseases that cannot be corrected.

The update policy is completely unsuitable for a mobile OS. To correct this shortcoming, Microsoft will have to come up with a crutch in the form of remembering the operating state and then launching programs, restoring the last state of the system. Finally, I didn’t stop at all on viruses for Windows RT; there are already a sufficient number of them (through browser vulnerabilities). The similarity of the browser and the same core allow viruses to target users not only of desktop systems, but also of Windows RT. In iOS/Android, the level of browser protection is orders of magnitude higher; the ideology of this application is simply different.

What can I say in summary? A very crude, unfinished operating system, which was created from scraps of existing desktop versions and adapted to ARM processors. There are not so many conveniences, there are many more problems and disadvantages. This operating system is perfect for you if you work for Microsoft and cannot use iOS/Android. You can’t call it mobile, but most importantly, thoughtful. And the marketing games that this is almost a desktop, almost real Windows, as well as Office, should be forgotten. The overall ergonomic shortcomings are too great to make using Windows RT comfortable or acceptable on a mobile device.

More screenshots of applications that were not included in the review:

Eldar Murtazin ()