If you love Windows, be honest about Windows 8

Since writing my first real critical piece on a Microsoft product, about Windows 8 Consumer Preview “Frankenstein,” in my three years with InfoWorld, I’ve received a slew of feedback and criticism. Many readers have asked if my remarks on Windows 8 were a prediction on the future of Microsoft. I’m not saying Microsoft is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions, with human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria. No, it’s my honest feedback to both Microsoft and readers.

First off, let me officially say I haven’t turned my back on Microsoft. I love Microsoft and continue to be a loyalist. But I’m also a journalist, and it’s my responsibility to present to my readers what I see as truth. In this case, I classify myself as a voice of reason.

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To me, Windows 8 has the “Star Wars” problem. The original three movies were awesome. The galaxy far, far away took on a life of its own, and its fans were committed. Then years later, George Lucas came out with episode 1, featuring tons of special effects, as well as Jar Jar Binks, midi-chlorian organisms, and an Anakin with no father (implying by his mother an immaculate conception) — I can go on. The community erupted with anger. If only someone had told Lucas ahead of time that these things were a mistake! Maybe they did. Maybe he just didn’t listen.

That’s the role I find myself in now. How many flatterers surrounding Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Windows president Steve Sinofsky are saying, “Metro looks great on my desktop! Ignore the naysayers!”

These people are not true friends. A true friend stops you before you go out the door with your fly down and tells you to zip up. A true friend says, “Hey, those pants are too tight.” I am a true friend to Microsoft. I’m willing to say, before the final release of Windows 8, that this is a mistake, and here are some ways to improve the product.

We need a tablet OS. Windows 8 is just that. It’s also a solid upgrade to Windows Phone 7. But in much the same way my wife (who owns an iPad) wouldn’t want the iPad’s iOS on her desktop, I don’t want my tablet OS on my desktop. And though touchscreens are all the rage in some environments (such as conferences, hotels, and hospitals), I don’t want them in my office. I like using a mouse, and I prefer horizontal scrolling to vertical scrolling. Yes, I know it means two different OSes, but if Apple can pull that off, so can Microsoft.

The key is not a single OS. The key is to have cross-platform functionality so that I can work between my devices without frustration. The key is the stuff under the hood, not necessarily the UI design. They key is control in the enterprise by allowing Windows 8 tablets to connect to the domain and be controlled and secured through group policies, which Windows on ARM tablets can’t do. The key is for Windows Phones to have full compatibility with all the policy settings — including encryption — available through Exchange ActiveSync policies, which Windows Phone can’t do. It’s this fully secure, fully functional, fully compatible, and cohesive solution that should make our enterprise Windows working environment awesome.

That’s what we are looking for — not a ubiquitous Metro UI and an OS afflicted with multiple personality disorder.

Among Windows loyalists, I’m not the only person to have said this. ZDnet tech writer Mary Jo Foley has vented about her frustrations with the new OS. She makes a good point about how it feels like Windows Phone on top of Windows and cautions that “Microsoft is running the risk of pleasing no one at all” with this approach. Her comment nicely captures my core complaint: You cannot make a one-stop UI for all devices.

Not everyone agrees with our cynicism. Well-known columnist Paul Thurrott put out a “call for common sense,” where he ranted in the opposite direction and told readers to accept Windows 8 as is. He’s tired of all the moaning on Twitter about the eliminated Start button, the Metro UI, and navigation frustrations. He puts out solid pro-Windows 8 reasoning — but methinks he protests too much.

Once this thing ships, we’ll all get onboard and help our readers work with it and wring the most out of it. Until then, this release is called a Consumer Preview. That shouldn’t mean “look at what we are doing and agree 100 percent or die.” No, it should mean “here is what we are putting together, but before this goes live we’d be happy to hear both positive and negative feedback so that we can give you the OS you want and need.” In the end, of course, it’ll be up to Microsoft to accept or ignore our views. But Microsoft won’t be able to say to me, “Hey, JP, we thought you were a friend to Microsoft. Why did you never tell us you thought we were making a mistake?”

If you want your voice to be heard, put your thoughts in the comments below. Remember, though, this isn’t a forum for haters; keep your comments professional and clear in terms of what you need and want from Windows. I’d be more than happy to give Microsoft a chance to reply to our collective opinion if it wants. Of course, I believe Microsoft’s best response would be a Windows 8 we can all be proud of and support.

This article, “If you love Windows, be honest about Windows 8,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Read more of J. Peter Bruzzese’s Enterprise Windows blog and follow the latest developments in Windows at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.