In the last few days tech news has been dominated by Windows 8 coverage - revealing more and more info on Microsoft's next generation operating system, to replace (I won't say "Venerable", because after all, it's been only, what, 5 years?) Windows 7. And one of the main themes apparent in 8 is the commitment to unification of platforms. While Apple has been taking cautious steps forward in this direction with Lion, which brings iOS-like features to the desktop, Microsoft is going all out and providing one OS to rule them all.
I don't really have an issue with this - it's an ambitious and bold move, which is what one wants from technology companies. My one concern is that Microsoft is chickening out and providing full backwards compatibility built in to the OS.
So what's wrong with that, you ask? People who are used to one environment can continue using it, and people willing to try the new one, use the new one. You can't very well abandon your old user base, can you?
No, you can't; but this isn't a good solution either. It has numerous problems:
1. People used to the Windows 7 style of working will tend to continue working in what they're used to if they have the option. It took them long enough to learn how to work with Windows machines; who wants the hassle of starting all from scratch? At the very least it will delay adoption of the new interface as the default work environment, which is a pity.
2. People will most certainly be confused by the dual interface; when am I working with one, vs. when with the other? It doesn't help that different devices behave differently, and compatibility is limited across platforms.Wintel programs won't work on Arm based platforms, although the mobile apps should be able to run on Windows; people will never be quite sure where they are as they flip about between the two work modes - metro and desktop mode.
3. It forces Microsoft to continue supporting the desktop mode longer into the future than it would have normally had to, wasting resources and slowing down development.
4. The software complexity of supporting the two interfaces smoothly, with all the patches and updates is high; this may lead to a higher defect rate and slower RCA and resolution time.
From the above, customer confusion is the most dangerous. If people won't be able to work well with it, or won't understand well how it works, they'll avoid it or limit their use of it. This will certainly hurt Microsoft.
It's not easy to let go of such a huge installed base of existing users; but Microsoft has to take the bullet and limit the complexity and confusion of using it's new OS. If someone changes to windows 8, make it simple enough for them to figure out how to work with it, without reverting to supporting all the old ways of working as well. Make the transition easy, make the new experience an optimized one, and people will flock to it.
Go ahead, Microsoft; take a chance on us.
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