What is Microsoft up to these days?

Over the past six months, I have been getting more and more confused about Microsoft’s current product line, especially as it pertained to the networked experience. The Microsoft marketing engine has done a poor job getting their message out to consumers. I set off to Comdex to sort through both the hype and misinformation being circulated.

Over the past year, we have heard announcements about hand writing recognition, tablet pc’s to replace notebooks, Microsoft branded networking products, wireless lcd monitors and a new version of Windows XP – Media Center. Trouble is, we have not heard how these products work together or even what the intended use is for them.

Microsoft has released a line of 802.11b hardware products. These silvery-gray devices look and act like everyone else’s 802.11b products. The only things that make these devices different are the following:

1) All MS 802.11b hardware defaults to 128WEP
The entire industry (that I know of) except Microsoft defaults their wireless products ‘no security’. Microsoft defaults their hardware to be somewhat secure with 128 bit encryption.

2) Setup and configuration disk

Once you get one client working on your wireless network, you can create a setup disk that can be taken to all your other computers. This setup disk contains SSID and WEP key info so that you do not have to type it into each computer. This makes it easy to set up friends computers when they come over with laptops!

Why?

The functionality behind Microsoft’s operating systems and software is becoming very dependent on the availability of a network – especially a wireless network. Microsoft would have a hard time recommending networking hardware from traditional networking companies because those companies are not pushing Microsoft products. With their own line of 802.11b products, Microsoft can say ‘Microsoft Products work best with Microsoft networking products’.

These notebook computers have a touch screen instead of a standard LCD screen. Special new hand writing recognition software now built into Windows XP does a fair job understand standard written text. New OS level tools are also available that create a note-taking experience similar to a pad of paper, but searchable. Other OS level tools allow you to scribble notes on top Microsoft office documents making it easy to suggest revisions or make border notes in documents.

Some Tablet PC’s look exactly like laptops but have screens that swivel and then close with the LCD on the outside. Other Tablet PC’s have completely broken away from the laptop mode forcing all data entry through the stylus (no keyboard)

Microsoft sees the tablet PC replacing traditional laptops. This is not too far fetched because in quantity, a touch screen would not be much more money than a normal lcd screen. Since Windows XP has all the drivers and hand writing technology built in, the only additional cost to manufacturers is the screen itself. As long as Microsoft continues to refine the handwriting recognition and integration into applications, this technology could dominate the laptop world. Why not…

(Microsoft Link)

This is one of the strangest concepts Microsoft has come up with, but is not without its uses. In essence, a Smart Display is a LCD monitor with an 802.11b adapter built in and a little computer. When attached to your main computer, it acts like a normal monitor. The difference is that you can DETACH the monitor from your computer and take it into other rooms. The LCD monitor then becomes a ‘window’ into your desktop computer complete with all the new Microsoft PEN technologies we talked about in the Tablet PC area.

The wireless display does not actually run any applications other than the same kind of remote control software already built into XP. You may know this as Remote Desktop Services (new terminology for Terminal Services). A Smart Display will NOT operate unless it can interact with another computer. A Smart Display is NOT a tablet pc since it does not actually run any applications. A Smart Display is a kind of THIN CLIENT for windows XP that can operate wirelessly.

Because of the single user XP licensing restrictions and application licensing restrictions, only a single smart display can be used on one computer. The technology could handle more, but it is a licensing issue.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/

Windows XP Media Center Edition is a version of XP that includes some special applications for managing media. It is not a subset of XP, it is Windows XP PLUS some additional software. Medial Center has two visual interfaces – the interface you are used to and also a ’10 foot experience’ that is easily read on a standard television. The ‘10ft experience’ is composed of easily navigatable icons and large text. XP Media Center Edition is not available for purchase, it only comes with special media center enabled PC’s from major vendors. These PC’s are meant to sit directly in your AV system.

Media Center Features

Digital Music Management:

Playback your digital music collection (MP3/etc), create playlists, etc. Includes ripping your music into the computer.

 

Digital Picture Management:

Manage your photo’s and create slideshows

PVR functionality:

Like a Tivo or Replay, pause live video or cruse the on-screen show guild and set shows to record. All the same PVR functionality that you are used to and the guide subscription is completely free forever. Unlike Microsoft’s UltimateTV, a Media Center PC can record only ONE channel at a time. You can however record one show, and playback a different pre-recorded show.

Hardware

A media center PC has all the same components as a standard PC but includes the following: IR Remote Control, IR Reciever (for the remote control), Video Capture and Video Output plus an IR-Blaster for controlling cable and satellite receivers/decoders.

Once I understood what each of these did, I also understood why I was confused about these products. I was wondering how the worked and interacted with each other. In short, they don’t! The Smart Display’s have nothing to do with Media Center and the Tablet PC’s have nothing to do with Smart Displays!

There would seem to be so much room for these devices to interact with each other but they don’t. Perhaps in verson 2.0.