Posted by Phil Moore on Aug 18, 2013 in News, Tech |
Microsoft is ready to make moves to turn its 2013 around, after having spent the first part of the year floundering as consumers rebelled against Windows 8 while ignoring the Surface Pro. But Windows 8.1 and a Surface revamp are coming this summer among other moves Microsoft will or should make in the name of salvaging this year in its second half and turning around its fortunes before it strays too far from the path. Here are eight ways Microsoft can turn things around in 2013.
Start me up: restore the Start button in Windows 8.1, or at least add it to the Windows start screen.
Apologize: make clear to forlorn Windows users that their message is heard, their pain is felt, and their continued patronage would be appreciated. That alone can go a long way toward getting them to stick around.
Promote: give away Windows 8.1 update DVDs at electronics stores or even mail them to customers. Sure, discs are outdated. But they’re still a good way of bringing attention to the launch, which in turn may motivate some consumers to finally buy Windows 8.
Normalize: Part of the reason Surface is getting no love is because Surface Pro has come off as some kind of mutant monster. The marketing message has to be rethought completely.
Think small: Apple and Android have both done well with smaller seven to eight inch tablets. There’s no reason why Microsoft shouldn’t offer a smaller Surface tablet accordingly.
Partner: Nokia alone hasn’t been able to carry the Windows Phone 8 flag. Add more phone hardware partners.
Rename: no one knows what a “Surface Pro” is, or cares. Rename it simply to Surface, and it has a chance if the RT sidekick is killed off.
Bring back Bill Gates: Steve Ballmer has spent more than a decade showing a lack of vision. At least Gates had the gumption to find a way to get products into the hands of consumers, even when the products weren’t very good, even when consumers weren’t excited about them. Bring back Gates for some Windows 8 strategizing.
Phil covers tech for Stabley Times.
Microsoft is ready to make moves to turn its 2013 around, after having spent the first part of the year floundering as consumers rebelled against Windows 8 while ignoring the Surface Pro. But Windows 8.1 and a Surface revamp are coming this summer among other moves Microsoft will or should make in the name of salvaging this year in its second half and turning around its fortunes before it strays too far from the path. Here are eight ways Microsoft can turn things around in 2013.
Start me up: restore the Start button in Windows 8.1, or at least add it to the Windows start screen.
Apologize: make clear to forlorn Windows users that their message is heard, their pain is felt, and their continued patronage would be appreciated. That alone can go a long way toward getting them to stick around.
Promote: give away Windows 8.1 update DVDs at electronics stores or even mail them to customers. Sure, discs are outdated. But they’re still a good way of bringing attention to the launch, which in turn may motivate some consumers to finally buy Windows 8.
Normalize: Part of the reason Surface is getting no love is because Surface Pro has come off as some kind of mutant monster. The marketing message has to be rethought completely.
Think small: Apple and Android have both done well with smaller seven to eight inch tablets. There’s no reason why Microsoft shouldn’t offer a smaller Surface tablet accordingly.
Partner: Nokia alone hasn’t been able to carry the Windows Phone 8 flag. Add more phone hardware partners.
Rename: no one knows what a “Surface Pro” is, or cares. Rename it simply to Surface, and it has a chance if the RT sidekick is killed off.
Bring back Bill Gates: Steve Ballmer has spent more than a decade showing a lack of vision. At least Gates had the gumption to find a way to get products into the hands of consumers, even when the products weren’t very good, even when consumers weren’t excited about them. Bring back Gates for some Windows 8 strategizing.
Phil covers tech for Stabley Times.