'Office 15' Interface Story Still Unclear
Microsoft created a lot of uncertainty when it began showing Windows 8's distinctly different interfaces -- the older "desktop" style and the new touch-based Metro interface.
If that isn't confusing enough, we now have "Office 15" on the way. The big unknown is how Office 15 will work on ARM machines, which requires Intel-based code to be rewritten.
The latest stance is that Office will run in the desktop mode. The company has yet to commit to a Metro port on ARM chips.
To keep touch fans satisfied, Microsoft is now talking about adding some touch tweaks including a special touch mode. Right now that mode doesn't appear to be operational on current Office 15 test versions.
My view is Microsoft should come as clean as it possibly can on these issues. If you're like Apple and you don't talk about anything 'til it ships, that's fine. But if you are like Microsoft and have already been spilling the beans, you might as well pour out the whole jar.
How do you feel about how Microsoft discloses upcoming products? Sound advice always welcome at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/27/2012 at 1:19 PM