Can Windows save the keyboardless MIDs and tablets

With all the impending MID/tablet (note the small letter ‘t’ here), I’m really wondering if Microsoft Windows can save the day.

The issue is simple: On these small devices where there often isn’t a keyboard, is the Windows experience going to be smooth enough to nourish the market along?

You really have to look no futher than Windows Mobile matched against the iPhone than to see what can go on here. In fact, Microsoft is still trying to get Windows Mobile 7 right. And it hasn’t succeeded yet. We’re waiting, but we’re not sure for how long.

Microsoft knows it’s behind the competition here, but I’m not sure if it has really learned it’s lesson. The lesson being that you can’t simply toss more stuff into an OS and call it good. The experience has to be great.

Yes, Windows 7 is much better than Vista–even if only primarily at the surface. But does a notebook experience need to be like a Tablet PC’s? Or a phone’s like a Tablet’s? Or a MID’s like a phone’s? Or any of these like Windows classic? Personally, I just don’t see it. Strapping stuff on top of Windows in Windows 7 isn’t the answer. It’s fine for getting Office to work nice with device features, but it’s not needed for most things. There are better more interesting and compelling approaches.

For instance, consider navigating using a MID/small tablet. Forget using a stylus. Your finger will do. You’ll need large targets, but not overly large. You’ll need quick response. You’ll need portability of data. You’ll need instant on. You’ll need lots of low cost apps–not just code in the cloud.

It’s interesting to me how Apple’s got this right so far with the iPhone and iPod Touch and Microsoft has somewhat figured it out though is struggling with the execution.

Will Microsoft “get it?” I’m guessing yes, though with each day, month, year, I’m a little less confident that it’s going to succeed. To me, Windows 7 hasn’t even hit the sweet spot. It’s maybe five years behind in features. It doesn’t solve the MID/tablet/Tablet PC challenges. Yes, it tries with its multi-touch, but sorry, the implementation is not where I wish it were. Can you imagine Windows 7 with its existing multi-touch on a MID? The experience would be overly marginal. That’s the issue here.

What’s not quite right about the Windows experience? In no specific order:

* Navigating is better in Windows 7, but is it really the best experience for a small screen? I don’t think so–even with touch.

* Internet Explorer has too much junk in it to make it easy to work with as a user and a developer.

* Too much of the “good stuff” (Instant Messenger, webcam support, etc) don’t even belong in Windows proper anymore. You have to download it via a painfully slow process that borders on the rude with its insistance to change search defaults and the like. And if that doesn’t get you, the embedded ads will.

* MIDs/tablets/Tablet PCs/notebooks/netbooks/etc shouldn’t all have the same priced applications. Prices should fascilitate use not discourage it. Shareware on PCs is good, but prices need to be scaled down.

* There’s more, but my memory is failing me…. 🙂

Now, none of this is saying that the iPhone/iPod Touch are perfect. They aren’t. But compared to Windows or Windows Mobile it’s easy to see who is ahead.