The lights are on
Valve's Gabe Newell has announced his displeasure with the upcoming Windows 8, because he believes it will lead to a more closed platform.
Speaking to Ed Fries at the Casual Connect conference in Seattle, Newell expressed his opinion when talking about having options when it comes to different platforms (including the company's expansion into Linux) and the openness of those platforms. Newell believes that Windows 8 in particular will make the PC more of a closed system. "I think that Windows 8 is kind of a catastrophe for everybody in the PC space," said Newell. "I think that we’re going to lose some of the top-tier PC [original equipment manufacturers]. They’ll exit the market. I think margins are going to be destroyed for a bunch of people."
Although Newell doesn't go into specifics of what he finds so offensive, Microsoft is putting more strict hardware requirements on machines that are licensed to run Windows 8, and the tablet version (Windows RT) exclusively runs software purchased through Microsoft's app store. These requirements could make it harder for companies like Dell who rely on lower-end hardware. Also, Newell's Steam store front will be locked out of Windows RT, similarly to how everything for Apple's iOS has to go through that company.
Windows 8 comes out on October 26.
For more of Newell's comments at the conference, head over to Venture Beat.
Email the author Matthew Kato, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.
it looks soo simple that theres going to be nothing customizable :( i like my vista.
I have Windows 8 and Steam, they work fine together, I don't see the problem...
I agree with Gabe. I am going to stick with Windows 7 for as long as I can.
This will be in the bargain bin next to unsold copies of Windows "ME" and Windows Vista if this is the case.
looks kinda dumb :P
I doubt I'll be experience Windows 8, considering I finally bought a new PC in November after having waited since 2005.
I'll just with windows 7 in the mean time
It seems Microsoft are trying to do what Apple did, but are failing badly at it.
Apple, most of their devices look the same and are simliar layouts. They make it work though because theres a few differences and all.
Microsoft have thought about doing this too making it simple. They haven't nailed it though. It just looks the same on xbox, phones and now their computers, and most likely Surface.
People go to Apple a lot because they look the same and feel the same but you can tell the difference and you dont get bored with it, but with Microsoft, it all just looks the same and you would probably get sick of the layout being on everything.