to be fair to windows 8, the metro part is just an option for tablet/ touchscreen users. MS objective is to build hybrids. Apple does not believe in that.
The metro part need not be used at all if one just wants to use in classic mode. I've a win8 desktop at home and barely use the metro part. but i guess a tablet user would want to use both at times.
Still, we can't say for sure where trends are going. A simple example would be phone screen sizes. Apple is late in the market for that. But better late than never.
so who knows? if windows hybrid sales do eventually outsell Macs, Apple may change their approach.
speaking from a purely consumer pov
Just my opinion, I seriously wouldn't call Metro part as optional in Windows 8. There are a few cases when configuring the system, it just jump into Metro. Just as setting up your bluetooth device.
I think Microsoft will probably does the whole thing better if they just keep the tablet and mobile OS different from the desktop/laptop version and works out proper integration like Apple did.
Up to this point, I don't see how my daily usage pattern changed in the laptop. I still very much love the extensive access I have especially to my console on my laptop.
When come to mobile usage, since it is largely a smaller touch screen, the usage pattern changed dramatically.
I have never thought Apple was late in the game. It came exactly at the right time. iPhone introduction basically lead the market. On the other hand, the need for larger and larger screen totally disgusted me.
I'm a guy with large hands whom can easily grip the basketball with one. Still I can't handle the screen size of a Samsung S3/4/5 or Note with just one hand. The need for me to do so is so compelling in my daily usage. When I'm on the transport, one hand holding on to any grips, the other fully operating the phone. Even on the bed or sitting down, again, one hand fully functional. With the other larger counterparts, just to traverse around requires 2 hands. Just my take, even the need for 3 physical buttons just to navigate around a fully touch screen system makes me wonder why ? Really ? With a graphical touch screen, you actually need more than 1 physical button ? Where is the design philosophy ? With a graphical touch screen, your system can have countless buttons specially design for an app, why do you need to enforce 3 physical ? Home, Back, Menu ?
As for Windows 8 inclination for touch even on the laptop is duh... On the desktop, those All-in-One iMac like setup, I find touch screen exactly good when you are standing. When you incline the screen 45 degrees, it gives you that minority report navigation feeling. Otherwise, when you are pressing against the screen, the whole screen shake, especially on the fragile laptop screen. Annoying in my perspective. For kiosk mode, the touch screen is very very attractive, if not, when you are sitting down with the screen almost 90 deg to the table, it doesn't make sense to even move your hands away from the locality of the keyboard and mouse.
Microsoft Windows have been in the PC market for a very long time and have entrench into the Enterprise market even longer. Apple made it come back when Steve come back to Apple after being oust by Sculley. He brought back NeXT unix core that made Mac OS X possible today. That is where Apple finally have a face lift from the past. Since then, Apple has been extremely aggressive in the market and doing a catch up in market shares.
If you ask me, people got bored of Microsoft Windows, if not, why would Apple have made such a great impact in the market ? People ave been longing for powerful and graceful in combination and exactly Apple offers such integration.
Apple has been very faithful in it's belief and while I don't fully agree with everything the company decides, largely it is doing the customer a favour. Microsoft Windows on the other hand is trying hard to get a good market share in the tablet sector, but clearly, is in a mess. It's neither here nor there. Moreover the market has greatly move from laptop/desktop machines to tablet and phones ever since the boom of mobility.
Steve Jobs going is surely an impact to both Apple and the IT industry, I was hoping he could continue to innovate and reign for at least another decade or 2, but well, the best often die young. We just have to make do with what's left of Apple and hopefully Tim Cooks will not turn Apple into something else. After all, design works are still in the reign of Jonathan Ive.
So far the progression of iOS 8 and Yosemite excites me a lot. Ever both the departments come under Craig Federighi control, I see the decision is right. He makes a lot of good integration between the 2 operating systems and the company recognise the need to continue put these 2 OS separate put me at ease.
I may have good faith in Apple, but that doesn't makes me a fan. The whole reason I bought into Apple is not because of the looks and feel only. If it makes my life sucks, I don't care if it is gold plated. The fact is it really makes me a lot more productive than I can achieve in Windows platform.
and no longer tied to Apple hardware. Had enough of Apple's "I know what's best for you" crap. On the mobile front, however, one can't DIY and looking from a pure hardware perspective, Apple's laptop has little competitions: retina screen, best trackpad, great battery life and all in a very attractive package - makes it ideal to run any OSes.
