Microsoft drops RT suffix on Surface and hides Desktop in Windows RT 8.1

Microsoft is rethinking its strategy around Windows RT It's already done away with RT on the Surface 2 and it looks like the company is ready to take the same measure with the previous version of the tablet. As of now for Redmond there are only Surface and Surface Pro, Surface RT was never there.

Although as of this very week we already have a second generation of its tablet among us, Microsoft has decided to erase from our memories any trace of the RT label on their computersFrom Redmond they have confirmed the movement carried out with the idea of ​​maintaining some consistency with the names of the new generation of Surface tablets.

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It&39;s not the only change. Along with dropping the RT suffix, Microsoft has also decided to remove the default desktop tile from Windows RT 8.1 New Windows RT PCs will arrive to the market without such a tile on the start screen, making access to the traditional desktop a little more difficult. The tile will continue to be available in the view of all applications, but we will be the ones who decide whether or not to pin it to our home screens."

Confusion on the one hand, clarity on the other

That Microsoft had to do something about Windows RT was obvious. That the change should start with marketing also seemed obvious. After all, Redmond never managed to explain the meaning and features of Windows 8 RT to users. But wiping the RT tag off the face of the earth doesn't seem like much of a helpIf anything it adds more confusion to the brand and further confuses consumers.

What does seem like a good idea, at least IMHO, is to banish the desktop from the start screen. After all, only applications ported by Microsoft, such as Office or classic Windows tools, and few others work on it. Hiding the old desktop from users by default is the best way to avoid their frustration when trying to work with their traditional programs on a system that doesn't allow it.

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The next step is to port all those essential programs to Modern UI at once, such as file explorer or Control Panel , finally making the existence of the desktop tile useless. As long as this does not happen, users will not stop seeing the traditional desktop in front of them and will not be able to finally accept that Windows RT is not exactly their Windows of a lifetime."

Via | The Verge | TechCrunch