Ballmer: Windows 8 is a risky bet

We know Windows 8 is on its way, but details have been scarce on the ground to this point. However, Microsoft knows its next version of Windows is an important one for the company’s longterm future. In fact, it’s the “riskiest product bet” currently in production.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has been known to say some dumb things in his time. But rather than saying anything dumb on this occasion, he said something that has caused vexation and wild guesswork around the blogosphere. And it was only five words, and an additional, “Er.”

Speaking at the Gartner Symposium a few days ago, Ballmer was asked a series of questions that he was meant to answer quickly and directly. And he did so with aplomb. But his response to the question, “Riskiest bet. Other than cloud computing, what’s the riskiest product bet that you’re currently making?” raised a few eyebrows.

Ballmer replied, “Er, the next release of Windows.” Short, succinct, and filled with many possibilities.

It could be that Ballmer is simply referencing the fact that all Windows releases are risky, as they are the core product at the heart of Microsoft’s being. Vista didn’t work, Windows 7 has. Or it could be something much more than that.

Windows 8 is expected to be revolutionary rather than evolutionary. Vista was revolutionary, with key components of the operating system having been modified heavily from XP. Whereas Windows 7 really just righted all the wrongs inherent in Vista, as well as adding a few nice touches. Microsoft is going the Vista route with Windows 8; well, at least in one sense.

Or Ballmer could be inferring that Microsoft knows how key the launch of Windows 8 is going to be for the direction of the company. Tablet computers such as the iPad are expected to compete with or even overtake traditional laptops in the next decade, and as can be seen with the HP Slate, Windows 7 isn’t very tablet-friendly. Windows 8 needs to be if Microsoft is to stay in the game.

It’ll probably be another six months or so before we start hearing anything of note about Windows 8. In the meantime we’re left to speculate. And Steve Ballmer has managed to increase that speculation many times over with five simple words. He may not be to everyone’s tastes but he sure knows how to promote conversation.

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