Keep the tablet OS off the desktop

Ten years ago Windows was so popular that Microsoft believed that if it could be ported to other devices then they would be equally successful too. They made a version for tablet computers and for mobile phones. Yes, tablets aren't a new phenomenon and ten years ago there were tablet PCs. Mind you, they weren't the thin and light devices we enjoy today and they were more like laptop computers with the screen folded flat on top. Their weight wasn't measured in grams, but in kilograms!

There was a version of Windows on hand-held organisers like the iPAQ and mobile phones too.

Windows is a great operating system on desktop computers when used with a mouse, but it doesn't work very on small screens with relatively large stubby fingers. Even if you use a stylus or pen as a pointing device, it is still unsuitable. The whole interface is simply wrong for a small screen.

It isn't surprising that tablets and hand-held devices failed to catch on all those years ago. Tablets sold particularly poorly and hardly anyone bought them. It wasn't until smartphones came along that operating systems were written specifically for small screens, hand-held devices and fat fingers. iOS, Android and other mobile operating systems work great on tablets and hand held devices. They are hugely popular these days with many millions being sold each year.

We previously had a problem of a popular desktop OS being put on a hand-held tablet and it didn't work. Now we have the reverse situation and because tablets are so successful it is assumed that we want tablet and smartphone operating systems everywhere, even on desktop computers.

Apple has incorporated iOS features into OS X Lion running on its Macs. Microsoft has put the Metro interface from its mobile phones in Windows 8, its next desktop operating system. Ubuntu has the Unity interface which is optimised for small screen devices and has tablet-like features too.

Desktop computers are not the same as tablets! Stop putting tablet features into the desktop! I rarely want to run full screen apps on a desktop computer with a large monitor where 22in screens and bigger are common. The iMac has a 27in screen, so why would you want to run a calendar, web browser or word processor full screen? The tablet way of displaying grids of icons for apps works well on small devices, but it's not half as useful desktop computer with  a big screen and a mouse. What's wrong with a menu?

Lion, Unity and Metro could irritate desktop computer users with their tablet-like features. Some people will simply turn them off. I ignore iOS-like features in OS X Lion on my Mac as much as I can and have disabled Unity in favour of the Gnome desktop in Ubuntu 11.04. It remains to be seen how easy it will be to switch to a standard desktop in Windows 8. At the moment you have to click through menus to get it, but it's still only a beta so it may change. Let's hope so.