Windows with less touch- what Surface cutbacks could mean for Windows

With Panos Panay, the former face of Surface, leaving Microsoft and the company cutting back on the division, many are speculating on the downfall of Surface. While I don’t believe Surface will leave the market in the very near future, its presence might be reduced significantly. Microsoft’s step back from Surface makes me question the future of Windows. Windows has been adapting to touch accessibility since 2012 because of the Surface family of devices but that mission may be soon retired. Will Windows still be shackled to touch-conscious design or free to have the interface for traditional laptop/desktop users?

Brief History of Surface and its Relationship with Windows

Microsoft’s first in-house computer, the Microsoft Surface, was released on October 26th, 2012, the same day as Windows 8 was released. Windows 8 was vastly different from its predecessors due to drastic UI changes that were implemented to cater to touch devices. The start menu resembled the interface of the Windows Phone which would be updated 3 days later on the 29th to the Windows Phone 8. Microsoft’s plan was to build an ecosystem similar to Apple’s as well as reimagine the PC space with innovative design. This plan mostly failed, in the beginning at least. Windows Phone was discontinued, Windows 8 was negatively received, and the first couple of Surface devices failed. However, Microsoft persisted, and the Surface line has grown in popularity over the years. They were seemingly confident enough in the product family to design Windows 11 with touch in mind. Until recently, it seemed as if Microsoft was still planning on creating an ecosystem designed around both touch and traditional inputs.

Presence of Touch Devices

Microsoft is not the only one releasing Windows touchscreen devices. Their plan of reinventing the laptop/tablet market worked to some degree. Touch screen devices' market presence is at an all-time high. So even if Microsoft decides to further reduce the Surface product family, users will still expect to have a pleasant experience on whatever Windows tablet they use. Cloud computing innovations could compound the adoption of tablet computers.

The Future of Windows

Perhaps tablets will get a specialized version of Windows with a tailored interface that won’t disturb laptop/desktop users. Maybe traditional devices will see a return of those sharp edges we lost after Windows 10. The start menu might even return to its correct default location in the bottom left corner. What I want most is a design that is made with the users' input in mind and doesn’t sacrifice its utility for other market segments.

Conclusions

It is doubtful that Microsoft will start designing Windows without touch in mind. With the growth in cloud computing, touch devices are only going to become more affordable. There may come a point where the ubiquity of both devices warrants two independent designs. As a Surface user, I hope to see Microsoft commit to the product lines they keep and stop with these half-hearted brand extensions they fail to support.