Okay, I know the headline is a bold statement. Windows 8 was one of the most maligned iterations of Microsoft’s flagship, released at a time when everyone was still longing for the functional simplicity of Windows XP, and had a strange, tile-based user interface designed to serve the Surface tablet line , a product series that Microsoft never seemed to be able to fully commit to.
I won’t lie, I was on the Windows 8 hate train at the time; damn, I was the goddamn conductor, and I owner of a Surface. The operating system’s biggest shortcoming, in my opinion, was that it also included the option to switch to a conventional (and honestly, better) Windows desktop interface, but not by default – adding an annoying extra step to get to my desktop I started up my device.
To make matters worse, the Surface didn’t need a tablet-style user interface. Part of the appeal was that it was a tablet with the functionality of the best Windows laptops, so I just didn’t want a different user interface: I wanted a laptop. But what if that tiled screen was really good, just ahead of its time?
Surface tablets are still a weak competitor to the Apple iPad, if market share is anything to go by, but there’s a new breed of Windows device in town: gaming handhelds. After the success of Valve’s Steam Deck, we’ve seen a handful of Windows-powered imitators: the Asus ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go, and the upcoming MSI Claw, to name a few.
I have a ROG Ally and really love it – the freedom to play my favorite PC games on the go (or in bed) is just amazing. Lately I’ve been enjoying a rather excellent 2017 Prey reboot, which works shockingly well on Asus’ handheld.
The hardware is impressive: the Ally is a solidly designed device from Asus, and the AMD Z1 Extreme chip that powers it is nothing short of incredible. However, the Ally’s main problem – like other PC gaming handhelds – is that it runs Windows 11.
The weakness of Windows
Ultimately, Windows 11 is designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard. That’s not really a failure on Microsoft’s part; After all, it is an operating system mainly used on laptops on desktop PCs. But it’s poorly suited for use on a device with a small screen and not even a touchpad for mouse control.
Windows 8, on the other hand, was built with touch controls in mind, which was a bit redundant when I could (and did) simply connect a wireless mouse to my Surface when using it in laptop mode. Definitely me could be connect a mouse to my Ally, but that would defeat the purpose of using it instead of making my life easier.
Windows 8’s tile layout was synonymous with Windows Phone OS, which I still maintain was a well-designed mobile UI that only failed due to the weakness of the Microsoft Store compared to competing offerings from Apple and Google. It was highly customizable, easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing. I imagine how fantastic a similar UI could be on the ROG Ally, and I cry for Asus and AMD – all their hard work is partially undone by Microsoft’s refusal to offer a true ‘handheld mode’ for Windows to make.
Square solutions
As more similar devices hit the market (I’m on the train, on my way to demoing MSI’s new Claw handheld as I write this article), Microsoft has the perfect opportunity to capitalize on this trend.
Part of the Steam Deck’s appeal is its simple yet effective SteamOS interface; the ROG Ally has pre-installed Asus Armory Crate software that acts as a nice, easy-to-use base from which to browse and launch your games, but you still have to navigate Windows 11 to get there. It’s an annoying obstacle that – ironically – reflects my frustrations with using Windows 8 at the time. So I politely ask Microsoft: provide a better version of your operating system for these handhelds.
The best part? You hardly need to do any new design work, guys! Windows 8’s tile layout watched fine, and I’d love to see a similar desktop UI implemented for future gaming handhelds. It could also instantly eliminate the need for clunky third-party software, securing your operating system dominance in the handheld market. With Windows 12 on the horizon, now is the time to strike. Please, Microsoft?