Either that or desperation.

http://www.withinwindows.com/2012/05/24/no-cost-desktop-software-development-is-not-really-dead-on-windows-8/

You guys do know the only desktop apps it doesn't allow (by default) are for xp and earlier right? There's still a C++ tool-chain there it's just not the default set any more. Tbh I don't give a damn if it has it as default or not it's not like it's hard to add C++ via the SDK OR 2010 if you really want to go that way.

Desktop freedom is not dead and forcing new programmers to use a more protected environment doesn't even strike me as a bad idea, sure it means us old timers will have to add an SDK so we can create our fork bunnies but it means learners can't create them by accident.

The point was that Flash is an antiquated, inefficient and proprietary technology that's way past it's prime. It's not just insecure - it's slow and hogs system resources. It needs to die. Microsoft took a step in the right direction when they announced that the browser in Metro wouldn't support plugins, but then took two steps back by announcing that Flash would be built right into the system.

I wonder if I could play games like Fallout 1 on Windows 8 if GOG will update their games to make them work on Windows 8

The only game I had problems with so far was Diablo 2. It was giving me black screen, but don't know whether the OS was to blame or the GPU drivers.

Why would they need to "make them work" win 8 isn't THAT big a change sure it's added metro but under that you still have a normal windows kernel

Well it's no longer proprietary since quite some time, at least it's not anymore proprietary than PDF.

I am no fan of Flash but when it comes to antiquated, inefficient and system hog technology, I would prefer if they got rid of HTML 5 and Javascript first, and start thinking about a real, efficient and open standard technology for the web.

first they need to dump http://, www, IPv4 and the idiotic DNS system...

Well it will probably just means that, like before the express versions, amateur developers will simply use pirated versions of the Pro or ultimate edition (or use their job's MSDN version if they are professional developers).

But still it's a pretty lame decision.

Desktop linux is currently too fragmented to be a real end-all replacement for Windows, and Windows 7 will not be around forever.

I'm not surprised if MS is slowly trying to push Windows developers to make Metro apps and games, instead of old style "desktop apps". After all, MS controls the delivery of Metro apps alone.

I moved my folks onto linux mint and they don't have any complaints.

Just as long as they can check their mail and surf the web relatively easy they don't care about the OS. Sadly, most people are like this (understandably), but Microsoft really shouldn't be pissing off their more technical users too much. My family tends to listen to my recommendatons when it comes to technology.

But what if they e.g. wanted to buy commercial games for their Linux system? Do you see commercial Linux gaming viable in where Ubuntu, Mint, SUSE, Red Hat and Slackware users can easily buy and install commercial games for their Linux system, like they can in Windows?

It'll be interesting to see how all this turns out, and what are Microsoft's true long-term intentions.

To unify all devices, running the same interface (or a very similar one) on top of the same base kernel.

Already underway with Windows 8, Windows Phone 8. Next probably is the Microsoft Surface, I don't doubt that it will run Windows 8 in future revisions instead of a very modified Windows 7.