Why Windows 8?

Users have broad access to consumer devices (e.g., laptop PCs, tablet PCs, and mobile
phones using modern technology) at home, and this device proliferation leads to higher
user expectations of technology at work. You don’t need an analyst to tell you that users
have more personal computing devices and that those devices are often compelling.

The digital generation entering the work place raises these expectations to a whole new
level. This is a generation that has grown up completely fluent with digital technology 
(e.g., texting, instant messaging, and social media). They are digital natives and have
 significantly different beliefs about the tools they should be able to use at work.
Digital natives are also increasingly mobile and operate at a very fast pace. Their quick
pace, combined with ubiquitous connectivity, blurs the lines between people’s work and
personal lives. As those lines blur, their personalities and individual work styles impact how
they get their work done and what technology they prefer to use. As a result, they want a say
in the technologies they use to get their jobs done.
This trend is aptly called the “consumerization of IT.” An example of consumerization is a
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program, where users can bring their own laptop PC, tablet
PC, or smartphone to work and use them to access a work desktop hosted in the datacenter.
Another example is the use of social networking at work—for work.
It’s certainly not a secret that people buy their own smartphones for work, use unapproved
websites, or download unapproved applications on a work PC. They do so because the
 technology that they use at home is often better than the technology available on the job.
Consumerization of IT is great, as it unleashes people’s productivity and passion,
 innovation, and competitive advantage. We believe in the power of saying “Yes” to users and
their technology requests in a responsible way. Our goal at Microsoft is to partner with IT to
enable you to embrace these trends but also ensure the environment remains secure and well
managed.
While Microsoft knows that embracing the consumerization of IT can be challenging, the
company’s strategy can help overcome those challenges. That strategy is to:

•   Provide the experiences and devices that users love and expect.
•   Deliver enterprise-grade solutions that you can use to manage and secure them.

The following sections describe how Windows 8 is a key part of this strategy.

Experiences and devices

Microsoft knows that business users often have to choose between convenience and
 productivity. Windows 8 tablets (i.e., x86 tablets) offer users a no-compromise tablet
 experience. Windows 8 delivers a touch-first experience along with full support for mouse
and keyboard. It’s a no-compromise experience that gives users the convenience and   mobility
of a tablet combined with the power and familiarity of a full PC. Users can move  effortlessly
between work and personal activities. Not only that, but users can have a connected
 experience with apps from the Windows Store while continuing to use the same desktop
LOB and productivity apps they currently use on Windows 7. Finally, Windows 8 offers new
 possibilities for mobile productivity

Enterprise-grade solutions
Windows 8 also offers enterprise-grade solutions:

•  Enhanced end-to-end security  From the client device to back-end infrastructure,

Windows 8 offers features that improve the security and reliability of the systems in
your company. From power-on to power-off, Windows 8 can provide a more secure
foundation to help keep businesses running and users productive.

• Management and virtualization advancements  Windows 8 includes

 enhancements to manageability and virtualization features that help you manage
 client PCs. For example, Windows To Go provides new ways to give users a super
 mobile desktop experience on almost any PC.