With the more transparent beta testing process Microsoft has been pursuing with its much-vaunted Windows 8 operating system, more users than ever are getting their hands on the pre-release version of what the Redmond software company is touting as the next big revolution in computing.
And even though it does represent quite a significant step forward, it's not for the reason that many think.
“It's true, Windows 8's Metro interface is quite a departure from what came before it, presenting applications and the information housed within them in a new and interesting way,” says Traci Maynard, general manager of the software division at Tarsus Technologies.
“For me, however, the most exciting part of the Windows 8 value proposition is not its new look and feel, but rather its ability to act as a massive leveller between the developed and developing world,” she says.
More specifically, Maynard is making reference to the presence of the Windows 8 marketplace, which allows developers from all over the world to build applications for the new operating system and market them to users across the globe.
“That swings both ways, however,” she continues.
“Not only does it allow Windows 8 to act as a springboard for developers in the third world to put their ideas into action and expose them to a sound commercial marketplace, it also allows users the world over to discover applications at the exact time they are released,” she says.
With specific relevance to this last point, Maynard says a problem the developing world has faced in a big way over the past decade has been delayed availability to technology, regardless of whether it resides in the hardware or software realm.
“Windows 8 is therefore a massive leveller,” she says, “and places the developing world on the same playing field as the developed world, which can only be a good thing.
“It's a great place to be, both for the community and for Microsoft,” she adds.
“After all, the developing world is one of the most vibrant and encouraging market spaces to be involved in right now,” she concludes.
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Tarsus Technologies
With more than twenty-seven years of experience in the ICT industry, Tarsus is the leading value-added distributor in South Africa, specialising in the supply of the world's foremost PC and peripheral hardware brands to the local reseller channel.
Tarsus strives to meet the channel's needs for credit funding, stock availability and efficient logistics, ensuring that resellers are able to deliver the highest quality service to their customers, focus on support and compiling the best overall solutions for their end-user customer base at the lowest possible cost.
The company prides itself on its flexibility, adaptability, knowledge, skills and successful track record combined with an industry-leading ability to manage large roll-outs. These are the reasons Tarsus has consistently been rated as the top distributor in the country by international vendors, resellers and the IT media alike.
With its strong commitment to the South African channel, Tarsus is able to not only make the reseller channel more efficient, but more importantly, it plays a vital role in dramatically reducing the costs of doing business in the local ICT market.
Tarsus distributes a range of products from the world's leading manufacturers, including Acer, APC, Cisco, Dell, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Meissner, Microsoft, OKI Printing Solutions and Samsung.
Tarsus' head office is situated in Johannesburg with branches in Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Nelspruit. Tarsus has also extended its footprint into Africa with branches in Namibia, Botswana and Mauritius.
More information about Tarsus is available at: http://www.tarsus.co.za.
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