Some believe that the era of the personal computers and Windows is over. Microsoft strongly disagrees and claims that the PC and Windows are changing and we are still in the Windows era. The world’s most popular operating system not only continues to power over 90% of all computers worldwide, but with Windows 8 and Windows Phone the operating system will span across never-before-seen types of devices, from smartphones to wall-sized PCs.

“We are in the Windows era. We were, we are, and we always will be. That's kind of what we get paid to do. We've got broad Windows initiatives driving Windows down to the phone. With Windows 8, you'll see incredible new form factors powered by Windows from tablets, small, large, pens, smaller, bigger, room-sized displays. We are in an era in which the range of smart devices is continuing to expand. That's a fantastic thing for Microsoft. That is a real opportunity. That is an opportunity that we will pursue by leveraging and sharing and driving Windows in new ways,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft, at the annual meeting with shareholders.

With the popularization of various ultra-portable gadgets powered by Apple iOS and Google Android operating system that are much more consumer friendly than typical Microsoft Windows PCs, many started to claims that the era of the personal computer is over and the post-PC era is here. The PC is still here, but the computers are now much smaller, come in different form-factors and are always connected to the web. Microsoft understands the situation and is trying to take advantage of the situation by introducing new versions of Windows for various form-factors.

“The PC was a programming machine, and then it became a spreadsheet machine, and a word processing machine and an e-mail machine and a music machine and an Internet machine, and, through the power of Windows, it will be a tablet machine and a reading machine and a note-taking machine,” said Mr. Ballmer.

There are loads of opportunities for Windows not only now, but throughout the next decade, according to the Microsoft executive.

“We very much continue to be in a Windows era, and we have to push with great innovation and with great agility, we are going to have to push Windows into more and more form factors, and we've got a lot of great competition who will push other solutions. But at the end of the day, we see great opportunity for the next decade to be a decade of great growth and a continuation of the Windows era,” stated Steve Ballmer.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Windows 8, Windows Phone, iOS, Android, Google, Apple