????這一切都有賴于Windows 8的表現(xiàn)。盡管這個(gè)最新的操作系統(tǒng)預(yù)計(jì)要等到今年下半年才會(huì)問世，但迄今為止，前期測(cè)評(píng)都對(duì)它給予了肯定。Windows 8的界面設(shè)計(jì)大概是自Windows 95以來微軟核心操作系統(tǒng)的設(shè)計(jì)中最為野心勃勃的一款。據(jù)報(bào)道，它重啟所需的時(shí)間不足8秒，一個(gè)月才需重啟一次，而且采用了Metro用戶界面。

????Windows 8的未來如何，Metro的表現(xiàn)至關(guān)重要。該界面適宜于觸摸使用，專為運(yùn)行Windows Phone 7的智能手機(jī)、搭載ARM處理器的平板電腦、搭載英特爾芯片的PC機(jī)、以及Xbox 360等而設(shè)計(jì)。

????蘋果花了幾年的時(shí)間，才實(shí)現(xiàn)了iOS操作系統(tǒng)在iPhone、iPad、也許最終還包括Macbook Air等多種設(shè)備上的順暢運(yùn)行。然而微軟打算一步到位，讓W(xué)indows 8一經(jīng)推出就同時(shí)能在多種設(shè)備上流暢運(yùn)行。部分批評(píng)人士認(rèn)為這是不可實(shí)現(xiàn)的。而在其他一些人眼中，微軟正在竭盡全力朝著這個(gè)目標(biāo)努力。當(dāng)然，微軟此舉最終能否成功還要取決于細(xì)節(jié)。但如果微軟最終如愿以償，那它不僅將在PC機(jī)和筆記本電腦領(lǐng)域?qū)μO果構(gòu)成強(qiáng)勁挑戰(zhàn)，在平板電腦和手機(jī)市場(chǎng)也同樣如此。

????多年來，微軟在后PC世界里將一蹶不振的說法始終如一團(tuán)陰云籠罩在微軟的頭上。但現(xiàn)在看來，對(duì)微軟來說最糟的情形也不過是Windows不再是主流，轉(zhuǎn)而專注于服務(wù)器、商業(yè)軟件、以及Xbox等業(yè)務(wù)。

????實(shí)際上，多年來未曾出現(xiàn)過的風(fēng)光場(chǎng)面在微軟重現(xiàn)。除了其他業(yè)務(wù)線保持增長(zhǎng)之外，微軟憑借著Windows 8亦將在平板電腦、智能手機(jī)、以及PC機(jī)領(lǐng)域大顯身手。這足以幫助鮑爾默向呼吁他下臺(tái)的批評(píng)人士報(bào)一箭之仇。（有傳聞?wù)f，鮑爾默在今年晚些時(shí)候Windows 8正式推出之后可能就會(huì)宣布辭職。）無論成功與否，Windows 8都有可能是鮑爾默的絕唱。如果它成功了，鮑爾默的離去將是悲喜交加。因?yàn)閃indows 8很可能會(huì)證明，微軟在后PC世界的地位依然舉足輕重。

????譯者：大海

????That all depends on how well Windows 8 works. The operating software isn't expected to arrive until the second half of the year, but early reviews are positive. Windows 8 looks to be the most ambitious redesign of Microsoft's core operating software since Windows 95. It reportedly reboots in less than eight seconds, requires a restart only once a month and employs the Metro interface.

????Metro is key to Windows 8's future. It's a touch friendly interface designed to work on smartphones running Windows Phone 7, tablets powered by ARM processors, PCs using Intel chips and perhaps even the Xbox 360.

????It took Apple (AAPL) several years to make the iOS software work smoothly on multiple devices – iPhones, iPads and, perhaps in time, Macbook Airs. Microsoft is planning to accomplish this in one fell swoop. Some critics doubt this is possible. Others see Microsoft trying to make it work. It all comes down to the details, of course, but if it works, Microsoft is poised to become a viable competitor to Apple not just in PCs and laptops, but in tablets and phones as well.

????The notion that Microsoft would languish in a post-PC world has been a cloud that has hung over the company for years. But now, the worst-case-scenario for Microsoft is that Windows becomes irrelevant and the company focuses on other initiatives like servers, business software and the Xbox.

????For the first time in years, there is also a best-case scenario as well. Along with its other lines of business growing, Windows 8 will make Microsoft a strong player in tablets, smartphones and PCs. That would vindicate Ballmer against all the critics who called for him to resign. (There are rumors that Ballmer will do just that, after the release of Windows 8 later this year.) Success or disappointment, Windows 8 could be Ballmer's swan song. If it's a success, that could make for an bittersweet departure. Because Windows 8 may well be the technology that proves Microsoft can still be relevant.