Microsoft Takes The Wraps off "Threshold" Will Be Windows 10

[engine]

Not Windows 9, it'll be Windows 10!

While many of the features expected in the next major version of Microsoft's Windows client operating system have leaked over the past few months, the official name of that operating system had not.

But on September 30, during a preview event for that operating system, Microsoft officials took the wraps off the new name, which is Windows 10.Microsoft Takes The Wraps off "Threshold" Will Be Windows 10 [zdnet.com]

Microsoft is expected to release a preview test build of Windows 10 sometime in the next few days. The company is expected to finalize Windows 10 by the spring of 2015, according to sources.

[IanCP]

Damn!

Not Windows 9, it'll be Windows 10!

An ominous omen?

Every time Microsoft, going back to the old DOS 3 days and forward, have used an even numbered Operating System, it has turned out to be a dog.

I fondly remember many odd numbered versions.

[LifeinAsia]

If they really wanted to be progressive, they'd have it go up to 11 [en.wikipedia.org].

[blend27]

-- it'll be Windows 10!

if that is true, the "/ Microsoft Windows OS (XP/NT/Vista/Windows 7/8/9)" will have to renamed.

[IanCP]

The spin merchants have struck already:

How to Fix Microsoft 10 Problems

Don't Worry - I'm here to help you fix it!

Microsoft 10 Problems are caused by misconfigured system files.

So, from my experience, If you got Microsoft 10 Problems then there is a 96% chance that your computer has registry problems.

The Microsoft 10 Problems are easy to repair. By downloading and running the registry repair tool... Yadda, Yadda

[superclown2]

So where is the big benefit that will make us ditch Win7, which works beautifully, doesn't crash and we're all used to?

[engine]

The numeric numbering is not significant, imho.

I do hope that Microsoft drops all the differing versions. It's been a complete nightmare for those outside of the company to have to try and understand what version of the product does what, including the OS and software products. Unless you're actually involved in IT, it's very confusing.

I'm trying to get my head around all this.

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday unveiled its next Windows operating system, Windows 10, and gave a first look at an early technical preview for the PC available Oct. 1. The announcement highlighted advancements designed for business, including an updated user experience and enhanced security and management capabilities. The company also introduced the Windows Insider Program, kicking off its largest-ever open collaborative development effort to change the way Windows is built and delivered to best meet the needs of customers. Program participants will receive the technical preview of Windows 10 and a steady stream of builds through the development cycle to use and give feedback on.

“Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows, unlocking new experiences to give customers new ways to work, play and connect,” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft. “This will be our most comprehensive operating system and the best release Microsoft has ever done for our business customers, and we look forward to working together with our broader Windows community to bring Windows 10 to life in the months ahead.” Microsoft unveils a first look at Windows 10, highlighting enterprise advancements and open collaboration. [microsoft.com]

[IanKelley]

I fondly remember many odd numbered versions.

they'd have it go up to 11

If only they'd stopped at 3.11!

[lgn1]

I like the idea of Windows 11 "AKA Windows Spinal Tap"

[LifeinAsia]

It's been a complete nightmare for those outside of the company to have to try and understand what version of the product does what, including the OS and software products.

Don't forget the licensing aspects.

How to Fix Microsoft 10 Problems

Stick with Windows 7?

[JAB Creations]

I'm calling Windows 9 Windows 9 and will give looks of death to anyone who calls it Windows 10. I'm a PC gamer and don't do console (I don't need fifty boxes laying around generating heat, one is good enough thanks!) so when Xbox 3 came out and they called it "Xbox One" I scoffed. Apparently Microsoft ditched trying to come off as being cool and their new corporate slogan is: "We're so cool we're too retarded to do basic math." I promise that one day no one will have to deal with any of this nonsense ever again.

- John

[EditorialGuy]

So where is the big benefit that will make us ditch Win7, which works beautifully, doesn't crash and we're all used to?

Availability, maybe? Microsoft won't support (or sell) Windows 7 forever, and we can only hope that Windows 10 will be the new Windows 7.

[incrediBILL]

It sounds like they've finally fully integrating apps into Windows Desktop properly, what Win 8 should've done in the first place.

While Win 8 had it's issues, the more I use it the more I like it. The side bar for a unified place for search, printing, network, settings, etc. is nice instead of popups or control panels, etc.

I really like where they were heading with that and I'm sure Win 10 will finish where they left off.

Plus it's all touch, which is really nice.

.. and one size fits all, unlike Apple, so the same software works on all devices.

What you need to do is read the one big word they mention which tells you where they're focusing: BUSINESS

I think they've given up on the consumer market as Apple and Google Android seem to have a lock on that market so they're playing to their strengths and trying to get the business market to update this time.

The only way the business market is upgrading to Win 8 is when they buy a new PC, like I did, but now that I have it I'm glad I do as while I love my Win 7, everything I loved about it is still there and a whole lot more.

For those still whining about the start button, big whoop, you can download one or wait for Win 10.

I find the new search sidebar easier than weeding through the damn start menu, a couple of key clicks and I've found what I want. Plus, if you don't want to search, you can scroll across the main window and it'll be in one of those boxes somewhere, which can easily be arranged for maximum ease of use.

I just pinned my top 10 programs to the status bar and everything is wonderful. That's what I did in Win 7 too, rarely used Start, highly overrated.

I've owned and programmed almost every version of Windows ever made EXCEPT Win 1.x as it was never released. I had Win 2.x, Win 386, Win 3.x, so on and so forth.

I, for one, can hardly wait :)

[IanCP]

For those still whining about the start button, big whoop, you can download one or wait for Win 10.

With Win 8, it took me about 24 hours to fix that up including having shut down and restart buttons on the task bar.

With the Win 8.1, I've got the XP Classic look and feel [almost].

[incrediBILL]

I've got the XP Classic look and feel

My sympathies.

I recently visited a site that has a list of all the Windows desktops and my fond recollection of XP was wrong, it looked really dated.

<rant>

For the record, I really don't miss the start button on the desktop with all the other options but I'd reserve judgement until I tried it on a tablet or phone.

Even Android has the apps button which is basically a start button and then there's the settings menu which covers everything else. Simple and clean and the two topics aren't all mixed up in one menu which is what I disliked about the original Start, it was mixing apples and oranges which led to some of my family that we supply tech support to, Mom and the inlaws, accidentally running things they shouldn't and calling in a panic wanting to know WTH was on their screen.

First time someone that's never seen the task manager or control panel has it pop up by accident, as older blinder shakier hands often miss the click target, it can be a real interesting phone call.

Of source they'd never remember all these special keys you have to press on Win 8 so it wouldn't be an issue whatsoever.

Idiot proofed by overly complex design.

The beauty of the original Win 3.x desktop was I set my 6 year old down at the computer, who obviously didn't know squat about it, and taught her how to use it in minutes. She could locate what few games there were and play them without instructions on how to run them, the point and click was intuitive, and using paint, notepad, etc. was also very straightforward even for a beginner, someone just learning to read.

That's the real problem with Win 8, and even Win 7 to some degree, as well as their competitors as even I had to RTFM to find some of the stuff because of the complexity of the UI design such as dragging from the corners to enable certain things isn't intuitive whatsoever. There's no UI to direct you those features, it's a lack of UI you might stumble upon. What's needed is a learning mode so when you first install it there would be periodically highlighting of those corners with a triangle icon and tool tips explaining what they do and how to access them from the keyboard, etc. That should be the case for most of the hidden non-intuitive stuff until you learn it and turn off the learning mode.

Don't get me wrong, it's not just Windows 8 as I find iOS and Android lacking in some areas as well but Android was the closest for me to being touch intuitive without needing to RTFM, I had to get assistance for iOS.

One of my fortes in my past was doing usability stuff and my software was always very usable and I'd often fight with other engineers to stop them from making it too much RTFM as they would often try to make the users suffer a learning curve instead of making those clean designs 'dirty'.

Hell, if you can't use it, I don't have how clean it is. I'd prefer a filthy 'dirty' design that's so simply a 6 year old could use it over something that even baffled a 30+ year computer vet with 20+ years in graphical UIs.

</rant>

But that's just me, YMMV.

[hamlet]

Let's see what MS OS 10 looks like. MS 8.1 is a dud.

[IanCP]

MS 8.1 is a dud.

Works just "Fine and Dandy" for me. Bearing in mind my comments relate to Desk Top. Actually I don't know what the fuss is all about.

My only real criticism of 8/8.1 relates to the archaic file copy/transfer which for inexplicable reasons will often start out at 11 Mb/s from a Network with say 25 Gb of files, then eventually slowly dribble down to as low as 760 Kb/s.

If you cancel it in frustration, it doesn't really cancel. Start the whole enterprise all over again and it just "resumes". To start over, you have to actually re-start the PC. With massive file transfers, it's best to do it a few files at a time, say 20 - 30 mins worth.

Unfortunately, good utilities like Fast Copy don't even recognise my network. FC is excellent on Drive to Drive transfers.

As for the topic Windows 10?

I find it hard to imagine what they can possibly now offer the Desk Top user to get all excited about. No, I don't "Do Apps", and I don't swipe screens.

[tangor]

It all comes down to device these days. It also has to do with code bloat. An attempt was made to make the OS a tad more responseive to device which broke everything. Sigh. Then again, that experiment revealed even more flaws in that concept... so hopefully the code will be leaner and all0inclusive of device... though I can see that some handhelds don't need all the bells and whistles... and that should be part of the general install, device compliant, yet fully realized, thus ALL CONNECTED. That's what the last version of Windows UNDID. Time will tell of the next ver will restore that interoperability.

I don't mind them skipping a number. With all the tech companies coming up with new-fangled ver nbrs these daze (sic) it is perfectly understandable.

Just wondering which tech co will get to ver 100 first... :)

[graeme_p]

@Ian you use a third part utility to copy files locally!?

[IanCP]

@Ian you use a third part utility to copy files locally!?

Yes, a lot faster, and more consistent than Win 8.1 - I think I mentioned the name above. It's free and no frills.

I just wish it could also detect my networked PVR though.

[ADDED] Small files, I use Win 8.1 Copy/Paste/Move whatever.

For things over many, many Gb's I use Fast Copy. No connection with them, just satisfied.

[bill]

The rumor on reddit, supposedly from a Microsoft developer, is that testing revealed many third-party apps broke from code that looked like this:

if(version.StartsWith("Windows 9"))
{ /* 95 and 98 */
} else {

It was thus simpler to just go with Windows 10

[rockymax945]

I think this may get best reputation on Market. Windows 8 and 8.1 unable to do this. May be Windows 10 do that.

[System]

The following message was cut out to new thread by bill. New thread at: microsoft_windows_os/4707799.htm [webmasterworld.com]
10:15 am on Oct 11, 2014 (jst +9)