I don't think there will be another Windows. This is it. Like somebody posted, they think of Windows as a service now. They will add new features when they are ready, not on a new Windows version.
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Microsoft Demos Free Windows 10 Update, Debuts New 'Project Spartan' Web Browser
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I don't think there will be another Windows. This is it. Like somebody posted, they think of Windows as a service now. They will add new features when they are ready, not on a new Windows version.
Updates invariably break application functionality. Especially in a market as large as Windows software.
And I, for one, am not looking forward to being unable to roll back to the version that worked. Frankly, it sucks with iOS versions and it'll suck for Windows.
What this also means is that Microsoft will basically never be able to make wholesale architectural changes to Windows. Incremental changes to GUIs and APIs, sure, but the core product will have to maintain backward compatibility to the cruft of previous versions in perpetuity. Drive letters, for example, limit storage to 26 volumes, some of which are reserved. Why? Because it was decreed that way in CP/M in the mid-60s and DOS inherited that legacy and then 16/32/64-bit Windows brought the old paradigm forward. SMH
The Continuum functionality of Windows 10 may be the thing that convinces me to get a Surface Pro. But first I'll need to wait to see:
- Hands-on reviews of Continuum in Win 10 after it has been released
- Surface Pro still being produced
- Apple doesn't offer something comparable
The second point isn't too much of a concern. The SP3 has proven itself a success, and now MS has now committed itself fully to the line. Win10 all but proves that, since it's practically built from the ground up to both take advantage of, and build upon its best features.
And that last point? I'm about in the same boat. I'm leaning heavily towards the inevitable SP4, but I want to see what Apple has in store with the iPad Pro before I make a commitment.
Knowing Microsoft the way that I do, that second point is a concern of mine. They still have a culture of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing.
Added to that, the momentum of product development and contractual obligations has resulted at times in them releasing a new gen of a consumer device at the same time they've decided they're going to sunset it. (Zune HD comes painfully to mind
)An SP4 combined with Win10 (w/Continuum) on paper sounds like a killer combination.
But if Apple were to produce a similar device that switches between operating in iOS and OSX modes (based on the attachment of a keyboard/trackpad) I'd be all over that.
I don't think we'll be seeing any sort of device from apple. If anything we'll see more iOS functionality (and restrictions) in OSX. I dual boot type of system will never come to apple in terms of iOS/OS X
I wasn't referring to a dual boot configuration (at least in the classic sense of dual boot) but continuity/handoff within the same device. In either case, I agree that it won't happen anytime soon, if at all. But I'm an eternal optimist.
Ok, Mike. It's Win 7 Pro 64 Bit with New Paint and an Upgraded Subframe for enhanced Crash Protection.
Windows is Windows.
"With Windows 10, Microsoft is hoping to cut down on operating system fragmentation with one unified platform thats designed to run on PCs, tablets, phones, and more."
So they're losing focus on the only two reasons we ever use Windows: Because the inexpensive PCs can run it with the least complication, and tons of old software works on it*. And for a cheap phone, you get something that runs Android for sure.
Undoubtedly, they have to sacrifice desktop features to make the OS more similar on all platforms, and it just sounds like a stupid idea that won't make the UX any better. Apple doesn't do it, and I'm glad they don't. Even if a relevant market share used Windows on a phone, a PC is supposed to be more powerful than a phone, not about the same.
*They called it Windows 10 instead of Windows 9 just to avoid complications with old, stupid software that used if(version.StartsWith("Windows 9")) to check for Win95 or Win98. Polar opposite of Apple, which breaks a great amount of decent software with every yearly OS X release.
So they're losing focus on the only two reasons we ever use Windows: Because the inexpensive PCs can run it with the least complication, and tons of old software works on it*. And for a cheap phone, you get something that runs Android for sure.
Undoubtedly, they have to sacrifice desktop features to make the OS more similar on all platforms, and it just sounds like a stupid idea that won't make the UX any better. Apple doesn't do it, and I'm glad they don't. Even if a relevant market share used Windows on a phone, a PC is supposed to be more powerful than a phone, not about the same.
*They called it Windows 10 instead of Windows 9 just to avoid complications with old, stupid software that used if(version.StartsWith("Windows 9")) to check for Win95 or Win98. Polar opposite of Apple, which breaks a great amount of decent software with every yearly OS X release.
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I agree, although when the arguments arose here and elsewhere re iPad Pro, many do want OS X on it as well.
It all comes down to implementation. Is W10 as easy to use and navigate on a tablet or not? The issue with iOS and OS X is that while they do interact together, the apps on iOS are cut down. They need to be fully functional IMO. There is a plus for one unified OS, but two un-unified that your workflow doesnt need to change is also good.
Ok, Mike. It's Win 7 Pro 64 Bit with New Paint and an Upgraded Subframe for enhanced Crash Protection.
Windows is Windows.
::eyetwitch::
I agree. If Apple can continue integrating, and actually allow apps on iOS to have practically the same featureset as an OS X app, the fact that its just iOS won't matter. Allow and encourage devs to give the app a pseudo file system, such as how Goodreader does it.
They're not trying to design a one size fits all UI this go round. They did that with Windows 8, and all it did was make people get all frothy at the mouth. This time, the desktop is the desktop, a tablet is a tablet, and a phone a phone, but they all share the same underlying framework, and in some cases, can all use the same apps.
Or to put it another way, they're all running the same OS, but each one uses a different UI depending on what it's on.
Very well stated. This sounds great too. Microsoft needs to do this if they want to stay in the game. They can't rely on enterprise solutions forever. The personal market is huge and they aren't as involved in it as they need to be.
I think this short article covers it well
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/d...s-the-trusty-ol-redmond-dog-learnt-new-tricks
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/d...s-the-trusty-ol-redmond-dog-learnt-new-tricks
Windows melinum edition was 98+ media player, it was an interim release -- but yea, terrible!
If we want to count those, there is also xp media center edition, released in 2004 I think
I see wha you are saying. I think they releasing more frequent updates. Personally I think they release too many of them!
And this will likely be a very strong position to take. I have a older Windows phone that is retired. And I loved using it. It was great. The primary issue that I didn't like was that I could only use programs written specifically for Windows mobile. And while it had versions of word, they were mobile versions.
I preferred the way the device worked. Even compared to today's iphones. But the segmentation of data and programs from their desktop counterparts was too significant.
If all windows devices run the same operating system, and therefore can exchange data seamlessly, and use the same software, then that is a very powerful combination.
As it is, it's to cumbersome to work with data and documents on the iPhone and then finish the work on a Mac. The tools are different. The operating system is different. The whole process is essentially using 2 dissimilar tools to work on the same document.
Now, if the primary difference between an iPad, iPhone, and Mac were size, then we'd use our favorite programs on all of our devices and our data would move seamlessly between them.
Microsoft also has the Microsoft accounts system which will unify your devices with the same preferences, favorites, and appearance etc.
So if your data is stored on the cloud for example, each device will essentially be the same, just a difference of portability.
Using tiles on the phone and tablets makes sense. But it will also be cool if we have the option of switching to the desktop view on our tablets and phones as well.
In the end, this could actually position Microsoft to crush Apple and Google in the tablet and phone market. Windows users installed base equals nearly 90% of the installed machines in the industry.
Those users having the option of all their devices being completely interchangible with their desktops is going to be very tempting.
Apple's market is going to appear very fragmented by comparison after this move by Microsoft. Users still on Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, ios 6.x, ios 7.x, iOS 8.x, and by the ios 9.x.......
That's a lot of segmentation compared to Microsofts ambitious decision to unify every device on one version of Windows.
Apple is going to have a hard time matching this move with the way Apple has quickly obsoleted very powerful and relevant machines simply over minor issues like production year.
Compare that with Windows 10, which my 15 year old PC still significantly exceeds the system requirements to run.
Now that's closing a lot of fragmentation.
To even come close to this move, Apple would need to move all Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads to OS X. And then resume support of older macs as far back as 2000. Or at least bring all Intel based macs back into active OS support.
Apple will not be able to match Microsoft on this move.
What do you mean? You just re-install the base Windows 10 and don't get the newest features. If IE 9+ breaks your business site, you don't have to upgrade past IE 8. If you need to get back to IE8, you can always just re-istall the base Windows 7.
8.1 had some issues, people were able to go back to 8.0.
There is always a way to roll back. I can roll back to Windows XP if I wanted to. A new IE does not require a new operating system every time, so if I upgrade from IE 9 to IE11 on Windows 7, I can roll back if there are issues. You should research what the changes are before you install it and make sure everything will work.
You are so totally mistaken, I don't know where to start.
Who wants a desktop UI on a phone? People see Microsoft as a necessity, mostly because of their job where they must use Microsoft software. At home there are so many and better alternatives that people don't even consider Microsoft.
There are many advantages to a desktop OS running on a phone or tablet. Especially if it can operate efficiently on said devices. Saying nobody wants it would be denying that even Apple users have been voicing their desires to bring os x to the iPhones and iPads.
There are some people who have preferences for alternatives to Windows. But saying that people don't even consider Microsoft is a very inaccurate statement.
I can tell you that my experience is that as a Mac user, I am in the extreme minority. I actually don't know anyone else who owns a Mac. Though I do know many people who used to own PowerPC macs.
Recently, on a college campus, I spotted the first Apple I've seen besides my own in more than 6 years. It looked lonely shoved under some stuff on a shelf. But it was sitting there seemingly hopeful that someday it might get to come out and play. It was a Mac Mini 2011 model. So not too old, but also in the retired pile.
In the colleges I've been in, and in the technology programs, as I looked around, I've seen lots of portable computer toting students. But, no Macs.
I do know many people who also used iPads and iPhones. But they have switched to other brands recently. I know one person currently besides myself who still has an iPhone, but it's an iPhone 4, and they are just the kind who will use a phone until it breaks, and replace it with whatever is offered free at the moment with their contract renewal.
Likewise, I am the only person I know who has ever used Linux.
I have known many people who use Windows phones. I know more people who have an Xbox than I do people who own any android, apple, etc product. Likewise, nearly every home I've been into over the last several years has at least one computer, and yet all I've seen are Windows machines.
You simply cannot deny the massive installed base of Windows computers. Even in the homes.
There is absolutely no way to accurately make a blanket statement that nobody considers Microsoft.
Better how? I'm not saying there aren't better ones in some ways, I'm just wondering about your rationale.
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I'll let you know all about it in a couple of weeks, since it should be in the preview that comes out next week. #