Windows 9 Will be a "Unified" OS... Ugh.

Microsoft CEO Wants One OS To Rule Them All

" ...the company plans to merge all of the major Windows releases together into one platform that fits all screen sizes."

"A unified store is expected to be launched in April 2015 as part of the “Threshold” release of the Windows platform.

"This means one operating system that covers all screen sizes," Nadella said. "We will streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes. In the past we had multiple teams working on different versions of Windows. Now we have one team with a common architecture. This allows us to scale, create Universal Windows Apps.""


NOOOOO! This sounds like Windows 8 all over again, even worse. Win 8 and "the store" didn't fail well enough that you have to take it even further? I can appreciate wanting to have a common OS across all platforms, but it just doesn't work. Not now, maybe not for a long time if ever. Sure it would be nice to pick up your Windows phone, WIndows tablet, and Windows PC and have cross functionality, but I don't know that it's realistic. This ties Windows devices to Intel (and AMD) CPU's only, which isn't a super smart idea for the smaller portable devices like tablets and smartphones. Ugh.

 

...Whatever little hope I had in Nadella being able to turn Microsoft around and restore it to its former glory just evaporated. Then again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised given that he *is* Ballmer's handpicked successor.

Anyways, regarding the article itself, I really don't see the point unless if Windows 9 enables users to seamlessly move their current session (i.e. running programs and the unsaved data within them) between devices.

 

I'll refrain from judging until I see the end product.
That being said I will add this - BRING BACK THE GOD DAMN AERO GLASS BACK!

KK1 out!

 

...what it sounds like is that someone at the CEO level at Microsoft finally learned that "scalable desktop elements" actually means.... scalable desktop elements. Rather than thousand different images pre-rendered at thousand different resolutions and then hardcoded into specific locations on the screen...

It occurs to me that that sounded a lot less like irony than it should.

 

I would buy this in a heartbeat if they implemented NVMe as standard (like how MSAHCI is now).

 

so MS now is trying to do what apple had once thought was impossible - converging all 3 platforms into one OS.

ya know, there's a reason why apple spent the R&D money on iOS, and there's a reason why iOS is kicking win8.1's butt right now in the mobile market and I can tell you it's not because of fanboyism

and I hope they realize that developing an OS for different platform means developing for the lowest common denominator, so now should we expect the next windows to be slower than even chrome OS?

 

This is all very vague. It could just mean bringing the Xbox into the Windows fold all the way to all devices running a crippled RT version. The way it is all stated makes it fall to the individuals imagination.

He did do one smart thing, not commit to a Windows 9 preview but allow for a possible Windows 8 update 3. This is good just in case the public is looking to reject Windows 9 too. I am in agreement though in waiting to see what is offered but I still hold little hope for the OS.

 

Just making it easier for hackers to take control of the world, MUAHAHAHA!

No, but seriously, what...? At least DirectX 12.0 support is something for us gamers to look forward to.

 

Seems there's a lot of confusion regarding this being reported in the media: No, Microsoft Isn't Scaling Back to One Version of Windows for All Devices | Maximum PC

 

As I said, too vague.

 

I still can't get over the fact that an MS guy said something that would be sensible to both developers, business-partners, and customers.

Don't think it's actually happened before.

 

I don't share those concerns and it's about damn time tbh. One of the biggest knocks regarding post XP are all the different flavors. Since the success of iOS even Apple is unifying their OS and integrating it with OS X Yosemite.

Now that MS is serious about Mobile, what better way than to integrate Windows Phones, Tablets, PC's and hopefully the Xbox.

This is just a further sign that we are in a Post PC World and MS is finally admitting it.

 

"Post PC world"? maybe one day but that day is not today.

 

LOL sounds like someone has swallowed the M$, Apple, and Google company line.

 

I love this. I thought Apple would be the first but apparently not. And that´s an even better thing.

Anyways, 3 versions of windows?

Mobile 8.1, RT, 8.1 and xBox.. I count 4 current versions of Windows.

 

If they do Windows 9 right, they really do have a chance to make 9 another 7. I don't think it would take much. Plus, I think we all expect a decent amount of improvements over the current 8.1 release.

 

Still not clear and conflicting information:

" We will have multiple SKUs for enterprises, we will have for OEM, we will have for end-users."

Multiple SKU's could mean Pro, Home, Ultra, whatever... Very vague and confusing.

 

I'm going to let you in on a secret. Nadella likes buzzwords. He really, really, really likes buzzwords. "Unified," like "synergy" and "maximize value" and "empower individuals," sounds good yet says nothing. So Nadella says it a lot. Don't try to read too much into it.

The company has made a number of sensible decisions and about-faces since Nadella took over. His actions speak louder than his words. But his words--or more precisely, is ability to use a lot of fancy words without saying anything--is somewhere between hilarious and obnoxious.

 

Starting from Windows 7, yes, it wouldn't take that much. Unfortunately, they're starting from the botched Windows 8 mess, and turning that one around, and fixing everything they screwed up with it, will take A LOT. So much, in fact, that I have little to no hope they will come out with an even just acceptable solution, let alone a great one. Bottom line for me, I do not expect to be able to upgrade from Windows 7 anytime soon, if ever.

 

Turning around Windows 8/8.1 could be as simple as adding the Start Menu back and throwing out (or at least hiding) the Metro/Modern UI - the various start menu replacements out there have tons of satisfied users, and some even boast about having signed up enterprise customers.

MS, in their infinite stubbornness, will of course never do this, since it would mean admitting that Windows 8 specifically and their entire vision more generally were huge mistakes.

 

Looks like I'll be clinging on to my Windows 7 until 2020.

 

You and a zillion other users...myself included.

 

It will take a lot more than that. Things like restoring the destroyed desktop search functionality, persistent shadow copies, Aero Glass, etc. The problem with these is that there were deep underlying reasons for at least the first two of these (having to do with a change in direction of Microsoft turning away from professional, competent users, moving towards the more casual, technically unsophisticated ones). I don't see this general direction changing back. One of the things that happened with Win8 is that, without explicitly saying so, Microsoft eliminated their "professional" SKUs; in other words, there's only "home editions" available for Win8, and the professionals were left out in the cold. Which is why we're as pissed as we are...

 

Microsoft has already unveiled that they're doing this with Threshold. And if you don't want any live tiles in your start menu, don't pin any.



For a company you say is infinitely stubborn, Microsoft has done more about-faces in the past year than any other major tech company I can think of. Persistent internet connection required for Xbox One? About face! Kinect bundled with Xbox One? About face! Restrictive used game policy for Xbox One? About face! No Office for iPad until the Metro version of Office is ready? About face! Removing the start menu? About face!

 

I enjoy that the people that accuse MS of being stubborn refuse to use the Start screen. They'd rather use something that's been around since 1995, when people still unironically bought audio cassettes and VCR tapes.

But no, MS are the stubborn ones.

 

Good for Microsoft, it was gonna fall flat on its face otherwise.

 

Wasn't Windows 8 supposed to be the "unified" Windows OS...?

 

"Unified" is a spectrum, not a toggle switch...

 

Well, considering how stupid some of those moves are/were I'm not surprised MS changing its decisions.

 

Well, most of those about face changes should have never had to happen. It was clear that they were not desirable in the first place. It doesn't take a million dollar market study to tell you that. Glad they are doing it, but they're doing it not out of the kindness of their hearts but because they would hemorrhage market share.

Yeah, we better stop using that 100+ year old concept called the automobile too.

That excuse has been debated a billion times over. Let it rest. It's not about being stubborn to use it, it's about being productive.

 

If you're still starting your 100 year old car with a crank on the front, and it has no seatbelts, and no shocks, and uses leaded gasoline, and .. manual windows? ewww... anyways, if you still use that stuff well, I dunno.

One thing I do disdain about cars now is touch screens. They really don't have a place in a car. They have no tactile feedback and there's no way to know when you're over the button you want when you're not looking at it. And the reflection, ugh.

But I love the Bluetooth playing my iPhone's playlist when I turn the key.

You know cars can do that now, eh?

 

Canadian, eh?

Your analogy doesn't hold water because Start Menu and UI and UX have also evolved since Windows 95. But nice condescension per your MO.

 

Every decision every software company has EVER made is because it wanted your money, not out of the kindness of its heart. Not sure why you're upset that Microsoft's about-faces have been motivated by capitalism. The entire market is.

 

I'm not upset about any of it. It's just that you gave them an "atta boy" for doing an about face on everything. If they didn't they'd be sinking.

I know, the steering wheel, tires, and engine are so passé too.

Well I guess you're just too stubborn to get with the times then too, eh?

I embrace change, if it's for the better, not just because it's new and different. When it's tried and true, you don't just blatantly remove the feature. It'd be like all automobiles immediately switching the steering wheel and pedals for some slide levers and buttons. Sure it's new and different, but the steering wheel and pedals have worked so well and efficiently for a hundred years. I don't know how old you are but I grew up in the dark ages of DOS. DOS followed by Windows 3.1. Then there was Windows 95 which was the best thing ever to happen to the PC. That's when the whole Start Menu started and I've used it effectively since then. Then it was spontaneously removed for no good reason. I use Windows 8. I've used Windows 8 since launch, and still abhor the Start screen. It's not about being too stubborn, it's about a segmented experience and workflow interruption. But I digress. This has been debated to death. There's no point insulting or discounting users who don't like the Start screen. I don't care if you like the Start screen or not. Good for you if you do. But it's clear that a large majority don't care for it at all.

 

I listed their about-faces, not as some sort of "atta boy" post, but directly in response to someone saying they're too stubborn to ever change course on an issue.

 

Actually, most of the first cars didn't have a steering wheel or pedals laid out in the way we expect them to be now. Original (and still the best) Top Gear had a segment on it.

Top Gear in search of first car with a "modern" steering - YouTube

 

I guess I misunderstood.

I know it wasn't always a wheel and pedals at least how we have it today, but .....1916 then. Maybe mid 1920's... Alrighty then, It's been there for pretty much everyone's lifetime that's alive today.