Posted on 09/26/2014 1:20:14 PM PDT by Red Badger
Microsoft is about to introduce Windows 9 next week at an event, ahead of its widespread release in 2015. The project for the next Windows operating system has been given the internal code name as Threshold.
Microsoft watchers have noted that the next OS could indeed be a needed threshold move to win back business users who were put off by Windows 8 because of its tiles-based interface instead of the start menu they had relied on in Windows 7 and older Windows versions. The frustration was palpable last year, and one example was a posting in Micro Doctor, a technology solutions company, headlined "Windows 8.1 is a huge disappointment." Mark Richmond, CEO, said, "If Microsoft does not bring back the Start Menu, I predict Windows 8 will become the second biggest Operating System blunder since Microsoft Vista. Every PC we sell today has Windows 7 Pro installed or downgraded from Windows 8. Perhaps they need to Spin off Windows 8 Touch and Bring out a Windows 9 Corporate Edition with the start menu again."
There are hopes and expectations for a revamped treatment of a Start Menu that looks more familiar to Windows users before the onset of tiles. In addition have been discussions about what Windows 9 will be called—if not Windows 9. Reports indicate Microsoft might unveil a new name for the software. If so, the name change would be "symbolic of a new direction for Microsoft moving away from an aggressive focus on Windows and PCs," said a report in The Guardian by Samuel Gibbs and agencies. The report quoted Daniel Ives, an analyst at investment bank FBR Capital Markets, who said Windows 9 was a potentially game-changing product release for Microsoft.
Microsoft had sent out invitations to journalists to "hear about what's next for Windows and the Enterprise" on Tuesday in San Francisco, reported InfoWorld. Woody Leonhard, senior contributing editor, said in InfoWorld that next week's event, however, should not be expected to provide finer details, but instead to provide a preview to "show off the plumbing and the broad strokes of Windows' future."
Reflecting on possible release dates for Windows 9, Redmond Magazine reasoned in August that a release in spring next year would reflect timing with the next Build event for developers. "Microsoft has previously used its Build events as a main venue to show off its next Windows releases." Another date for the release being eyed is the week of May 4, 2015, which coincides with an event titled "Unified Microsoft Commercial Technology Event," thought to serve as a replacement for TechEd, SharePoint Conference, Lync Conference, Exchange Conference and Project Conference events.
Explore further: Microsoft to spotlight new Windows software September 30
>> sever products are relics
You either misspelled “server” or “sewer”.
I can’t be sure which word you intended. Both fit. :-)
Ya miss all those group windows, do ya? :-)
Dittos....it works great!
“I am confused. A best buy sales person showed me it takes about 3 seconds to set a default to use the old start menu interface on Windows 8.”
Uh, no. That’s not Windows 8.0, it’s Windows 8.1.
Windows 8.0 users have to upgrade to 8.1 (my clients computers (yes, the computers) refuse to upgrade to 8.1 - arrrrrrgh!) to access the start menu or use third party software like Classic Start Menu.
Microsoft put the start menu option into 8.1 because so many customers wer pissed off by it’s absence in 8.0.
>> FIRST KNOW YOUR SH*T!!!
Oh my! This *is* going to be embarrassing for you...
That link you posted is for windows *Vista*. The claim you were called out on was for Windows 8.
Whoops!
I wouldn’t go so far as to say MS is perfect but they have vastly improved over the past 1 to 2 years. I think they are doing much better without Balmer.
About 1 to 2 years ago I went to a Best Buy Mobile Outlet to get a phone battery for my Android and saw some thin laptops on display and about half of them were advertised to be running Windows 8 that had just come out. I tried them out and everyone of them had been sabotaged so that they would not work. I talked to the floor sales person and he said the Windows 8 machines would be fixed but each time after the next few days someone would sabotage them again. All the Macs were working just fine.
What does that tell you?
They are usually dumb kids with no training at Best Buy. I wanted to replace a broken Samsung mp3 player and they quit selling them so the kid try to get me to buy in Ipod.
I asked it if was just drag and drop to load WITHOUT using Itunes and he said “no problem”. He was 100% wrong.
>> Microsoft put the start menu option into 8.1
... and it’s not even a real Start menu. It’s just a Metro-esque screenful of icons.
Yep you’re right I jumped on that too soon but Windows 8.1 has the reset feature.
THere’s also some free resets:
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-get-the-start-menu-back-in-windows-8/
So many Windows users with so much Hate for Windows
Yes it’s in Windows 8.1. I run Windows 7 and am happy with it.
But here’s a new release on bring back the old Start Menu that was shown to me in Best Buy:
Kind of like the openSuSE build service. I can create all sorts of varying purpose driven distro’s for free. I can make them extremely tiny or very robust. No need for one size fits all.
Windows 7 is actually Vista
What he showed me looked exactly like my Windows 7 Start Menu.
But I didn’t buy it because I was thinking about the Surface Pro 3.0 instead.
I am very skeptical of the claims and bashing from some of the techie posters here. Both on the MS side and the Apple side.
I am not a big Windows fan but I use it. But I don’t see what the big deal is. If the old Start Menu on Windows 8.1 is frustrating give some examples.
>I know I can be abrasive but if you’re going to post something on our esteemed Free Republic....
The link you posted is for Windows Vista, not the worthless POS Windows 8.
Try again.
My apologies to Red Badger for putting out a reset for Vista but I followed up with posts that corrected that error.
The fact remains this is not a big deal and there are plenty of free workarounds or new MS features to get the classic start menu back operating again.
I think we have exhausted this diversion into Windows Bashing. The thread is supposed to be about Windows 9. What is proposed in Windows 9 that will enhance our experience?
I run Win 7 as well.
I am very happy with it, of course I run it inside my Mac via Parallels. Fantastic setup.
Have a great Fall weekend.
I am not Windows bashing.
I was just pointing out that Windows 8 does not have a start menu option - it’s 8.1.
Microsoft put it back because of the customers demand.
I’m just being factual.
I hope Windows 9 will be a great improvement.
Every other Star Trek movie was good, Windows 9 should be much better...
Peace and have a great Fall weekend!
It was more than just the start menu option. The netbook I had used for work-travel for 4 years finally died. I had to buy a new unit and chose the Surface Pro 3. Loved the machine...hated windows 8.1!
I needed the machine to work out of the box in order to stay productive. I did not have time for a learning curve on 8.1. It may be intuitive for you young techies, but I found 8.1 to be a pain in the a$$!
Took the Surface Pro back to Best Buy and traded it for a Mac Book Air 11.6 in. It is the very first Apple product I have ever owned. It is well built and and I am very happy with it. Don't think I am the only one. Girl at Best Buy said a lot of people were not happy and bringing them back. Microsoft pissed off a whole bunch of people this time.
Try run SAP apps on a touchscreen tablet.
Or do spreadsheet analysis.
Or type/edit anything other than a tweet.
Or edit code.
Or, heck, anything.
Touchscreen devices are fine as plain display devices (unless you require a complex query interface) an for VERY light and occasional data entry.
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