Posted on 05/08/2015 3:24:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Internet woke up to a shock this morning. Microsoft MSFT +2.18% has used its Ignite 2015 conference to declare Windows 10 will be “the last version of Windows” . The reaction has been predictably alarmist, but what exactly does it mean and is this really the end for Windows as we know it?
First some context. The statement came from Microsoft employee Jerry Nixon, a self proclaimed ‘developer evangelist’ who stated: “Right now we’re releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we’re all still working on Windows 10.”
If this sounds strange, Microsoft didn’t help. The company today stepped forward to defend Nixon’s comment to The Verge saying it was “reflective” of the company’s opinion. So what is going on? Is Windows 10 really the end?
It’s Windows, But Not Like You Know It
The simplistic response is: No. Windows is not going anywhere. What is now clearly and undeniably changing, however, is how Microsoft will brand, develop, update and expect us to pay for Windows after Windows 10.
“Windows will be delivered as a service bringing new innovations and updates in an ongoing manner, with continuous value for our consumer and business customers,” explained Microsoft in its full statement to the Verge. “We aren’t speaking to future branding at this time, but customers can be confident Windows 10 will remain up-to-date and power a variety of devices from PCs to phones to Surface Hub to HoloLens and Xbox. We look forward to a long future of Windows innovations.”
Extract the marketing speak and what the future appears to be is ‘Windows’ – no version number, just ‘Windows’.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Uuuhhhh do you think this has anything to do with that BS they call “net neutrality”?
Ha, yeah.
As long as they let you, you mean.
You must not be old enough to remember the pre-windows world, when the independently-minded among us put off getting that first copy of Windows. Why? DOS was working fine...
Then everyone around you was using the new platform and the software that was only compatible with it and so you really had no choice.
It’s what I’ve been using since 2009 on Win-7 Pro x64.
That's probably in the plan somewhere.
I have been using Linux since 1994. I still have a few older Windows machines. My wife & son still use Windows.
But I am through with it. Simply no longer need Windows.
I totally agree with you.
And it is great to see you here. We first met on Twitter.
@TX_1
I have Office 2000. I use Word 2000 from it and is works fine on Windows 7 and 8. I also use Front Page from that disc
But in this case Microsoft is hurting because of the debacle which is Windows 8 which was basically trying shove everybody into Metro and they seem to have learned nothing from it....
its not they’re going to go out of business but their business is going in the wrong direction because of the decisions they are making.
Microsoft doesn’t seem to get the simple concept of if you want to expand your business in the one area you don’t do it by pissing off your core business in another area.
it’s same reason Samsung is hurting right .. the people that bought Samsung products like them because they were different and noe they’re getting pissed off with Samsung now trying to make clones of crapple.
if Samsung wants to go out for the crapple people...then make a second phone ....don’t turn your Galaxy product that the Galaxy people love into a clone of the crapple.
Same for Microsoft Windows... if you want to go up against the cloud base Google bullshit then make a second product.... don’t cannibalize your basic Windows operating system business model and piss off your customers
you don’t expand your market by getting rid of the products the people like... you do it by bringing out a second product that captures the different niche.
that’s the one thing I’ll give Apple.. they’ve kept their core products and then copy the other products as a new line..like the copy the big samsung galaxy phone phablet form factor..or copy the Android watch....
Apples made a mint copying other people’s ideas and then convincing everybody that they came up with it..
Gimp, Libre Office fix both issues.
There is VERY LITTLE that there is not a satisfactory Linux substitute for.
Some “Linux only” applications are far better than Windows equivalents.
(do miss Notepad++, but there is a similar Linux editor)
Some things never change:
FORMAT C: /S
You are so sarcastic when you format your c: drive!
Here is one Linux site with 23,000+ linux applications. Almost all are free.
This site only has a portion of what is available.
http://www.linuxlinks.com/Software/
Sarcastic? I typically reserve that for FDISK!! :-)
OK. What do you base that assessment on? Right now, this is all essentially beta software. I'd expect the UI to be the last piece to get worked on, after all the internals are finalized.
Intrinsically? No.
Just trying to move to a terrible business model that must needs be offer less freedom. (I.E. Not only all the problems with licensing
, but as a service
said service can have a lot of strings attached — and that, means everything on your computer is contingent upon their good will.)
So it might be a complete redesign and get a new name.
I'm still waiting to see the mythical open source Exchange killer.
Do you agree or disagree that the metro gui was the reason for the unpopularity of windows 8 with the consumer customers and business customers.....if so why? And what should microsoft take a way be from the experience with 8?...
Or do you think 8 was some kind of barn burning success that made gobs of money?
The question remains: on what do you base your assessment that they haven't learned anything from it?
What is an Exchange killer?
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