I wish Microsoft had been brave enough not to release Windows 11

PC Gamer ^ | 10/25/2021 | Dave James

[fireman15]

Sticking to just a major feature update for Windows 10 would have been a positive move for Microsoft and for us PC users.

"Windows 10 is the last version of Windows," says Microsoft's Jerry Nixon just ahead of the launch of the then-new operating system. It was a bold statement and now, in the face of the faltering Windows 11 launch, I can't help but wish Microsoft had followed through on that promise instead of giving in to the powerful lure of marketing bull.

It's a quote that was widely circulated at the time, continued to be shared around during the hyped buildup to this year's big Sun Valley Windows 10 update, and then again around the subsequent announcement and launch of Windows 11. Yet chief product officer of Windows, Panos Panay, seems not to have had any idea about it.

When quizzed about why Microsoft had changed its mind Panoy told The Independent: "I was actually asked that question earlier this morning and I had no idea."

"Windows was always meant to be innovation for customers," he says by way of explanation, "like always, it's never meant to be stagnant."

But that's actually exactly what Nixon was talking about with his ever evolving 'last version of Windows' assertion. Yes, a bold statement, and one proven mostly inaccurate given the release of Windows 11, but it was reflective of the prevailing idea of the time, of Windows-as-a-service.

It was the idea that version numbers ought to be irrelevant to the user given the promise of a regular bi-annual update process that would keep this version of Windows at the forefront of innovation.

I like Windows. I don't need a slowly increasing number behind it. Just a functional OS that can consistently keep up with the times, as was promised.

[dayglored]

I’ll second what fireman15 said — Although you DO need the internet for some functions (activation, updates), you DON’T need to be on the internet just to sign into a LOCAL account on the computer.

[newfreep]

Thanks guys - a bit of reassuring news!

I do not trust MS and would not be surprised if a Win11 Operating System PC could be locked out from be accessed by the user - even offline.