Microsoft’s Next Windows OS is a Total 10

Ahem. Microsoft Windows 1, 2, 3, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10. Yup – that sounds about right.

At a press event held in San Francisco this morning, Microsoft took the veil off of the OS that’s set out to make us forget all about the debacle known as Windows 8. Despite that, Windows 10 looks like what Windows 7 and 8 would give birth to if software was able to copulate (those naughty bits!). The result is a traditional-looking Windows desktop that has a real Start menu. Windows 8 elements come in by way of tiles featured on this updated Start menu. Microsoft’s invested a lot in its Apps for Windows ecosystem, so it wasn’t about to get rid of them quite so easily.

Windows 10’s grandest ambition is to be all things to all devices. It’ll be a single platform which will allow developers to create software for any sort of Windows device – that includes smartphones and tablets. This might have been expected, but it’s still a great move for Windows developers.

Here are some shots of other Windows 10 enhancements:

Start Menu

Windowed Apps

Multiple Desktops

Snap Enhancements

Tomorrow, Microsoft will be launching a new program called “Windows Insider”, which targets PC experts and IT professionals to help shape Windows 10 before its release. It appears that anyone will be able to join Windows Insider, so you’ll want to check here tomorrow if you’re interested in signing up.

What do you think of Windows 10 so far? I admit I’m not entirely sold on the updated Start menu, but the fact that it’s a menu at all – versus a splash screen – is a major “advancement”. Still, even as someone who’s been largely fine with Windows 8, I can’t wait for Windows 9 10 with all I’m seeing at this point.