Report: Windows 9 Being Prepped For April 2015 Launch

[Vicarious Reality]

But why

I would still be using XP if i did not had to get a new computer to run new/weird games
The transparent windows are pretty funny, but there are several major problems with 7 i noticed alost instantly; GIFs do not work in the picture viewer, i can not center large pictures on my desktop and folders do not sort by date modified by default, also it seems like the new search does not search in words for letter sequences, only for separate words
The alt tab function having the desktop as a program does not seem like a very good idea, since, you know, that is what the windows button is for

 

[VinLAURiA]

Oh look, another "Windows Cycle" circlejerk started by the very first reply. A.k.a. the new circlejerk people had to come up with only after their "XP will forever be the pinnacle of Windows" circlejerk was utterly shattered when even they had to grudgingly admit that Win7 was massively better.

Typical sweeping quantifications from the likes of folk who frequent internet forums and think they have the world all figured out and categorized through a pile of tabloid-worthy platitudes and supposed "patterns." It'd be adorable... if it weren't so infuriating!

*storms off*

 

[Evil Smurf]

I use a windows 7 partition with the basic GUI, it'll remain that way unless PC gaming goes windows 9.

 

[nickpy]

But why

I would still be using XP if i did not had to get a new computer to run new/weird games
The transparent windows are pretty funny, but there are several major problems with 7 i noticed alost instantly; GIFs do not work in the picture viewer, i can not center large pictures on my desktop and folders do not sort by date modified by default, also it seems like the new search does not search in words for letter sequences, only for separate words
The alt tab function having the desktop as a program does not seem like a very good idea, since, you know, that is what the windows button is for

GIFs do work in the picture viewer, unless you mean animated GIFs specifically which do not and it is a bit annoying, but you can always open them in your browser of choice. You can even set the browser as the default viewer for GIFs very easily, something that was much harder in XP.

I can't comment on the centering of pictures as desktop backgrounds, as I've never wanted to do that.

I wouldn't find a default sort of Date Modified useful, and I can't really see why it would be useful as a default. Alphabetic is much more useful for actually finding things. In any case, I don't actually remember XP defaulting to modified date anyway...

I have just checked, and search definitely does return partial matches, even when you don't specifically ask for it with ? or * wildcards. e.g. searching for "Hel" got me "Hello World 1.bbp", "Hello World 2.bbp", "help.txt" and four other help files.

Personally I find using Alt-Tab to switch around between programs, including to the desktop, extremely useful. Conversely I hardly ever use the windows button, either to launch the start menu or to get me to the desktop (and depending on the program, the latter sometimes doesn't work anyway whereas it does with alt-tab).


So, really, the only problem you've described that I agree with is the GIFs, and even then it is easily worked-around, and frankly I would consider all of your gripes pretty minor. For my own part, I would never go back to XP. It's not awful, to be sure, but compared to Win7 there are a lot of common tasks that require more clicks, and not being able to pin to taskbar / search in the start menu is a definite pain.

---

OT: Unless Win9 is the second coming of jesus (read: removes all that metro junk or at least integrates it properly) I'm not budging from Win7.

 

[Cruickshank]

i wish i had a choice in using windows 8, i had to upgrade my computer and due to some hardware drivers not being compatible with anything but windows 8 (well played microsoft), ive been forced to use it. if windows 9 is at least more like 7 than it is 8, i might upgrade. although that wouldnt be hard to do, id even consider using vista if my drivers were compatible, i hate this metro ui to the point ive modded my laptop to the point i dont have to ever use it and it does nothing but use up resources in the background. isnt the resource issue something vista was hated for? you would think they wouldve learned that lesson but nope.

tl; dr windows 8 is so shit i consider vista an upgrade.

 

[skutbag]

Criticizing them for trying one OS for desktop, tablet and phone - come on you'd have to be a fool not to try surely? I can't believe Apple or Google aren't trying... not forgetting the Ubuntu phone. This is blatantly the smart direction for any OS manufacturer - like it or loath it, computing for the majority is moving away from a fixed workstation or desktop.

Anyway, the major changes (to a layman) are principally in design/interface issues - sure, these take some adjusting to, and personally it only really made sense once I had a touchscreen device, but it's alright without. Sure the app marketplace isn't as good yet, but you get windows for 'proper' desktop apps anyway, I don't really need or want to play Angry birds with WASD thanks. I've found Win8 / 8.1 to be pretty stable on the whole, even on a years old desktop I upgraded from XP, it boots up real fast. (Just to add I have used Win 7 also)

I will admit the business/organisation users case, they really always are the most reluctant to change anything and I can see it causing some headaches here. You've got Win7 until 2020 anyway. I always think personally I'd go with some kind of Linux if I had a business... workers will adjust to it, I don't want to hire anyone who can't make the leap from Microsoft Word to Open Office!

Finally, for 'power users' I would say - shut up and go Linux - and as I mentioned earlier, the likes of Ubuntu phone, SteamOS are making it even easier day by day for the general public.

 

[babinro]

I have Windows 7 and have no intention to switch things up unless it becomes mandatory for future gaming. Given the option, I'd gladly stick with Windows XP. The only feature in 7 that gets any use is the snap left snap right feature for convenience.

 

[GAunderrated]

I've been using Windows 8 since it was in beta and never had an issue with it. Granted I'm a fairly computer savy person so I know how to modify the OS to be useable for me.

I would not recommended it for my mother or grandparents.

Maybe Windows 9 will be more layman friendly.

One person is a very small sample size though. I work in IT part time and the ratio I see customers having problems with 8 and more specifically 8.1 as opposed to xp, vista, and 7 are at least a good 4:1 if not 5:1.

It is a very sloppy OS that favors connectivity and style over functionality. OS glitches are common with 8 and especially 8.1, program compatibility is horrid, and even the most basic functions such as powering off or connecting to wifi requires an extra click to three than its previous versions.

 

[Eternal Visitor]

my take, Microsoft can unify the kernel and core components across everything from a $200 win phone to a $15000 gaming super-machine all they want, but adjust the UI for different sizes and inputs. windows already knows if your machine is touch enabled, where was the roadblock in using a win7 style menu interface on non-touch machines and only expose the tile UI and edge swipe gestures if it detects a touchscreen? would make more sense to me then trying to keep the UI the same on everything, usability be damned...

 

[Colt47]

Well, right now I'm running windows 8.1 and it's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. However, I got a good feeling that Windows 7 is going to be the last good windows OS for business productivity for a while. Windows 9 sounds like they are trying to cram what is currently on the metro UI all onto the desktop, likely via tool bars that pop out of the side of the screen like the current desktop search function of 8.1.

It's basically the same philosophy they took with windows 8.1: help old windows 7 users pretend the new stuff isn't there once they got their computer set up.

 

[Evonisia]

All I can say here is that I hope that Windows 9 is better than 8, but frankly I'm not too hopeful.

 

[lancar]

I jumped from XP to Win7 as well. I tested Vista on a few other computers and read a lot about it, and sure wasn't impressed with what I saw. My last job at a computer repair shop also saw me working on a lot of customer Vista laptops, and pretty much all of them were slow and glitchy. Almost everyone who turned one in wanted win7 or XP on it instead.

We'll see if Win8 is something to be interested in, but frankly as long as my Win7 works with my games and programs (IT'S NOT CALLED APPS, DAMMIT! ) I will likely never switch. Maybe once Win11 rolls along it'll be a good time, but by then the industry might have even shifted to Linux (probably not).

 

[AnthrSolidSnake]

Aside from the start menu, I have a hard time seeing everyones problem with Windows 8. Is that really it? Clicking start takes you to some squares and that makes it a terrible OS? At least it didn't have the optimization problems Vista had, at least that made sense.

Regardless, I'll stick with 8 for now. I've had zero problems with it. I used to be afraid I would, hearing all the complaining, but once I got it...I thought everyone was just being stupid. It works, and it works great. There are even things they added that I like BETTER.

 

[Hawk eye1466]

I was perfectly happy with 7 but then I got a laptop that came preinstalled with 8 and at this point I can't get rid of it, so here's hoping 9 isn't a flaming middlefinger and they actually make an OS instead of trying to turn my computer into an iphone.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

I've spent every moment praying none of my computer illiterate family members bought a new laptop ever since Windows 8 came out. The thought of explaining the metro UI changes was worse to me than any of the other problems I had with Windows 8. Hopefully Windows 9 swings back to being more like XP & Win 7.

Though even then I cannot see myself moving from Win 7 anytime soon. I mean the only reason I still have Windows is gaming, everything else I do through Linux, and have done for a few years now. Plus with the chance of Linux becoming a more viable gaming OS I'd rather sit on my Win7/Linux dual boot for now and see how Window 9/SteamOS & Linux pan out over the next few years.

 

[loa]

Will they add the feature of being able to freaking close a program with a touchscreen only I wonder.

 

[Darxide]

It will be interesting to see if it will follow this cycle.

If you read across the top of the picture it lists every Windows OS I've ever used. And the bottom is all the crap I skipped with the exception of Windows 95.

 

[Something Amyss]

Oh, we're listening to Paul Thurrot again? That's usually ended well.

I wish microsoft wasn't like an abusive husband I keep coming back to.

I think of them more as a mob boss. "Nice OS you got here. Be a shame if something happened to it."

I just got Windows 7 a few months ago, the Professional edition which is supposedly being supported until 2020, so unless Windows 9 somehow redeems the.. whatever Windows 8 was, than I'll gladly stick with Windows 7 which I'm enjoying very fondly after upgrading from Vista. Should've upgraded sooner but I was too lazy to back up all my stuff until my computer literally gave up >.>

Only problem I can see is that we've already got games coming out that are Windows 8 only. Even if 7 is supported to 2020, it might not be a usable OS for gaming (least, as far as future games). And I don't know how heavy a PC gamer you are, but I do note you have a Steam account linked here.

Fairwell Metro, you god awful attempt to tabletise a desktop OS.

There's no guarantee they won't continue down that road.

I see Microsoft is attempting to imitate Activision's standard operating procedure. I wonder if they'll have the balls to actually start releasing an OS with minor UI changes every year. Linux and SteamOS is looking more attractive with each passing month.

Come now. This release would be nothing new or unusual for Microsoft.

 

[cidbahamut]

considering microsoft is determined to push the tablet interface on people ill be skipping windows 9 as well. hell if i didnt get a new pc id still be using xp

This right here.

If the Windows 9 interface is even remotely similar to that of Windows 8 or Server 2012 then I am just going to ride Windows 7 until it stops being supported. That interface was an abomination and every single piece of it needs to be thrown into a fire and lost to the mists of time. Just keep the Windows 7 interface and improve back end performance, that's all anyone needs from a new Windows OS.

 

[Baresark]

Well, lets hope their rush doesn't result in the same thing that happened with IE11. IE10 was horrible and broken, so they rushed IE11 out of the door as fast as possible, and it's just as bad as IE10. Realistically, everyone will wait till it's been out a little while to to buy it, regardless. First adoption is a pain in the ass because of massive compatibility issues. But, I'm hopeful this will turn out better.