Windows 9: Three Things Microsoft Must Do

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PC vendors are already looking past Windows 8 to Windows 9 operating system. Windows 8 was nothing more than a disaster and an object of widespread criticism. And it was clearly visible at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. None of the major PC manufacturers were talking about Windows 8. For example, Lenovo Group unveiled its Android-powered laptop. Even when the Chinese company talked about its Windows 8-powered PCs, it focused on its own add-ons like voice control and camera gestures. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) showcased its own Android-based PCs. Toshiba Corp (USA) (OTCMKTS:TOSYY) (TYO:6502)’s biggest news was the launch of its first Chromebook. Meanwhile, LG Electronics Inc. (KRX:066570) fetched visitors’ attention with its Chromebase all-in-one PCs.

Will history repeat itself with Windows 9?

Now, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is under immense pressure to woo its loyal customers with Windows 9. Even after 18 months of its release and one major update, Windows 8 hasn’t reached even 10% market share. In contrast, Windows 7 is still running on more than 50% of PCs. Anyway, history suggests that Microsoft has launched one successful version of Windows followed by an unsuccessful one. And then it got things right again. For example:

– Windows 98 was a massive success

– Windows Millennium Edition was a dud

– Windows XP was wildly popular

– Windows Vista was a disaster

– Windows 7 is still selling like hot cakes

– Windows 8 was a failure

– Windows 9……?

If history repeats itself, the software giant should right the ship this time with Windows 9. The company will have to do a remarkable job in cleaning up, simplifying and streamlining Windows 8/8.1 and turn it into Windows 9. With its upcoming operating system, the company needs to focus on its core desktop and laptop users, who still are its core user base. They want software that can make their work faster, easier and more productive. So, here are the three things that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) must improve to make Windows 9 a success.

The Modern UI

With this, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) attempted to please both its core keyboard & mouse users and the touchscreen fans. But it alienated a lot of customers in doing so. Many users are frustrated and baffled with the changes in control methods. Windows 9 should bring back the Start button, and provide users an option to disable the Modern UI entirely. Context also requires some changes. If the user is in the desktop mode, the control panel should automatically appear in the desktop. And if someone is in the Modern UI, it should appear accordingly. Jumping between environments really annoys a lot of users.

Scaling

Most of the users are now accustomed to high resolution retina display in smartphones and tablets. And they have begun to crave for the same thing on PCs. Many PC manufacturers have started offering this feature, but Windows 8 doesn’t scale perfectly. Users can enlarge text in documents and browsers, but many things like taskbar notifications don’t resize. We expect Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to address this flaw with Windows 9.

Windows 9 should have improved control

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s attempt to satisfy both group of users, touchscreen and keyboard & mouse lovers, made the control worse for its core desktop users. So much so that PC makers have themselves come forward to make keyboard and mouse navigation in Windows 8 easier with multiple custom gestures. Unfortunately, that has further complicated the control structure, says Gordon Kelly of Trusted Reviews. Microsoft must define de facto gestures in Windows 9.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares inched up 0.64% to $36.26 in pre-market trading Tuesday.

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