Could Windows 9’s Killer Feature See It Outsell Windows 7?
If there’s one thing that Microsoft is keen to achieve with each iteration of its operating system, it’s universal appeal. We last saw this with Windows 7, which admittedly was launched at the start of the tablet and touchscreen notebook craze, but nonetheless, it’s the last operating system I remember that all my tech buddies went out and bought on day one. It was essentially Windows XP, but better.
It was faster, better-looking, more stable, had built-in solid state disk support and included nifty features such as Snap and the Snipping tool – things I use practically every day and Snap, which allows you to instantly place windows or programs side by side amongst other things, is one of those features you wonder how you ever lived without. More importantly, this is exactly what I want from Windows 9 – features that are so useful, you curse the time and effort wasted beforehand that you can now achieve in an instant with a new genius feature.
Microsoft also made the bold move of offering early adopters a huge discount with the OS retailing for just $49.99. I know a few people that bought several copies for friends and family as well as one for themselves as a result. All this, combined with favorable reviews, an aging Windows XP along with an XP fan base that had shunned Vista, meant that Windows 7 sold by the million, far out-stripping sales of Vista and Windows 8. In fact, shortly after its release, Microsoft announced that it had sold 90 million licenses compared to just 40 million for Vista during the same timeframe, making Windows 7 the fastest selling operating system in history.
So it can be done. Despite PC sales already falling back in 2009, Windows 7 hit the nail on the head as far as its audience was concerned. Fast forward five years and it’s fair to say that Windows 8 hasn’t been nearly as popular with PC and notebook users. The Start Screen and lack of a Start Menu saw plenty of third party applications spring up that allowed you to boot straight to the desktop and reinstate a Start Menu – features whose absence were still missed even on touchscreen notebooks. The fact remains that a keyboard and mouse or touchpad are still the preferred inputs for these devices and I’d argue that forcing the Start Screen and removing the Start Menu on desktop users doomed Windows 8 from the start.
When this computer bites the dust it will be windows nine because I tried 8 and it is a pile of well you get my drift . Any way the older set prefers outlook express for their email and what Microsoft does not get about that is mystifying. What would it hurt to give the consumer a choice and not charge a hundred dollars for it . I think a windows nine with out look express would be a big seller for them .
If they add OE I am in!
I would love Outlook Express again it was so clean and easy and one could download stationery etc;