The next version of Windows will be called Windows 9
Microsoft has not made any public statement up until now in regards to how the next version of Windows will be named. Most experts believe that Windows 9 is the most likely name for it for a variety of reasons including that its two direct predecessors were named Windows 7 and Windows 8.
What has been clear for some time is that Microsoft wants to get away from Windows 8 and everything that is associated with the operating system that did not perform as well as the company hoped it would.
Especially desktop users have criticized Microsoft for adding an unwanted touch-centric interface on top of what worked just fine in Windows 7 as it made them switch between the two interfaces regularly in the beginning.
Microsoft tried to remedy some of the issues with updates and while it did improve the situation, it did not change the fact that just like Windows Vista, Windows 8 would be considered a bad operating system by many computer users.
While Microsoft could choose a different name for its next operating system, something like Windows XP for instance, Windows 9 has been the likelier choice from the get go.
Windows 9 indicates a clear break to Windows 8 without confusing users with an arbitrary name that does not. While a variant of Windows XP might work as well, it has been an unlikely choice as it would be difficult to distinguish from the old operating system.
Microsoft China posted a story in the last 24 hours that it pulled quickly after doing so. As is the case on today's Internet, even a fast reaction does not prevent leaks and so the story and the image that got posted along with it were picked up by Chinese site cnBeta.
The image, a mockup posted earlier this year, highlights the Windows 9 name and while it could very well be unofficial work, it has been posted by the official Microsoft China account.
The text that accompanied the image asked "Microsoft’s latest OS Windows 9 is coming soon, do you think the start menu at the left bottom will make a come back?" which mentions Windows 9 as well.
This is the first official mentioning of the name and while it could very well be that this was posted in error, it improves the chance of Windows 9 being the final name of the next Microsoft operating system.
Now You: If you were to select the next Windows name, what would you pick?
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Windows TCS (touch-centric sucked)
“Out the Windows”
No gates no windows
Windows 9 – How very clever.
Sorry, it sounds like 8 + 1. So that’s what I’d be expecting, Windows 8 with a few of what MS calls improvements these days. They even kept that painful blue color. Now, tell me why I should have confidence that they’ve built something I might enjoy using? I’d like to see them moving in a different direction, not trudging down the same track.
IMO, they need to go back to XP, or even Win7, and build from there. Stop dumbing down the OS. Please! Give functionality and control back to the user.
How ’bout this? Offer two versions: Windows for Dummies or Windows for Control Freaks.
well said. I totally agree. Thumbs up !
I would def buy the WFCF (almost sounds like wrestling)
ow yeah, lets troll a bit: Windows for dummies already exists it’s called OSx
i like to catalog the OSses in that way, i know it’s a generalisation but:
OSx is for dummies, it just works like Steve Said it would work. no questions asked.
Windows is for advanced users, you should know what you are dooing ;-)
Linux is for the nerds, 99% knows everything they do (or have it chewed for them).
Windows 9
Microsoft made some terrible mistakes by hosting it’s unfinished untested full of bugs wee eight to the market. This wee nine is wee eight plus with a wee seven menu…why is this stupidity?
Am I the first to say “Windows Nein?!” really?
Hopefully it wont be terrible.
signed,
a windows 7 user
Although I disagree with the sentiment of the joke I have to admit it is really funny :)
well you know the abbreviation for the previous/current versions ?
Win 7 and W8 (pronounced wait) and now windows NEIN! (should be shouting this).
and now stop trolling please :D
Am I the first to say “Windows Nein?!” really?
found a type in your post the ? seems to have shifted.
Windows? Nein! ;-)
Hahaha, you guy’s! I’m looking forward to Windows 9 to see what it has to offer.
GNU Windows :)
ReactOS
(although it isn’t actually endorsed by the FSF)
Its soooo much easier to search for a name like XP or Vista than trying to google Win 9, Windows 9, Win9, Windows9, nine ad nauseam. They should pick a name that give few hits and is easy to type.
Why not call it “Windows NT”, standing for “Windows Next Try” ?
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993
Was that the Red Arrows that just went by? or..?. :P
if it’s coming out in 2015 then call it
windows 2015
add a letter or two for platform eg
windows 2015-M mobile
windows 2015-D desktop
with an added T for touchscreen version
eg windows 2015-DT desktop with touchscreen
its probably too complex of course, they’ll want lots of people to buy the new “windows 9” without really knowing what they are getting
Yeah, I’m really likely to buy a Windows Phone and expect to get Windows 9 Desktop on it. LOL.
Windows Short`horn —– ah nostalgia
Is it true that WInblows 9 is going subscription based?
It is not clear. I think it is unlikely.
Really? Well, that would not surprise me. It would end my interest in upgrading forever. Never thought the day would come that I would start thinking Mac but the day MS goes subscription is the day I jump the fence.
Great ideas. Windows Nein and Windows Next Try…
Windows Retro, I suppose, but of course that’s the opposite of Modern, and MS couldn’t go for that. Too bad they had to back off Metro… two GUIs named Retro and Metro, respectively, would have been humorous.
Given that Apple seems to have understood from the start that touch-centric and desktop GUIs can’t be the same (hence OSX and iOS), perhaps the new Windows should be named MSX for the desktop and iMS for phones and tablets?
Interesting that Canonical, like Apple, split its OS into two GUIs — Ubuntu Unity for desktops, and Ubuntu Touch for phones and tablets. And now Microsoft appears to be following the same path.
Oh, and I jumped the fence back in 2012. Now I run mostly Ubuntu, Mint, Manjaro, and OpenSUSE at home. With a little Mac thrown in now and then, and a seldom-booted partition with Win 7 on it.
The next version of Windows is being designed for corporations, where Windows 8.x gives them the shakes. I have several corporate customers that refuse to buy Windows 8.x PC’s, in spite of the many improvements, due simply to the mixed UI. New machines are spec’d as Windows 7 Pro. Windows 9 should make them comfortable enough to mix in Windows 9 PC’s with Windows 7 PC’s, and have a similar enough UI for employees to use without slowing down.
Yeah, Bob… my employer went from XP to Win7 and has completely ignored Win 8 and 8.1. New PCs are Win7. As far as I know, the Win32 API is the enterprise platform for my employer, and if Javascript/HTML5 apps are used they’re just for personal convenience.
To be frank, I would be surprised if our IT department moves to Win9. While there undoubted improvements in stability, security, and speed, Win7 is plenty stable and speedy enough for 99% of the users where I work.
Maybe a proper name will be “the version after the version which is always a failure” But anyway you always will pay much to much for what your getting!
I know it’s a long name, but it sounds good!
Not Me 4.
Windows….. hmmm such fragile things, pretty easy to break – Perhaps that’s why Microsoft called it Windows in the first place knowing full well their code was so flaky it would require regular updates to glue it together.
In all seriousness maybe they should get away from the WIndows brand altogether and market an operating system which is still recognizable as Windows but with a more innovative name.
How about Window Pains?
Sounds pretty accurate to me
Windows DC
Damage Control.
The PR department probably already calls it that so it will reduce confusion.
Alternatively they could really solve the confusion caused by 8’s touch centric crap by going back to go forward, and align with the OS they wish everyone would acknowledge but nobody does:
Windows Phone 2014
Windows Desktop 2014
Windows Portable 2014
Can’t be clearer than that! Takes the purpose-centric option already in place with Phone, clarifies the confusion caused by trying to tabletify a desktop OS, goes back to a familiar yearly versioning scheme. Throw in:
Windows Server 2014
and you’ve got a nice, clean, simple set of purpose-based naming.
OneOS .v1
Hmm, “Windows 9” isn’t too far off. Consider the pattern:
Windows 1.x, 2.x, 3.x
Windows 95, 98
Windows ME, XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7, 8
Okay, maybe it’s not so much of a pattern… but they still have one number left.
Let’s follow it through the NT line instead:
Windows NT 3.x, 4.x
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows 2003
Windows Vista
Windows 7, 8
Huh. Perhaps they will come up with a more creative name.
I doubt that they will, but Microsoft has come out with surprises before.
Just get rid of the old looking music player and come out with something new and flashy
You are an expert in judging how to name the be(a)st by its name and I totally agree
Money NEVER was the goal this hobby of ours. Lets see TV, Radio or what else have you more?
Games maybe.. In anyway some (we) brightminds thought something out and there you have it:
IT IS GOING TO BE COMMERCIALIZED
instead it would be fun to Utilise and make GOOD use of it. Dont stop things by fun(ding it wrong)
Just standing (still) Need i pay more