With the RTM of Windows 8 happening this month, it’s time to starting thinking about the next version of Windows. Yes, it is. I’m in no doubt that Microsoft is already working on the next version, whatever it may be called. But when will it be released?
Normally, Microsoft releases a new version of Windows about every 3 years (well, not with Vista). But since Windows 8 is tablet-focused (though it really does work perfectly fine with desktop PCs – I’m using the RP right now on my desktop!!), 3 years is a little too much. 3 years ago, the iPad didn’t exist. 3 years ago, the computing world was very different. So what will the world be like in 3 years time?
The solution is simple, you may think. Release Windows 9 (or whatever it will be called) next year! A smaller update! Ah, but there’s one problem: enterprise. It costs businesses lots of money and time to roll out new operating systems, so having a new OS every year will be so annoying for them. Yes, iOS (and I think OS X is starting this) is updated every year, but do businesses use iPads for most of their work? And are Macs really that popular? No. Windows is different, though. It’s what businesses all around the world actually use. So it can’t be updated too often.
So what are Microsoft going to do? On Windows Weekly 268 they suggested that Microsoft may try a faster update system on Windows RT (the version of Windows for ARM-based devices) because businesses will be using Windows 8 more and see how it goes, and I think that’s a good idea.
But I have a better idea: do what Firefox does, and update often (well, not every few weeks, but every year or so) but give businesses a slower release cycle. E.g. businesses get Windows 8, Windows 11 etc. while the consumers get 8, 9, 10 and 11. This leads to lots of updates, but also giving enterprise what they really need. It’s just a concept, but I really think it could work.
What do you think?
