Windows Threshold Event: 6 Things to Expect - InformationWeek
On Tuesday, Microsoft will hold an event in San Francisco to reveal “what’s next for Windows.” The company has been vague on details, other than to confirm the event will focus on enterprise customers, but it’s widely expected Microsoft will demonstrate the next version of Windows, codenamed Threshold.
Microsoft will have a lot to prove. Windows is still the dominant operating system for PCs, but thanks to weak Windows 8 adoption, competitors have begun to gain ground in important markets. Millions of businesses rely on Windows 7, and Microsoft needs to convince them that it has a sensible upgrade path. With less than 14% of PC users, Windows 8 and 8.1 are a distant third in the OS race, even though new Windows 8.1 devices are as cheap as mainstream computers have ever been. Windows XP, which isn’t even supported anymore, has 70% more users. Even famously-maligned Windows Vista had more market share at the same point in its cycle.
But Microsoft might actually welcome comparisons between Windows 8 and Vista; after all, Microsoft followed up Vista with Windows 7, one of its greatest successes ever, so perhaps with Threshold, the company can similarly rebound from Windows 8. Is a comeback story in the cards? Here are six things to expect from this Tuesday’s event:
I’m interested in seeing how Threshold is received. I use Windows 7 and made the transition from XP pretty seamlessly, albeit well after 7 came out. My kids have 8 and I really feel lost when I need to do something on one of their laptops. I’m not particularly technologically savvy so I’m sure part of it is me. Still, 8 doesn’t seem to be very popular, especially with non-touchscreen users.
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