You know the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Well, that’s kind of how I feel about Windows 7. Sure, there are things I want added and features that Microsoft could and should have added into Windows 7, but it seems like they finally got it right. The security is very good, the look is streamlined and sleek, the UI is easy to use and the performance is the icing on the cake. Yet, we know that Microsoft will try and 1up itself with Windows 8 and we have already heard rumors, supposedly from within Microsoft, that we should expect something different with the next iteration of Windows.
Do you change the start menu or taskbar? Do you completely overhaul the UI after so much acceptance and praise? I’m not sure where you go from here, but I think we have some clues within other Microsoft products as to where they might head in the direction of change.
Slowly, but surely, it seems that Microsoft has been merging their software into a simple text-style setup. First, there was their own Zune music player, and then we saw Media Center which first shipped with Windows XP, then along came the Zune HD with a fresh touch-oriented interface and now we have Windows Phone Series 7, which has taken its cue from the Zune HD and added more layers and features. Similar to what Mike Halsey was taking about in his article about Microsoft’s different departments speaking to each other, it seems they have begun using their Zune layout as a base for their software packages.
Maybe Windows 8 will look something like this.
Then we have the cloud fiasco that everyone seems to be pushing nowadays. Personally, I’m not a fan at all of a cloud OS and I can’t believe that users will adopt one as their main OS, just too many restrictions, but that’s my opinion. I would like to see further integration with the cloud and perhaps some 3d-like graphics added into the interface. Perhaps some new windows animations to choose from.
Honestly, I don’t know which direction Microsoft will head with Windows 8, but let’s hope that they don’t completely tear down Windows 7 to build it. As always, we will try and keep the readers updated as new information leaks about the new OS, both here on windows7news and windows8news.com.
