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Is Microsoft about to ditch Windows?

Is Microsoft about to ditch Windows?
Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney

  • Updated:

Recently, Microsoft began talking about a new high-tech OS system that possibly won’t be the next installment of Windows. 

Microsoft has been talking about the innovation that goes into developing the latest generation of Windows-enabled devices. At Computex in Taipei, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice-President of Consumer and Device Sales, Nick Parker, was quick to heap praise on some of Microsoft’s hardware partners for the new possibilities their devices are creating.

Microsoft execs in front of Windows PCs

Asus, Acer, and Dell were among the plaudits. Parker also spoke of a new “modern OS” that would make the most of the latest tech that was going into the newest machines. What Parker didn’t mention, however, was Windows. In fact, there was no mention at all about what this new modern OS would be called. It could be Windows 11, or it could be something else altogether.

Microsoft is aiming for ‘Seamless Updates’ with its ‘modern OS’

In many ways, Windows 10 has been a success story for Microsoft. After the abomination that was Windows 8, Windows 10 marked a true return to form for the software giant. It is now the most popular desktop operating system on the planet. As support for older versions of Windows falls away more and more people will turn to Microsoft’s flagship offering.

The success story hasn’t been without its problems. Windows 10’s update process is definitely the biggest Microsoft has faced with the new OS. Microsoft wants Windows 10 to be a continuously evolving OS and as such has been cramming new features, alongside security patches and bug fixes, into regular updates. Sometimes they interrupt regular use.  Updates are sometimes taking far too long,  or are too large. Also, they sometimes just straight-up not work and even delete user files. Clearly, these updates have been a constant thorn in Windows 10’s side.

Windows 10 updates
Windows 10 updates have long been a source of frustration for both Windows users and Microsoft execs

It is no surprise then that when talking about the future, Microsoft is aiming for what it calls seamless updates. In his talk in Taipei, Parker spoke of “Enablers” and “Delighters.” Enablers are the basics people expect from their devices and delighters provide more innovative experiences.

Parker went on to say, “Enablers include seamless updates – with modern OS updates invisibly done in the background; the update experience is deterministic, reliable, and instant with no interruptions!”

It almost sounds like he read that straight off of the Windows Help forums, where users have been spreading their ire about the Windows 10 update process.

The latest and greatest version of Microsoft's operating system.

Parker went on to talk about a lot of the other key features Microsoft believes a modern OS should have. This includes the likes of multiple input possibilities, constant connection, sustained performance, and security by default. Once again, there was no mention of Windows. Every time he spoke about the modern capabilities offered by the machines he lavished praise upon, he always spoke of a modern OS rather than Windows.

We can’t say for sure if Windows will be a relic of the past, but it is interesting. With Windows 10 continuously evolving, Parker could simply have been mapping out the direction that evolution will take in the future. He may not have been talking about a new operating system altogether.

The good news, however, is that if we can take one of Microsoft’s top VPs at his word. We know that Microsoft is working hard to fix the update problem that has been giving us all a communal headache for far too long.

Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney is a news reporter for Softonic, keeping readers up to date on everything affecting their favorite apps and programs. His beat includes social media apps and sites like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat. Patrick also covers antivirus and security issues, web browsers, the full Google suite of apps and programs, and operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android.

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