Twenty Years Later – Is Windows 10 the new Windows 95?

Yesterday, Microsoft announced the next version of Windows, known as “10,” at an event in San Francisco. Optically, it appears to be a hybrid between a traditional Windows paradigm and the “eight era” emphasizing touch and mobility. I have reason to believe it’ll emerge as a best of breed and be the most significant release since Windows 95 in terms of favorability ratings. Why?

Click the image to watch my blog video!

Pent-up Demand. Microsoft will fulfill a market gap. The eight haters sat on the sidelines the last two years using Windows 7 or (gasp) Windows XP. This is their release. No longer can they complain that they can’t have a “real” Start button. It’s back.

Final XP EOS Push. Look for Dell and other OEMs to make one last push to eradicate the still sizeable base of Windows XP in the marketplace. Windows 10 will break Windows XP’s last stand.

Intel Broadwell Release. Due at CES in January, 2015 – the next generation Intel chipset will drive Windows 10 demand. Remember the following: Microsoft and Intel always win.

Generational skip. I had some great conversations this past week with attendees at the 12^th annual SMB Nation Fall conference about Windows 9 (now Windows 10). One astute practitioner called it right. Every other Windows version is a hit. It’s that time and I’d offer the disruptions in technology suggest that this could be the next Windows 95 (bigger in mindshare than Windows XP and Windows 7). I stand by my words here folks.

My early favorite feature. Improved SNAP to place apps side-by-side. I’ve really come to love that feature in Windows 8 and look forward to improvements. For example – SNAP will work better with larger monitors and second monitors.

Resources. Guess in in aggregation mode today so I’m going to refer out to the best Windows 10 resources that I’ve found:

• Microsoft’s official announcement.
• I thought CNET did a great job here and here.

Next steps.

• I’m installing the Windows 10 Preview today on a desktop today as I write this. I’ll offer up feedback and my experiences in a separate blog. You can download the Windows 10 Preview via Windows 10 Update and our friend Onuora.
• I’m joining the Windows Insider Program here.

• Event. Mark my words – Windows 95 had a mid-night pizza party launch at Computer city stores and we’ll replicate the same type of event. Count on SMB Nation to be right there with you when the product arrives in Spring 2015.