Rumor - Microsoft to Release Windows Blue, the First Free

Although Windows 8 was launched last month, Microsoft is already giving the final touches to Windows Blue, the new Windows iteration that’s apparently supposed to come with some really huge surprises.

Citing sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, The Verge reports that Windows Blue is going to be released in mid-2013 and will comprise significant UI changes, most likely supposed to address the controversial Windows 8 features.

......If rumors prove to be true, Windows Blue won’t be available as a standalone OS, so users would need an older Windows to upgrade.

Read more at source:
Microsoft to Release Windows Blue, the First Free Windows Ever ? Rumors - Softpedia

 

[BillWindows]

There is not nearly as much love versus hate there as there is here. The countless "Windows 8 is great - oh no it isn't" or "Windows 8 sucks -oh no it doesn't" threads are getting pretty tiresome if you ask me.

So what do you want to see just Windows 8 sucks?

I'd be happy if some of the threads just stayed on topic instead degrading into a slug fest when somebody tries to egg you on like you just did to me.

Actually I wouldn't mind either, the problem is there are people on here continually bashing Windows 8, this is a Windows 8 forum, so if people are going back to Windows 7 why not go to the appropriate forum. When and if you decide to give Windows 8 another go come back here and share your experiences with the rest of us.

I do occasionally have a habit of egging people on, but in this case I was asking a serious question, is that all people really want to see, Windows sucks. If that's the case I'll join another forum where Windows 8 people go, but I thought this was the one.

 

[Lomai]

Well I thought talking about the good and bad of Windows 8 was what this forum is about. ...

I had told you earlier that it is subjective, that's what human's are - why is it that you feel that if anyone says something "negative" about Windows 8 that they do not need to be here?

 

[SIW2]

I think Bill would rather be at an appreciation society.

 

[smurfercom]

Not fine for me either! give me "START" or give me 7

So what do you want to see just Windows 8 sucks?

Dismal sales speaks for itself, and the complaints are something MS will just have to deal with. They already know they screwed the pooch on this OS. As for Blue I'll bet dollars to doughnuts they will not put in a switch for non touch screens and no start button either. As for me I got this Dell laptop for free and also paid the 14.99 for the pro version upgrade which is a reasonable price. W8 is running all my guitar progs with no issues so it actually makes a great mobile studio. Very reliable OS and using StartisBack makes things a lot simpler, I never see Metro ever!

 

[chrisa]

Not fine for me either! give me "START" or give me 7

So what do you want to see just Windows 8 sucks?

Dismal sales speaks for itself, and the complaints are something MS will just have to deal with. They already know they screwed the pooch on this OS. As for Blue I'll bet dollars to doughnuts they will not put in a switch for non touch screens and no start button either. As for me I got this Dell laptop for free and also paid the 14.99 for the pro version upgrade which is a reasonable price. W8 is running all my guitar progs with no issues so it actually makes a great mobile studio. Very reliable OS and using StartisBack makes things a lot simpler, I never see Metro ever!

They'll just put out a 9 two years from now and everybody will be like.. OMG A NEW STABLE WINDOWS, WHATS THIS TOUCH THING OMG. Its the way Windows seems to go.

Right now, they just need to keep moving the Surface Pro and making major profit to cover for any mistakes, flushing their RT stock, Get Blue in order, Launch the Surface Pro 2.0 next year, and then drop 9 in at the end of next year.

Everything they are doing is going to be centered around that core of Windows PC's while expanding steadily into mobile while making major bank off the SP. Its a solid strategy and as another guy said.. i'd rather be Microsoft than Apple atm. Apple is going to sell a ton of Mini's, but the profit margin on them is low($129) and if the watch doesn't catch on, they will really need that TV to sell next year.

Either way, its dangerous to be out in the middle of mobile atm without a solid OhSh*t base if things don't break their way. And the Mac lines are being left to rot, so they're no longer a factor. Apple isn't really going anywhere given the Mini, but as i said before its not good to be Asia in a game of Risk where you can be hit from all sides.

Google is going to be king of the search for a long while, thats its base.

Samsung is based in phones, simply toying in most other product lines, and eating away iPhone market share in combination with poaching the low-end tablet user with the phablet.

 

[alphanumeric]

So what do you want to see just Windows 8 sucks?

I'd be happy if some of the threads just stayed on topic instead degrading into a slug fest when somebody tries to egg you on like you just did to me.

Actually I wouldn't mind either, the problem is there are people on here continually bashing Windows 8, this is a Windows 8 forum, so if people are going back to Windows 7 why not go to the appropriate forum. When and if you decide to give Windows 8 another go come back here and share your experiences with the rest of us.

I do occasionally have a habit of egging people on, but in this case I was asking a serious question, is that all people really want to see, Windows sucks. If that's the case I'll join another forum where Windows 8 people go, but I thought this was the one.

I personally don't hate Windows 8 but I wouldn't exactly say its great either. After I rolled all my Windows 8 RP PC's back to Windows 7 I spent less time here and a lot more time on the Windows 7 forum. My new laptop came With Windows 8 so now I have a reference to look at to try and help with Windows 8 issues. Now its about 50 50 between 7F and 8F. My only advice is, if you see a derogatory comment about Windows 8 "that isn't relative to the thread", just let it go. Completely ignore it like it never happened and maybe the tread will stay on topic. IMHO there are to many threads that just degrade into a piddling match that nobody can win that didn't need to go there in the first place. It's pushing me away from here. Telling somebody to push off because you don't like their point of view doesn't help either. That last comment wasn't directed at you personally, just a general statement.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I agree

This topic has been dealt with AD NAUSEAM.
If people have NOTHING GOOD WHATSOEVER to say about Windows 8 then those people should just stay away

CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is fine --there are always bits and pieces of ANY software we either don't like or wish it could be altered - but continually bashing W8 as a TOTALLY RUBBISH product on a W8 Forum just seems a wast of time and pointless in the extreme.

Nobody has problems with decent criticism of the product - even if later it turns out to be more of how the user perceives and uses the product than a basic criticism per se.

I'll admit I didn't like it at first - and had to VERY SLIGHTLY change how I do things --ever so slightly and in fact I've found it a BETTER way of working than I used to.

Now whenever I revert back to W7 on another machine - it just feels a bit Old Fashioned and certainly slower - even when the other machine is fitted with an SSD.

I'll admit I'm not a fan of Metro or any Full Screen applications for a desktop / laptop and I've got rid of these - but using Customised toolbars I don't even have to LOOK at the start screen any more after initial boot.

For people who find the Charms or other corner icons annoying when they are typing stuff there are some apps around to disable the charms bar - but I've never experienced this problem nor has anybody else I know so this can't be a huge problem.

So lets get back on WINDOWS 8 -- the 100% HATERS can go to W7 Forums, Linux or the various MAC Forums around while we get on with the job of assisting people to get the best out of W8 and help in any installation / operation problems with it.

And for haters -- the Surface pro is getting some decent reviews AND IS SELLING in spite of its cost and the time in the economic cycle where a lot of people are feeling the pinch.

Finally to get back on to the topic -- Windows 8 Blue could be a major upgrade like Windows 98SE from Windows 98. It's probably about the time in the lifetime of the OS that the first service pack was released anyway. The initial bugs should all have been fixed by now so it would make a good time to issue the service pack or Windows Blue or whatever they want to call it.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[BillWindows]

I'd be happy if some of the threads just stayed on topic instead degrading into a slug fest when somebody tries to egg you on like you just did to me.

Actually I wouldn't mind either, the problem is there are people on here continually bashing Windows 8, this is a Windows 8 forum, so if people are going back to Windows 7 why not go to the appropriate forum. When and if you decide to give Windows 8 another go come back here and share your experiences with the rest of us.

I do occasionally have a habit of egging people on, but in this case I was asking a serious question, is that all people really want to see, Windows sucks. If that's the case I'll join another forum where Windows 8 people go, but I thought this was the one.

I personally don't hate Windows 8 but I wouldn't exactly say its great either. After I rolled all my Windows 8 RP PC's back to Windows 7 I spent less time here and a lot more time on the Windows 7 forum. My new laptop came With Windows 8 so now I have a reference to look at to try and help with Windows 8 issues. Now its about 50 50 between 7F and 8F. My only advice is, if you see a derogatory comment about Windows 8 "that isn't relative to the thread", just let it go. Completely ignore it like it never happened and maybe the tread will stay on topic. IMHO there are to many threads that just degrade into a piddling match that nobody can win that didn't need to go there in the first place. It's pushing me away from here. Telling somebody to push off because you don't like their point of view doesn't help either. That last comment wasn't directed at you personally, just a general statement.

Yeah I wasn't really telling you to push off although I must admit it sounded a bit like it, it's just my gruff Australian way sometimes. I'm like Jimbo, it becomes a bit annoying day after day hearing the same stuff over and over, this has been going on for a very long time and it really is tiresome.There are some people starting to come around but it must be tough on them to keep hearing this stuff day after day.

Just imagine if you'd bought a Surface RT and came to a Windows 8 forum to hear everybody making fun of it, you'd never come back, you'd feel like some kind of weirdo.

Maybe the Forum should be split in two, Lovers and Haters, no that'd be too boring. Anyway people never see eye to eye so then you'd have two forums at logger heads.

 

[alphanumeric]

Exactly, all I'm saying is, if you can, don't let it get to you. If you don't fan the flames maybe it will die down. There are some that are just looking to stir things up. Ignoring them will just piddle them off so that's what I try to do.

 

[PaulGo]

Microsoft has problems with Windows 8 for PC's which should be corrected. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Microsoft put in the Windows 7 start menu and let their customers choose how they wanted to to navigate Windows. Instead Microsoft chose the one size fits all approach because they were in a panic because they were so far behind in smartphone and tablet sales.

 

[Coke Robot]

I'd be happy if some of the threads just stayed on topic instead degrading into a slug fest when somebody tries to egg you on like you just did to me.

Actually I wouldn't mind either, the problem is there are people on here continually bashing Windows 8, this is a Windows 8 forum, so if people are going back to Windows 7 why not go to the appropriate forum. When and if you decide to give Windows 8 another go come back here and share your experiences with the rest of us.

I do occasionally have a habit of egging people on, but in this case I was asking a serious question, is that all people really want to see, Windows sucks. If that's the case I'll join another forum where Windows 8 people go, but I thought this was the one.

I personally don't hate Windows 8 but I wouldn't exactly say its great either. After I rolled all my Windows 8 RP PC's back to Windows 7 I spent less time here and a lot more time on the Windows 7 forum. My new laptop came With Windows 8 so now I have a reference to look at to try and help with Windows 8 issues. Now its about 50 50 between 7F and 8F. My only advice is, if you see a derogatory comment about Windows 8 "that isn't relative to the thread", just let it go. Completely ignore it like it never happened and maybe the tread will stay on topic. IMHO there are to many threads that just degrade into a piddling match that nobody can win that didn't need to go there in the first place. It's pushing me away from here. Telling somebody to push off because you don't like their point of view doesn't help either. That last comment wasn't directed at you personally, just a general statement.

I'm at the point of that as well, if someone is being a derp about Windows 8, I don't feed them in hopes they'll starve out and go somewhere else....

It's frankly quite annoying to do such a thing on a support forum, this isn't a rag on everything forum, we have subthread for that.

 

[BillWindows]

Microsoft has problems with Windows 8 for PC's which should be corrected. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Microsoft put in the Windows 7 start menu and let their customers choose how they wanted to to navigate Windows. Instead Microsoft chose the one size fits all approach because they were in a panic because they were so far behind in smartphone and tablet sales.

So what you're essentially saying is that you would rather see them cater to your needs even that means they might go broke. I don't know any Operating system which gives you multiple choices on how to run them without some hack or workaround.

 

[PaulGo]

Microsoft has problems with Windows 8 for PC's which should be corrected. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Microsoft put in the Windows 7 start menu and let their customers choose how they wanted to to navigate Windows. Instead Microsoft chose the one size fits all approach because they were in a panic because they were so far behind in smartphone and tablet sales.

So what you're essentially saying is that you would rather see them cater to your needs even that means they might go broke. I don't know any Operating system which gives you multiple choices on how to run them without some hack or workaround.

Yes, Microsoft should cater to the needs of the loyal PC customers. They are the core Microsoft customers.

 

[BillWindows]

Microsoft has problems with Windows 8 for PC's which should be corrected. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Microsoft put in the Windows 7 start menu and let their customers choose how they wanted to to navigate Windows. Instead Microsoft chose the one size fits all approach because they were in a panic because they were so far behind in smartphone and tablet sales.

So what you're essentially saying is that you would rather see them cater to your needs even that means they might go broke. I don't know any Operating system which gives you multiple choices on how to run them without some hack or workaround.

Yes, Microsoft should cater to the needs of the loyal PC customers. They are the core Microsoft customers.

But which loyal ones, the Windows 95 ones, the XP ones, the Vista ones or the Windows 7 ones. Everyone has different ideas, I'm a loyal Microsoft follower but I don't own the company so I don't tell them what to do.

I could probably make a list of all the things people want and don't want but it would fill a book, how is Microsoft going to deal with that. Just look at Linux followers everyone has different ideas.

If I'm going to tell Microsoft how to run their company I'll become a major shareholder, that's never going to happen so ill just work with what they put out there. I find Windows 8 easier and faster to use than Windows 7, so I hope they're listening to me as well as all the others who find it difficult.

There are plenty of stories of people on here who hated Windows 8, they put in a 3rd party hack to suit their needs, but now find they don't need it anymore. They also now like Windows 8 better than Windows 7.

The Start Menu was always a useless unnecessary inclusion in Windows which has now been dumped, now you've got a Start Screen and All Apps.

 

[chrisa]

Microsoft has problems with Windows 8 for PC's which should be corrected. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Microsoft put in the Windows 7 start menu and let their customers choose how they wanted to to navigate Windows. Instead Microsoft chose the one size fits all approach because they were in a panic because they were so far behind in smartphone and tablet sales.

So what you're essentially saying is that you would rather see them cater to your needs even that means they might go broke. I don't know any Operating system which gives you multiple choices on how to run them without some hack or workaround.

Yes, Microsoft should cater to the needs of the loyal PC customers. They are the core Microsoft customers.

They are :>. Its the same with any 'new' version of Windows. There are the people that don't want to learn anything new(and swear up and down that everybody else feels the exact same way), and it usually takes every other version to get them to upgrade and become accustomed to the new. Don't worry... 5 years from now people will laugh at those who used 7, Vista, or XP. Tech evolves, you don't necessarily evolve as fast, but thats fine. Don't worry.. when 9 comes out you can use the excuse of saying that they finally 'fixed' the issues and put out a 'stable' version of Windows /wink.

It was no different than with ME, Vista, and now 8.

And since i speak totally from the future through the wonders of time travel, you aren't going to believe the flamefest that 10 generates!

 

[BillWindows]

Microsoft has problems with Windows 8 for PC's which should be corrected. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Microsoft put in the Windows 7 start menu and let their customers choose how they wanted to to navigate Windows. Instead Microsoft chose the one size fits all approach because they were in a panic because they were so far behind in smartphone and tablet sales.

So what you're essentially saying is that you would rather see them cater to your needs even that means they might go broke. I don't know any Operating system which gives you multiple choices on how to run them without some hack or workaround.

Yes, Microsoft should cater to the needs of the loyal PC customers. They are the core Microsoft customers.

Heres what the loyalist said about XP, the most loved Windows version now.

.This new version of Windows is going to be a disaster, pundits say. It will be completely rejected by businesses, who will stick with old versions even after Microsoft drops support for them.

And its new interface is so hideous and unusable that customers who are forced to use it will trip over themselves finding ways to restore the old Start menu.


I am, of course, talking about Windows XP, which was released 11 years ago this week. It lived down to all those insults and dire predictions for years before it finally and implausibly became a success.


If you’re a lazy pundit and haven’t written your Windows 8 wrap-ups yet, feel free to use these decade-old stories, just substituting 8 for XP.

Ironic isn't it.

 

[PaulGo]

I have purchased every Windows edition except for Windows ME and Windows 8. I tried Windows 8 preview and disliked the new interface. Many reviewers also think Microsoft made a mistake putting a touchscreen smartphone interface on a PC. If you like it great, but currrently you are in the minority.

 

[Nemix]

LOL...my first PC ever bought with my own money (not parents) was with Windows ME, my first PC ever my parents bought for my studies had Windows 3.1.

 

[BillWindows]

I have purchased every Windows edition except for Windows ME and Windows 8. I tried Windows 8 preview and disliked the new interface. Many reviewers also think Microsoft made a mistake putting a touchscreen smartphone interface on a PC. If you like it great, but currrently you are in the minority.

Reviewers hate Microsoft in general, if you look at 90% of their stories, they're cut and paste jobs from other haters, they just add a couple of their own vitriolic remarks.

Look at the above story about XP it's almost identical to what they're saying about Windows 8, some things never change.

I couldn't care less whether or not I'm in the minority, when I started in computers I was the only one I knew for years who had one, so I was certainly in the minority.

When I bought my first Android tablet I was in the minority, when I bought my first Android phone I was in the minority. Reviewers heckled us original Android users endlessly yet look at Android now. Please don't talk about reviewers they are useless at what they do, they're like market analysts.

 

[chrisa]

When I bought my first Android tablet I was in the minority, when I bought my first Android phone I was in the minority. Reviewers heckled us original Android users endlessly yet look at Android now. Please don't talk about reviewers they are useless at what they do, they're like market analysts.

I've come to realize that Tablets are going to be fools gold for Apple. Not in the short term, but in the longer. I had a hard time pinning a reason why until I saw 60 minutes tonight. They had a story on the dude that created Twitter and him and Lara Logan went into a coffee shop and they had tablets there acting as registers that were able to query smartphones and pay electronically. On its surface, an Apple User could point to this and go.. AH HA.. SEE.. THIS is the future of Apple.

But being a developer it finally hit me as to why Apple is screwed. Whatever tablet they had at the counter, didn't have a visible logo. The program itself that they were using is an extremely easy point-of-sale app to make(even with the jockeying over wifi with the customer's smartphone). The core problem Apple has is there is absolutely no barrier to entry for tablets. Not on the hardware, and sure as heck not on the software. The apps themselves are child's play to write. A couple days work and they're ported to any other system.

What this means is that it really doesn't matter which tablet or operating system is used, the output and graphics are essentially the same. As such, whats going to happen is that businesses are simply going to buy the cheapest hardware and make sure they keep any app they make up to date for all multiple systems. They can also use the fact that they're buying in bulk on say 30,000 tablets, to basically strongarm Apple or Samsung or OEM Whatever into cutting their profit margin and play each against each other.

In turn, the profit margin on those devices is going to drop to near 0. Even to the general public, pure tablets are going to lead to the profit margin lowering to the cost of the device, given the severe amount of competition in the arena. You're basically going to end up with Apple being pushed out of the market by OEM's again, just like the PC.

Apple's base is simply being dismantled on all fronts. Streaming Audio is assaulting iTunes. Samsung and the other Android OEM's are taking over the cell phone base. Microsoft has a winner from the top-end and is going to be steadily taking over the 10" form factor. And their own Mini is crippling the prospects of the 10" iPad.

Its why I tell people that Microsoft's strategy is smart and set for the long haul. They've managed to create a high-profit margin device(Surface Pro) that can't just be bogarted(the lackluster OEM entries were found wanting) because OEM's don't control the software. Most large-scale application development is still going to be developed for Windows. Apple lovingly ceded them the PC Arena by leaving the Mac's out to rot. And to top it off they pretty much have their ducks in a row up through Windows 9.

I really think if they want to go disruptive, they should be developing and put out a high-quality, hi-res, 27-30" Touchscreen Monitor for PC's, and release it in the leadup to 9. Buy 9, and upgrade your monitor at the same time to really take advantage of the op sys!