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

 

[Coke Robot]

Huh. A mid-2013 release seems interesting as a leaked product roadmap a while ago pinpointed Windows 9 being a 2014 release, about two years from now. So Blue could just be a .5 update to Windows 8 to prepare for Windows 9. Or, Blue could be the start of dragging Windows 8 out for the LONG haul, like mac os x. It's right now at 10.8.something for a pretty long while with major feline releases every year or so.

Seems like this is why new Windows 8 PCs have product keys in the BIOS now...

 

[twdawson]

I regret spending money on the 8 upgrade even though it was cheap enough.
I have Linux mint 14 downloaded and ready to be installed once I have all my data backed up.

I am seriously thinking about buying one of the new chrome books as all I use my machine for is browsing and watching video.

There is no way I would pay for this blue thing whenever it comes along.

Microsoft have lost me with this one.

 

[chev65]

I regret spending money on the 8 upgrade even though it was cheap enough.
I have Linux mint 14 downloaded and ready to be installed once I have all my data backed up.

I am seriously thinking about buying one of the new chrome books as all I use my machine for is browsing and watching video.

There is no way I would pay for this blue thing whenever it comes along.

Microsoft have lost me with this one.

You do realize that it's free?

 

[HerrKaLeun]

I doubt IT departments will like this at all. They mostly skip one version anyway, but yearly upgrades? And what private user is upgrading the OS at all? Most people buy a PC with whatever Windows it comes with until it dies.

Annual upgrades is just for people like us on this forum that install betas and do benchmarks and get excited to tell each other that now it takes 10.8 instead of 10.9 seconds to boot up even when we spent 10 hours to reinstall everything.

Either this is just an SP, or MS realized the mistake they made with Metro for the desktop and now make W8 look like W7, but with the "under the hood" improvements of W8.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Annual upgrades is just for people like us on this forum that install betas and do benchmarks and get excited to tell each other that now it takes 10.8 instead of 10.9 seconds to boot up even when we spent 10 hours to reinstall everything.

10.8 verses 10.9 seconds and 10 hours of install! I got a big chuckle out of that one! :thumb:

 

[pparks1]

Don't care for change for the sake of change. What happened to the notion that an OS should be begging the scenes and more or less go unnoticed? As an IT guy, these frequent updates are just a recipe for problems. Just too many variables to have to take into account. Heck Linux distros are bad enough that we rely on enterprise versions with long life spans and slow changes. Oh well, as long as MS continues to support old versions than we will have some consistency.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
my most regularly used OS is STILL a Windows 2003 Virtual Server (similar to XP but with some improvements) and I don't forsee any time soon of even changing it.

I use W7 on a "Work laptop" and I'm "playing with W8" but 99% of my real work is still done logged on to the W2003 Virtual server.

I agree with pparks1 that we don't change our working OS'es that often -- even though we might "play" with new releases etc.

cheers
jimbo

 

[Coke Robot]

Maybe this is partly why the IT minded people are against Windows 8?....

 

[Lebon14]

I see a bit of light with this Windows Blue. I hope it will correct the things I hate most from Windows 8... i.e:
- Metro
- No start button.

Also, I hope I'll be able to install from a Windows 7 machine, my machine

 

[shane88]

I see a bit of light with this Windows Blue. I hope it will correct the things I hate most from Windows 8... i.e:
- Metro
- No start button.

Also, I hope I'll be able to install from a Windows 7 machine, my machine

Don't forget Aero Glass.

 

[burtie]

Annual upgrades is just for people like us on this forum that install betas and do benchmarks and get excited to tell each other that now it takes 10.8 instead of 10.9 seconds to boot up even when we spent 10 hours to reinstall everything.

10.8 verses 10.9 seconds and 10 hours of install! I got a big chuckle out of that one! :thumb:

Haha me too

To be honest I quite like the idea of yearly updates. If they are free or dirt cheap than even better! As long as the option is there and doesn't force people to update if they don't want to. If people are happy with the OS they currently have then they can keep it, but for those of us who who like to have the latest system with new features or whatever then great. I see it to be a little like Android, as I love updating and playing around with the new releases when they come.

 

[PaulGo]

I assume these "updates" will be similar to a service pack or will it be a lot more?

 

[Frank1]

Do you feel that you can't keep up-to-date with all of Microsoft'snew operating systems. Well, as Al Jolson would have said it, "You ain'tseen nothing yet."

 

[whest]

If you ask me they have lost the plot or the rumours are false - there is nothing wrong with the UI, and as people come around it will become more popular then windows 7.

 

[Coke Robot]

If it means some UI enhancements to the Start Screen without buying it, as a service pack of sorts, I'm all for it!

But what happens after that, I do not know...

 

[robinb9]

Sounds like they're getting desperate to assimilate us.

There's another reason to go open-source.

WHY does MS continue to force users to go where they do NOT want to go.

I'm becoming more disillusioned with MS by the day, ATM.

where are you getting all those eight forum graphics personalized? they are amazing!
robn

 

[msdos622wasfun]

Okay, I bit. I've been using Windows 8 for six weeks now, since launch, refusing any temptation to read anything whatsoever about whatever its successor might be. So now here I am, reading this thread. But ... my OS is only six weeks old! Arghghghghg!!!

Man, does it seem like this stuff just moves too fast sometimes?

 

[Kat]

Sounds like they're getting desperate to assimilate us.

There's another reason to go open-source.

WHY does MS continue to force users to go where they do NOT want to go.

I'm becoming more disillusioned with MS by the day, ATM.

where are you getting all those eight forum graphics personalized? they are amazing!
robn

If you go to the Coustomisation section, there's a topic called 'Customised Signatures and Avatars'.

Post there with a request, and I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

 

[robinb9]

Sounds like they're getting desperate to assimilate us.

There's another reason to go open-source.

WHY does MS continue to force users to go where they do NOT want to go.

I'm becoming more disillusioned with MS by the day, ATM.

where are you getting all those eight forum graphics personalized? they are amazing!
robn

If you go to the Coustomisation section, there's a topic called 'Customised Signatures and Avatars'.

Post there with a request, and I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

where is this on here? in my profile?
robin

 

[tw33k]

where are you getting all those eight forum graphics personalized? they are amazing!
robn

If you go to the Coustomisation section, there's a topic called 'Customised Signatures and Avatars'.

Post there with a request, and I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

where is this on here? in my profile?
robin

Under Windows 8 Forums choose the Customization section