Traditionally, when a tech company launched a new product or makes an announcement related to their operations, the focus is centered on that. While this is still the case for Microsoft and one of their latest announcements, the name given to the product is also generating quite a lot of chatter. Just over two weeks ago, the company broke the news of its newest operating system – Windows 10 – at an event in San Francisco. Needless to say, the announcement of the name left quite a number of individuals in the tech world scratching their heads. Who knew that skipping a number would cause as much discussion among the technology community as Microsoft has? Aside from them, maybe.
How did they get to 10?
Considering that the previous version was the Windows 8, bypassing the number ‘9’ to select ‘10’ doesn’t tick any of the right boxes for some onlookers. Interestingly, Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Operating Systems, at the event acknowledged that naming the new product Windows 9 would be the logical thing to do, but who says this has anything to do with logic. It can be said that Microsoft doesn’t need to consult with the general public before naming any of their products – operating systems or otherwise – but many are wondering what decisive factor caused them to choose Windows 10 for the upcoming release.
Unsurprisingly, individuals are going to have their own conclusions for the name, and some of the rationales being put forward aren’t all that bad. One of the more common justifications for the name is due to the fact that the company is still not totally in the clear for its Windows 8 release – for which an upgrade was required – so they wanted to put some distance between that and the upcoming version.
Numerical jump aside, it is being reported that the Windows 10 has quite a number of changes that make Windows 8 appear as though it wasn’t trying – which in the eyes of many, it wasn’t. It is as a result of these additions that some are basing the new name. Rationale? The improvements are so vast and significant that calling it the Windows 9 would not do it enough justice for being that good.
The final argument (of what seems to be hundreds) being presented for the name choice is that it’s an ingenious marketing ploy by the executives of Microsoft. By giving it a name that no one could have predicted, they have all but ensured that there are millions talking about the project in some way or another – via social media or even while playing the latest game on their Xbox One. Considering how the news erupted after the name was announced, this argument doesn’t seem all that bad.
The Oldies but Goodies
In the eyes of many, what caused Windows 8 to disappoint was the fact that Microsoft tried to do too much in upgrading from Windows 7. Among other things, they introduced a tile-based start-up screen, which essentially was too far out of reach – even though it was a click away, it was still too far for some – and made relatively easy tasks like shutting down more complicated than they needed to be.
Seemingly learning from their mistakes, Windows 10 will be revisiting the ‘Start’ button that generations have grown to love and giving users easier access to their desktop. Not only will it have a much more refined look than in the older versions, but it will still incorporate tiles and Windows apps that make some favorite programs more accessible.
What’s in a name?
People are sure to voice their own opinions on the matter – and deservedly so – but in the grand scheme of it all, does it really matter? The operating systems released by Microsoft have had their names based on various factors, but what really proves vital in the long run was the efficiency and performance of the actual product. Whether the name is derived from a numeral – Windows 1.01, a year – Windows 95, or two letters – Windows XP, the focus is usually on it delivering the desired user experience.
It may still be puzzling after some time the true reason for skipping the number ‘9’, but as history has shown, there is no set formula for naming the latest operating system.
In a weird – and interesting – twist, this OS-naming enigma could do wonders for those at Microsoft, even if it’s solely in the area of public or social (media) discussion. Should they prove to name the version subsequent to this “Windows 11”, it can almost be guaranteed that people will revisit this discussion, and wonder what the number ‘9’ ever did to warrant its exile. Of course, people are still going to focus on the product itself, but going forward the tech company may just have some ears tuned to discovering the next name.
Tech World Puzzled by Windows 10
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