The IT industry has been abuzz for the past fortnight with the baffling – but hugely compelling – rumour that Windows 9 will be available by April 2015, or even by October 2014, according to one “well-known hacker”.
If there’s any truth to the gossip, it puts CIOs in a thorny position. With Windows 8 either still to be adopted or – worse – only just bedding in after considerable financial outlay, it could be a bitter pill to swallow if Microsoft chooses to unveil a new OS barely a year after the release of the last one.
But if this new OS – apparently codenamed “Threshold” – is on its way, what can it bring to the party to make up for all the features of Windows 8 that have proved so divisive? To help answer that question, we ran a poll on Computing.co.uk, in which 33 per cent of respondents demanded a proper Start button UI next time. Fourteen per cent asked for an identical UI across all platforms – including mobile – while seven per cent wanted the interface to look and feel more like Windows 98. Six per cent wanted less mucking about with off-screen gestures, hidden windows and progress bars.
We also included the option “Make it open source”, which 40 per cent of people voted for.
But, if you’re one of those who’d like to see Microsoft ditch its business model and make Windows free and customisable, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
But what about IT leaders who have had experience of deploying Windows 8? What would they like Windows 9 to deliver?.
We were last in touch with Doug Baker, IT service manager at fast food purveyor McDonald’s, when his department was on the cusp of deploying Windows 8. Around a year later, Baker told us: “We did deploy Windows 8, this being our tablet platform of choice for our corporate users, [but] we remain with Windows 7 on a non-touchscreen device as there is a user change to moving to Windows 8.”
Baker did not feel that users could adjust fast enough to Windows 8’s radically new interface.
As for Windows 9, Baker said “there needs to be an integration across the platforms to allow the real user experience, and a natural flow from device to device”.
“The other main point is better separation, either with integration of [Windows’ cloud-based remote systems administration tool] Intune, or in a self-standing way, to allow for work and play, so to speak, to really let the user have the freedom of the consumer experience, with the access and integration into corporate for a seamless experience.”
Gripes about Windows 8’s interface dominated our discussions with IT leaders about what they’d like to see from Microsoft’s next OS.
Paul Marsh, head of technology infrastructure at solutions and managed services provider Avanda, wants “evolution, not revolution”, suggesting the leap between Windows 7 and 8 was just too demanding.
“I’d like an easier implementation strategy,” he said. “The prospect of change holds back the enterprise from investing in new technology; IT managers need applications and software which can be implemented quickly and easily without disruption.”
Marsh said Avanda discovered that many firms were having to spend much-needed funds to put their staff through training courses to help them get to grips with Windows 8’s UI – which Microsoft always swore was simple to use out of the box, and yet included all manner of built-in and paper-based gesture reminders for users who may have been losing windows off the edge of the screen, or couldn’t master the intricacies of setting up the much-vaunted feature in which two windows could be snapped side-by-side.
“IT managers do wish to take advantage of new technology,” said Marsh, “yet Windows 8 received hesitancy because firms found they couldn’t afford to train staff to use whole new systems.”
Marsh wants the next OS to allow IT managers to adopt “a staggered implementation approach. By re-using an old interface or introducing updates in a staggered manner, applications could be used in a more transparent and supportive way”.
Windows 9, argued Marsh, must enable users – especially older users – to gradually acquaint themselves with new ways of working while also letting them carry on in a “business as usual” way.
Gavin Camilleri, managing director at cloud and managed services firm Bluesource, believes that even now, over 15 months after its launch, Windows 8 adoption is still “in its infancy”.
“For small to medium size businesses, it’s gaining traction and is being introduced incrementally as new machines are purchased or replaced,” he said.
But “for larger enterprises, many are still moving to Windows 7 from Windows XP”. Among them are HMRC and parts of the NHS, where Windows XP is still widely used, despite the fact that support for the OS will end later this year.
“IT managers do not see the business benefit of replacing desktops and laptops just to provide a touch-enabled device – especially when many are still mid-way through migrating to Windows 7,” said Camilleri.
“Usability was clearly a key issue with Windows 8,” he added. “Microsoft has genuinely listened to the critics and has addressed some of these issues in 8.1. The re-introduction of the ‘Start’ button, which may seem trivial to some, is key for IT professionals who rely on remote controlling PCs. The ‘Start’ experience changes are welcomed too, with the ability to choose your user experience – either to the new tiled [Modern] welcome screen or the traditional desktop. This gives choice for the traditional keyboard and mouse user.”
But Camilleri’s customers still consider Windows 8 to have something of an “identity crisis”, he said.
“Windows 9 is rumoured to offer more appealing features for the business market. When we speak to IT managers, they want an OS that does not have an identity crisis, but rather one that meets the needs of both business and consumer, empowering employees and enabling productivity enhancements.
“Consumer devices are finding their way into many businesses, which will continue with the BYOD [bring your own device] and CYOD [choose your own device] strategies that companies are introducing. By the time Windows 9 arrives, we may be seeing a large percentage of consumer devices in the workplace. This means that these types of issues may not be a roadblock and these devices will actually shape some of the technology in the workplace.”
It seems Camilleri is saying that Windows 8 was in many ways ahead of its time, bringing consumer-style features to the work environment before people were entirely comfortable with the concept. Now, with the line between work and personal apps becoming increasingly blurred, data siloing has emerged as a must-have feature, said Camilleri.
“The IT professional will want confidence that personal and corporate data are clearly segregated, especially where user devices are not part of the corporate infrastructure,” he said.
“Building this capability into the OS would be advantageous. From a user perspective, being able to access data from any device will gain momentum, offering scope for the evolution of Windows Cloud Storage SkyDrive and SkyDrive Pro.”
But if Microsoft is too hasty in releasing Windows 9, the move could backfire, warned Camilleri.
“With a slow business adoption rate of Windows 8, there is a danger that a quick successor is an admission of failure of 8.1. If a new version is introduced too quickly, this simply fuels the case for decision makers to take a step back and wait for the dust to settle, before making strategic OS refresh decisions,” he said.
“This may result in Windows 7 remaining in place much longer than intended.”
@PeterGothard
source:
www.computing.co.uk 
