Microsoft’s showcase of Windows 10 was one of the most modest and apologetic keynotes I’ve ever seen in the tech world.
After what felt like forever of talking up Windows 8′s weird combo of new Metro and old Desktop features, there wasn’t a glimmer of arrogance or righteousness on the faces of Microsoft’s Myerson or Belfiore as they showed off Windows 10’s beta version and the humble event could be summarized in two sentences: “Mouse-and-keyboard users and enterprise customers: Please return to Windows. We know Windows 8 wasn’t cool but we’re going to Windows good again.”
It looked like Windows 10 is a nostalgic throwback to Windows 7 and a love letter to everyone who used and loved Windows 7. What we’ve seen of Windows 10 so far is what the people have been asking for since it became clear that Microsoft really was doubling down on the 8 car pile-up that is (was?) Windows 8.
Despite the utterly weird jump to Windows 10, it is, in its essence, an upgraded version of Windows 7. Although it will be the best version of Windows 7 there ever was, there are some tweaks on the enterprise side of things, too, making us think Microsoft is not taking any risks with this iteration of Windows.
One of the major features that Microsoft showed off during the unveil of Windows 10 was an updated version of Command Prompt, which is weird but it makes us think that this new version could be everything that 8 was meant to be!
I’m certain that Windows 10 will make a great upgrade from Windows 7 and will go on to be king of the Desktop Empire that is slowing down, until it finally yields to the mighty and saddening advance of smartphones, tablets, and the cloud.
Microsoft gets their billions of dollars from sales of Windows, Office, and server tools, and the shareholders will be extremely happy. Enterprise customers, who prefer things to slowly change over a number of years rather than all at once will love Windows 10′s return to the normal.
Windows users, who love their mouse and keyboard will love how Windows 10 is a mighty step back to what it familiar and giving the people exactly what they want is a good short-term strategy, but in the long-term it might be a leaky strategy because it does not illicit anything new in the minds of users and might make Microsoft look dated.