Rumor: Windows 9 'Threshold' expected in April 2015

[cliffordcooley]

So they can't make Windows 9 128-bit as there isn't enough software around to take advantage so it's the same old 32/64-bit CPU mix support.

If I may be so bold as to say the OS has to come first. There will not be any 128-bit applications until after the OS is released.

Once there is a 128-bit OS, all 32-bit applications will likely not be compatible. Thats what happened to the 16-bit applications when 64-bit came out. Loosing 32-bit compatibility would likely kill a big portion of the applications we still use today. However a good push toward 128-bit might speed things up a bit and get more 64-bit compatible applications. The obsolescence (End-Of-Life) of Windows XP may just be what we need, to put 32-bit in the grave once and for all. In my opinion it is a couple of years too early for 128-bit. There is still plenty of ground to cover with 64-bit.

 

[Raoul Duke]

I for one would be very happy if they ended the production of the Microsoft 32-bit OS, and see many more 64 bit apps. Even MS Office 2010 is 32-bit, the 64-bit install is not recommended

 

[Guest]

If Windows 9 brings back aero glass, then I will gladly consider it. If not, I'll stick with Windows 7.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Even MS Office 2010 is 32-bit, the 64-bit install is not recommended

Why is that? I've been using the 64-bit version for over 3 years without issues.

 

[Guest]

That would be pretty awesome if it was a free upgrade from any OS, not just Windows 8. Look at OS X Mavericks, people with OS X 10.6 could upgrade to it. If MS makes us pay for needed upgrades, I, and many others, will be very bitter and mad.

I think of it this way: when you buy a Mac you pay a premium for the hardware, but along with that you'll get your software (OS) for free. Microsoft only makes the OS (with the exception of the surface), so they cannot really afford to give their OS for free when they are not making much (if any) money from the hardware itself.

 

[TitoBXNY]

Other than the Start Menu, Windows 8 and 8.1 have been decent. Not sure what all the fuss is about!

 

[Darth Shiv]

SteamOS might keep Redmond 'honest' - hope there will be a Win emulator.

Yes a strong emulator would make things interesting.

 

[cliffordcooley]

SteamOS might keep Redmond 'honest' - hope there will be a Win emulator.

Yes a strong emulator would make things interesting.

Emulator? I missed reading that comment until now. Why would I switch to Steam OS and then still buy a Windows License to be used in an emulator? To me Steam OS would be an escape from needing the Windows License. That is if gaming is all the PC is used for. All though I do hope Steam OS allows for more than gaming. From what I hear there Steam OS does have a Desktop Mode.

 

[tipstir]

If I may be so bold as to say the OS has to come first. There will not be any 128-bit applications until after the OS is released.

Once there is a 128-bit OS, all 32-bit applications will likely not be compatible. Thats what happened to the 16-bit applications when 64-bit came out. Loosing 32-bit compatibility would likely kill a big portion of the applications we still use today. However a good push toward 128-bit might speed things up a bit and get more 64-bit compatible applications. The obsolescence (End-Of-Life) of Windows XP may just be what we need, to put 32-bit in the grave once and for all. In my opinion it is a couple of years too early for 128-bit. There is still plenty of ground to cover with 64-bit.

Just like 8-bit was drop with 16-bit as 32-bit. You know the story. But MS said a few years back that Windows 9 and 10 would be the first to offer 128-bit but yeah hardware would have to play catch-up. Wonder if 256-bit CPU would ever be made. But at this rate 32-bit is where everything is at now. Some 64-bit browsers like Pale Moon but flash is 32-bit kinda flip flop 32/64 32/64.

64-bit does have a lot of ground to cover just a slow process at best.

 

[Darth Shiv]

Emulator? I missed reading that comment until now. Why would I switch to Steam OS and then still buy a Windows License to be used in an emulator? To me Steam OS would be an escape from needing the Windows License. That is if gaming is all the PC is used for. All though I do hope Steam OS allows for more than gaming. From what I hear there Steam OS does have a Desktop Mode.

Thinking more like Wine... does that need a windows license? I didn't think it did?

 

[cliffordcooley]

Thinking more like Wine... does that need a windows license? I didn't think it did?

Yeah you are right, I was thinking VM instead of emulator.

 

[9Nails]

MS said a few years back that Windows 9 and 10 would be the first to offer 128-bit but yeah hardware would have to play catch-up.

I'm not ready to buy a PC with 1 billion gigabytes of RAM! (The limitation of a 64-Bit OS.) When I am I'll be ready for a 128-Bit computer system.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Memory limitation is not the only limitation. Computational power will double, each time the bit level doubles.

64-bit computing
In computer architecture, 64-bit computing is the use of processors that have datapath widths, integer size, and memory addresses widths of 64 bits (eight octets). Also, 64-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. From the software perspective, 64-bit computing means the use of code with 64-bit virtual memory addresses.

With 128-bit each one of those would double in capabilities, not just memory address widths.

 

[Raoul Duke]

Why is that? I've been using the 64-bit version for over 3 years without issues.

Didn't know so I looked at what MS had to say:
"By default, Microsoft Office 2010 installs the 32-bit version of Office 2010 even if your computer is running 64-bit editions of Windows." "The 32-bit version of Office 2010 is the recommended option for most people, because it prevents potential compatibility issues with other 32-bit applications, specifically third-party add-ins that are available only for 32-bit operating systems." "Office 2010 provides support for the 32-bit version of Office 2010 programs running on 64-bit operating systems by using WOW64, a compatibility environment provided by the operating system that allows a 32-bit application to run on a Windows 64-bit operating system. Using the 32-bit version of Office 2010 allows people to continue to use existing third-party add-ins for Office that are 32-bit."
"What is in the 32-bit version of Office but is not included in the 64-bit version of Office?

• ActiveX controls library, ComCtl This library contains ActiveX controls that are used to build solutions. It is most commonly used in the following Microsoft Office programs: Access, Excel, and Word.
• SharePoint List control The list view in SharePoint Technology is not available to people using the 64-bit version of Office."

"The 64-bit version of Office 2010 is not compatible with any other 32-bit version of Office programs. As a result, you must first uninstall all 32-bit versions of Office programs before you install the 64-bit version of Office 2010. The Office 2010 disc includes both 32- and 64-bit versions of Office 2010.

• ActiveX controls library, ComCtl Any solutions that use these controls do not work. No good alternatives are available for some of these controls.
• Third-party ActiveX controls and add-ins None of these work with the 64-bit version of Office.

Note There is no 64-bit version of Visual Basic 6. As a result, many of these objects need to be ported and rewritten.

• Visual Basic for Applications The only way that Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) that contains the Declare statement work in the 64-bit version of Office is if you update the code manually.
• Compiled Access databases The .MDE and .ACCDE files, a common way for Access application developers to distribute solutions and protect their intellectually property, do not work in the 64-bit version of Office. You must contact the application vendor to have the vendor recompile, retest, and redistribute the solution in the 64-bit version.
• Communicator integration If you install the 64-bit version of Office, certain Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 features that involve integration with Outlook are lost. For example, you cannot right-click a Communicator contact to schedule a meeting, send an e-mail message, or find previous conversations. This is because Office Communicator R2 is 32-bit, and Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) calls do not cross the 32-/64-bit boundary.

Additionally, certain Microsoft Outlook 2010 features are unavailable with Communicator R2."

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Even MS Office 2010 is 32-bit, the 64-bit install is not recommended

Why is that? I've been using the 64-bit version for over 3 years without issues.

I wanted to ask the exact same thing myself and I've looked at the response but it doesn't say anything that would stop me using it so I'll just ignore it. Thanks for the response Raoul.

 

[Chazz]

These are good news. They are planning to bring start menu back and apps won't be fullscreen. Everything I wanted from Windows 8/8.1.

That would be pretty awesome if it was a free upgrade from any OS, not just Windows 8. Look at OS X Mavericks, people with OS X 10.6 could upgrade to it. If MS makes us pay for needed upgrades, I, and many others, will be very bitter and mad.

I'm a bit confused here. Are you referring to Windows 8.1 or "Windows 9". I can't find anything that says "Windows 9" will be free for 8 users. That's welcoming news,if true,but, are you referring to the free update(GDR1) to Windows 8.1 instead?

Microsoft's entire business would have to change to do the things that these other companies do. Software sales is what Microsoft does for money. Hardware Sales fuel Apple's Wallets, Advertising fuels Google's wallets and video game sales fuels Valve's wallets. These are totally different type of companies(model wise) that just happen to be in the same sector. It would be nice of them to do so and I'd be first in line but, I just don't see it realistically happening. They do have the Microsoft store and this would bring in more users, but I'm not so sure their store is doing so hot. I wouldn't gamble on that.

Microsoft making Windows free is akin to Google removing ads after their next internal google.com update. Or Apple giving out the iPhone 6 to 3G and 3Gs users.

 

[ET3D]

One thing no one has mentioned is the way Microsoft does everything possible to get you to sign up for a Microsoft e-mail, cloud etc account in Win 8 & 8.1. Can't even download from the store without this account which links your computer with MS.

That's pretty much a standard. There really are very few stores you don't have to log into to download something, and when the store is from the company making the OS, it's standard to have an account that's linked to multiple aspects of the OS as well as the store. That's how Google and Apple do it, Amazon does it on Kindle, ...

It's possible to use Windows 8 and 8.1 without a Microsoft account, but don't expect to get the Windows 8 functionality.

 

[psycros]

I'm not a fan of Windows 8.1 on the desktop. Its because of the full screen Metro windows and getting stuck in them. (Can't find the 'X' to close, 'Escape' key doesn't escape, or 'Backspace' key doesn't back up a panel.) I use it at work, and after a few days of frustration I installed Start is Back. That fixed 99% of my problems. I had to install Adobe Reader because the default MS Reader was taking up the whole screen. Now, I just need to find an audio player to replace Windows Media Player / Xbox Player. And to find a picture viewing application to replace the built-in photo viewer.

I can't really put my finger on what I like about it on the desktop. Possibly its that it feels faster and the task bar makes better use of multiple monitors. But that's not a whole lot of compliments.

My Windows 8 experience leaves me feeling apprehensive about Windows 9.

Winamp for audio, XNView for picture files. You can't go wrong.

 

[Darth Shiv]

I wanted to ask the exact same thing myself and I've looked at the response but it doesn't say anything that would stop me using it so I'll just ignore it. Thanks for the response Raoul.

Yes nice to see a list of things you miss out on but also have been using 64-bit Office for a while now. Definitely enjoying the increased virtual memory address space and it's been pretty stable for a while now.
There were a few little tweaks/hacks to get Sharepoint to play nice initially but I haven't had trouble with Sharepoint for a long time.

 

[penn919]

SteamOS will **** on windows 9

One can only hope

 

[Guest]

Finally, I'm tired hearing intense debates comparing win7 vs win8.. with this, I really hope I can move from win7 to win9 without worries

 

[Teko03]

One thing no one has mentioned is the way Microsoft does everything possible to get you to sign up for a Microsoft e-mail, cloud etc account in Win 8 & 8.1. Can't even download from the store without this account which links your computer with MS. I want to be able to use my computer with a local account.

You have the option to use a local account in Windows 8, but you'll lose quite a bit of functionality in Windows 8. Also, you can create a Microsoft account without an @outlook.com, @live.com or @hotmail.com address. I used my G'Mail account to sign in when I had my WP7 device and Preview versions of Windows 8. You can still have a SkyDrive account as well without an MST based account.

 

[Chazz]

One thing no one has mentioned is the way Microsoft does everything possible to get you to sign up for a Microsoft e-mail, cloud etc account in Win 8 & 8.1. Can't even download from the store without this account which links your computer with MS. I want to be able to use my computer with a local account.

You have the option to use a local account in Windows 8, but you'll lose quite a bit of functionality in Windows 8. Also, you can create a Microsoft account without an @outlook.com, @live.com or @hotmail.com address. I used my G'Mail account to sign in when I had my WP7 device and Preview versions of Windows 8. You can still have a SkyDrive account as well without an MST based account.

This is correct. My Microsoft account is an old Gmail account of mine. I've been using @gmail.com to log on to every microsoft service that I use(including hotmail) since Xbox(original) days.

 

[Guest]

With a lot of comments talking about emulators, remember Wine Is Not an Emulator.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Wine Is Not an Emulator.

Thanks for the terminology correction.

• Virtual Machine(VM) = Hardware emulation which requires installation of an operating system
• Emulator = Hardware and operating system emulation for specific applications

Wine is neither as it is a compatibility layer that requires neither type of emulation.