[Uzinero]

We're ready for Windows 9 to wash away the sins of Windows 8, and it looks like Microsoft is, too. According to ZDNet's veteran Microsoft reporter, a "technology preview" version of the OS is coming in late September or October, with the final release scheduled for spring 2015. More tantalizing: that technology preview may be freely available to the public.

Sources have told The Verge that Microsoft plans to unveil Windows 9, codename "Threshold," at a preview event on September 30. In the past, Microsoft has released developer previews for work-in-progress operating systems before making them publicly available. If the "technology preview" is available to the public, we'll all be able to check out Windows 9's improvements before the end of the year. The rumored changes in Threshold give us hope that Windows 9 will be to Windows 8 what Windows 7 was to Vista.

Here's the biggest deal: yes, the Start menu is coming back. Microsoft showed off a prototype mini start menu back in April, which retains the Modern tile look while bringing back the Start program list. Some version of this Start menu will supposedly come to Windows 8.1 in a fall update as well.

Another change that's almost as important: Modern apps will be able to run on the standard desktop in a windowed mode, which hopefully means no more switching between the touch-friendly Start screen and the mouse-friendly desktop.

We’re also likely to get a desktop version of Cortana, Microsoft's response to Siri and Google Now. The struggle there is that it’s likely to be tied into the Bing search engine, so if you love you some Google action you’ll have a decision to make.

Microsoft is expected to go over the key features of the next version of Windows at its event in September. We're eager to see how Microsoft's improvements compare to what we want from Windows 9.

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Source: http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/08/21/windows-9-preview-set-to-arrive-late-september/

What do you guys think off this? I never upgraded to 8 because it seemed shit, 8.1 seems pretty decent but I cba to upgrade now, will wait to see how Win9 is.

[Dismas]

Something makes me think that there's no repentance coming from Microsoft.

[Nohbdy]

Still going to be shit on a stick.

[Losi]

I have a feeling Microsoft learned from it's mistakes. I hope. But I'm not really going to buy any OSs from mainstream companies now. There's too may 0days and loopholes for the government to slip in.

[Lain]

Going by the Windows pattern, it'll be good.

[Uzinero]

Going by the Windows pattern, it'll be good.

Agreed, if not I'd be surprised.

For those wondering, the windows pattern:

Windows: Good
95: Bad
98: Good
Me: Bad
XP: Good
Vista: Bad
7: Good
8: Bad
9: Good?

What I'm really hoping for is the first 128 Bit OS in Win9. It seems appropriate since DDR4 ram comes out this month leading to larger module sizes, and they've been confirmed to have been working on making future OS's 128 Bit for around 4 years now.

[Kekaap]

I'm hoping it'll be good.. W8 was real bad >.< But tbh I don't have much faith atm.

[EngineerGalt]

Personally, I love 8, but if you don't have a touchscreen it's not worth upgrading.

[Drago1111]

If they follow the pattern it should be really good but something tells me it might not be.

[dryhumper]

Can't wait for this to come out.