I upgraded from Windows 7 to 8 then 8.1  I have not had any more major issues with it short of the UX/UI that is basically common knowledge at this point.  I’ve downloaded Windows 10 and although I have not experimented with it too much, its a better experience then 8, so I feel I’m getting the ‘upgrade’ that was promised.  Whats just as cool about this is the fact that I’m getting this for free!  And Microsoft claims I will get all future upgrades for free..  Yeeahh..  Thats … wait.., what?  All upgrades for free?  And then what is this I hear?  They have applied for a trademark for Windows 365 and announced a subscription service?  Hmm.. So we already know about Office 356 going subscriptions, Adobe seems like they are happy with it.  Already on my phone I get my OS upgrades for free, first Apple and then on my Android.  Windows phone I hear will be the same.  A major sea chance is taking place here…

I think the days of waiting for a major OS upgrade from Microsoft is over.  Lets think about it.  One of the major issues with Windows’ security is the fact that many people do not keep their machines up to date.  Browsers were first of the box to deal with this by auto updating just like Flash and Java.  So I can imagine the updates we see from Microsoft every now and again will not just to be bug and security fixes, but changes at the OS core that normally are reserved for numbered OS upgrades.  Also, if you offer it free, you can finally get the army of Windows 7 users to upgrade reducing the number of older OS out there and thus reducing the security risk that Windows is known for.  What if ALL windows users could upgrade for free?  That might make a lot of sense from a security and support point of view.  Now we know XP and Vista and not supported anymore, but with a subscription, and assuming it was cheap enough, they may just upgrade, although I kinda doubt it, its not THAT much to upgrade windows and if you are still on XP or Vista its because you have some legacy software or you just fear change.

But if I have my Windows machine constantly being updated and upgraded, like a browser, then do we really need numbers anymore?  At what point do I go from Windows 10 to Windows 11?  Unless the change the core is so substantial that you HAVE to use an external install and lose your applications, you may as well stop saying Windows, 8,10, 11 or whatever and just say, Windows.  Done.  Or as we have recently learned, Windows 365.  Of course you will still need build numbers just to be sure that the application you bought will still run, but even then I would be there will be some sort of windows service that will run older apps in a completely sanitized box, almost like a virtual machine, to allow older code to work but not expose the current OS to bugs or security threats. And some older code, kind of like what happens with some Apple apps that do not keep up with the upgrade path, simply stop working and your out of luck.

I think the could be the last major ‘Upgrade’ we see from Windows for a long time.  We have Windows 10 coming, but after that, it will be Window 365… until another sea change takes place.