The War for Windows

In 2009 Microsoft Windows made a huge leap forward with Windows 7. it provided a better experience for all users. with a completely revamped taskbar, better boot times, and all around better performance, it was an instant hit. I for one felt extraordinarily excited when I started installing on my family’s main computer.
while Windows 7 took the operating system in a new and powerful direction, there are still weak spots. People still associate Windows with failure, and with the cheap option. I write this blog post to out-line what I believe Windows needs to accomplish with the next version, Windows 8.
starting with the small leaps forward.

The media problem:
Windows media player, even after the upgrade in 7, is an old and slow platform. I don’t see why Microsoft hangs on to this antiquated piece of software. Also there is the redundancy of Windows Media Center. It serves no real purpose, other than on media center PCs, and I don’t think it fits in with Microsoft’s plan for the simplification of their operating system.
The media solution:
Replace windows media player with the Zune software. The polish of the Zune software is incredible. Not only would it bring a new take on the media player, but it would also make a viable replacement for Media Center, as it is already more remote control friendly than media center. As an added bonus, it integrates the Zune Pass service. This is the most obvious move Microsoft could make in improving the user experience of Windows.

The speed problem:
Windows 7 is blistering fast and efficient…when you first install it. as you install new software, your computer gets slower, and slower, and slower.
The speed solution:
prevent software from running in the background. most software companies take the easy rout for speeding up their software, and build in the “feature” of running in the background before you even need it. by disabling this option, Microsoft would be able to make their software more efficient. it would have the added bonus of making windows more secure, as long as there was a user enabled option for security software.

Now for the big leaps.

Make it more like a cell phone.

Although an app store has been announced for windows 8, Microsoft needs to take the concept further.

Starting with…make it social

Integrating social networks, like twitter and facebook, would make Windows seem cooler to the masses.

Next…notify me

notifications have been a hallmark of cellphones for more than five years. notification on windows could tell you when you get an email, integrate with your phone to tell you when you get a text, and integrate with social networks to tell you when new comments are posted.

Then…get rid of the taskbar

"WHAT???" you ask. it is simple, cell phones have done without a task bar for…well…ever. The “start” button on your key board could bring up and app menu with a task manager.

Add a CRAZY clean browser. just tabs and an address bar.

I’m probable crazy, but that is what I want.

*this post has new and improved capitalization!