Yep, Windows 9 takes over where the previous iteration left off and takes computing into the next generation. While many will not agree, and let's leave the Merto UI out of it, that can be put aside to run Windows normally, Windows 8 was a step in the right direction.  It cut a lot of chaff and streamlined Windows to run faster and more efficiently, while making a smaller footprint and using less disc space than Win 7 and certainly Vista.

Many didn't like Vista, but it was the necessary step to Windows 7 and was the beginning of a new era that replaced stale old XP.  Yes, XP was loved by many, and many clung onto it until their fingernails bled, but it was limited and had no place else to go. Vista was necessary to create a new kernel going forward and expand upon functionality.

For mine, Vista and Windows 8 are great OSes and they serve my needs, but then I've always been one to embrace new technology and run with it, even if that means enduring a few hiccups along the way.  While many still find reason to whine about Windows 8, I find it to be fast, slick and completely useable because I use it like a desktop OS and do not let little quirks with Metro bother me.

Frankly, I do not understand all the whining about Metro when it can be completely bypassed to reveal a fully functional desktop that's faster than any before it.  Oh, that's right, some people aren't happy unless they're bitching about something, and why not bitch about something from Microsoft?  After all, it has become somewhat of a sport, and why not become a team player, it beats playing with yourself.  Right? 

Hopefully Windows 9 will shut the whinger up and we can have sensible OS discussions, but I somehow doubt it.  Sadly, there are some serial whingers who will not see how much better Win 9 is over previous OSes, and they'll continue whining about it until Windows 10 gives them a new outlet.

Oh, and before anyone ups and thinks this is directed at them.... if the shoe fits....

Seriously, Windows 9 is going to be awesome.

Hopefully they go back to naming Windows versions something other than numbers.

That'll be because you listen but don't 'heed'.

People never wanted an OS that was "like a desktop OS"...they wanted a....wait for it....'Desktop OS".

The requirement that IS Win 8 to BYPASS anything before it is 'like a desktop OS' is the self-same reason it is NOT a 'desktop OS' but ONLY something that can be adapted/pushed into behaving as one EXPECTS of an OS.

The simple, plain reason "Metro" is a thorn in people's side on THIS website is simply because this website is about the GUI...and Metro is a bastard-iteration of a GUI.

Absolutely no-one argues...or has a reason to argue that the 8 Kernel is worse than the 7 Kernel.  It's a no-brainer...other than the slight-of-hand with APPARENT desktop load-times.

The issue is FIRMLY with how the general user [no, not YOU] is being FORCED by MS in a direction he had no input with...and did not want.

He DID NOT WANT it to such a degree that MS has had to back-track some of the silliness to the point 8+ is closer to 7.9-.

The Kernel will continue to advance....to 9, 10, and beyond.... but unless better brains are employed to advance the GUI the general user will need to be dragged screaming from 7.

Remember...

This site is WINCUSTOMIZE.com, not MS-IS-GOD-CAN-DO-NO-WRONG.com....

Exactly.

That 1/2 hibernation thing was a way to convince people that there's less kludge, therefore we load really fast...instead of telling the truth. The fact that they're hiring folks to de-kludge it for 9 speaks volumes.

Very true, They refused to listen to the consumer at every point. Where did that get Steven Sinofsky? The mirabile dictum that MS does no wrong started to crumble with ME and continued with Vista (sorry, Snowy...it was barely ok, not great) and has bottomed out (I hope) with W8.

And that's exactly what I have every time I boot up.

Thing is, whether you like it or not, Win 8 is a necessary step in the evolution of the OS, and when everyone is raving about how great Win 9 is they will have forgotten its source code and important features came from Win 8... that without vista and Win 8, Win 9 would be just an extension of XP, stale and lacking.

Anyway....

Did they not listen ?
They have listened, they brought back the start button they made several changes to the metro UI...
Nobody forced anyone to get windows8  (the EOS for the old OS) was long overdue

XP users and many others were thankfull for the introducing price - The OS was pretty cheap for such an upgrade
i mean 30USD including WMC or less for a fully functioning OS...when did you last buy a OS for that price?
To the Kernel there were exploits i agree  but name a single new OS that had not encountered the same interest of some folks that used them starting  from NT. New Kernel new ways to exploit = normal
Despite the metro UI and the boot thingy there is nothing to cry wolf about...Even though we are on a customization site we should keep also focus of functionality improvements and  what is possible thanks to stardock products and freesolutions... Windows7 had Aero agree but despite that it wasnt much more pretty... it became pretty with 3rd party software. (Some folks even hated the Aero look and went back to classic)


Im certain windows9 will bring once again the oldSM back and folks will be once again happy everyone will be celebrating 9, while under the hood it'll be the sos like windows8 with some minor changes in code. its always been like that ...just take a look at vista aka Longhorn and now  7.
 

I just hope they will learn and introduce 4versions one  for Win7 users that love the old Startmenu, one enterprise version (that fits the users need),
anotherone for admins that were overwhelmed by the new interface, and one for entertain win8 metro lovers.

Im curious how plate 9 will look


 

Good move, but I don't think this is anything you will see in Windows 9.

The truth has been spoken. Couldn't have said it any better, Jafo. Well said.

As for big changes coming to the Windows code, changes are not always a good thing, as we know all too well.

It'll be a year before 9 comes out. I think it all remains to be seen.

I give you that Windows 95 wonder, Microsoft Bob:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob

One of the most thoroughly despised and well-known apps ever created by anyone, let alone Microsoft. Their insular hubris and condescension was much older than ME.

The above link ends in:

Bad title

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob 

A link...

RND... the above bad link was 'https' not 'http' ...

I think everyone is missing the point, somehow.  While they didn't like ME, Vista and don't like Win 8, they were necessary OSes to implement changes to subsequent OSes.  Without Vista there would have been no Win 7, and likewise with Win 8, no Win 9.  Okay, then there's the argument about releasing these OSes too early - like before they were ready - but how else is Microsoft going to test and assess the necessary changes if not in the real world... with real users?

Before this thread is over I see a lot of shoes fitting... too many pointless arguments about what is and should never be.  It's like my grandmother used to say; "You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time."  As such, we have a world of haters and whingers who can never be satisfied....

....unless they're Apple fanbois.

starkers absolutely... As mentioned countless times the release was too early and the tuts came out horribly late
what i can agree with is that windows 8 was bad for companies, with the missing knowledge (tutorials) let’s face it some Sysaddys were overwhelmed by its complexity and therefore were unable to make use of it. And even with tuts some were still not able to use it (bk got the hang of it the first 5 minutes) he was a natural and I didn’t explained a thing.
All in all its like you say it is hard to please everyone but the solution could be very easy if there would be several versions like i mentioned earlier.
>How would that work on the market... let’s take a windowblinds skin for example
Some windowblinds skins do have subsytles - Wiindows 9 could work just like that / a simple one click option to select your desktop of choice. BAM all mouths shut.
It could've been that easy to stop all the negativity about a bigger full screen start menu.
I just cross my fingers that they won't add an old start menu with live tiles... i would need to stop looking into the forums then since I’m already exhausted by all of it.

If it still has the Windows 8 shell, it is still garbage.