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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The <STRONG>extract</STRONG> text below is
from a longer article outlining the number of executives that have "left"
or been "removed" from MICROSOFT since the Windows 8 debacle ..... it remains to
be seen if the future (Windows 9) pans out, as in the extract
...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>___________________________________________________________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>"Of greater interest to mouse-and-keyboard
Windows users: It appears that Microsoft is building <FONT color=#ff0000>three
different versions of Windows, with a</FONT> <FONT color=#ff0000>Spring 2015
delivery</FONT>. As ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley reports, the new Windows effort —
code-named “Threshold” — consists of three parts:</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>A “Modern” consumer version of Windows,
available only via the Windows Store, will run on hardware that we would
currently identify as phones, tablets, phablets, and maybe even ultrabooks.
There’s lots of speculation about whether Windows 9 “Mod” will run only on
ARM-equipped devices (as is currently the case with Windows RT) or on both ARM
and Intel hardware. Presumably, it’ll be touch-friendly.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>A traditional consumer version will be
suited more for mouse/keyboard users. It will be regularly updated through the
Windows Store. Based on Foley’s description, it isn’t clear whether the
traditional consumer version will include a Metro side similar to the current
Windows 8/8.1. I hope Microsoft develops a technology similar to Stardock’s
ModernMix (site), which lets you run Metro apps inside their own windows on the
Windows desktop.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>An Enterprise version will be
mouse-keyboard-dependent, but it won’t be updated every three or so days. This
is the Windows 7 replacement, at least to my way of thinking. If it looks and
acts like an improved version of Windows 7, that’s the version I’d recommend for
just about every experienced Windows user.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Keep in mind: <FONT color=#ff0000>All this
information is based on leaked and uncorroborated reports</FONT> that might
represent Microsoft’s current planning. There’s no assurance that any of this
leaked information will come to fruition.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>But given that bit of preview — and given
the team that’s putting the next Windows together — I’m hopeful that Windows 9
will have one flavour that looks like a better Windows 7 and another flavour
that works great on phones and tablets. And that they arrive in time to plug the
whooshing sound emanating from Windows 8.<BR> </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Turmoil at Microsoft; implications for
Windows users !"</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial
size=2>_____________________________________________________________________________________________________</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let's hope LINUX can profit from this MICROSOFT
mess !!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stuart.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>