Windows 7 may only be ten months old, but that hasn't stopped impatient PC enthusiasts speculating about Microsoft's next operating system, dubbed 'Windows 8'.
Microsoft is keeping a tight lid on any information about Windows 8. However, back in June, leaked slides on the web indicated that, with its next client OS, Microsoft will push for near-instant start-up times, integrated facial recognition technologies, support for USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0, compatibility across different devices through the cloud, and simpler streaming of movies and TV shows to any screen.
See also: Microsoft Windows 8 review
It's clear that Microsoft intends to cover the increasingly diverse hardware landscape with Windows 8.
Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm, has some ideas of its own for the next version of Windows.
In an as-yet-unpublished report, Directions on Microsoft research vice president Michael Cherry compiles a Windows 8 wish list consisting of faster start-up times, a timely release, coherent error messages and more.
Below we outline the six features Cherry would like to see in Windows 8. But are they in line with the ambitions of Windows users in the home and office? Read through the list below, and let us know what you have on your wishlist for Windows 8 in the comments section below.
Meaningful error messages
Windows error messages are often cryptic, showing hexadecimal error code such as 0xe0000100. In Windows 8, Cherry calls for error messages that make sense to the common user.
"You end up having to put code in a search engine to find out what the problem is," said Cherry.
"If you can't explain in an error message what went wrong and clearly indicate what to do about it, then you shouldn't have an error message."
More powerful power management
Faster start-up times for Windows are on nearly everyone's wish list, and Windows 8 is no exception. It also "needs to sleep, hibernate and wake up quickly and reliably", said Cherry.
Cherry defines 'start-up time' as the time between turning on the power to a machine that was stopped until you actually start performing useful work.
"On my Dell Precision T3400 with Windows 7 64-bit & after pushing the power button it is eight seconds until the BIOS has started and Windows 7 begins to load," Cherry said.
"At approximately the 15 second mark the 'Starting Windows' message and animation starts. At the 54 second mark, the Windows logon appears, and after logging on there is a 41 second period where all I can really do is watch the 'donut' cursor. After one minute and 50 seconds Outlook can be started, and mail can be sent and received with an Exchange server at the two minute 23 second mark. It takes 2.5 minutes to start Windows 7."
Cherry calls for more speed and accuses Microsoft of trying to convince users that continually 'hibernating' their system is the answer to faster start-up. This is an illusion, he said, and warns that 'hibernate' has its own set of problem
Remove all annoyances
One Windows 7 feature that gets under Cherry's skin is the 'Green Bar of Death' that appears when copying a large number of small files from one place to another. To fix file copying, Cherry suggests the Windows team just make it faster. In addition, if Windows cannot target how long the copy will take, don't bother giving an estimate, pleads Cherry.
"I really hate seeing that a copy will take 13 minutes, no four hours, no 25 minutes, etc., etc."
Another annoyance? Features such as 'map a network drive', 'uninstall or change a program' or 'burn to DVD' are buried or keep getting moved around from one Windows version to the next.
"There are too many ways to get to these features," said Cherry. "In Windows 8, Microsoft should highlight the one with the fewest steps and make it more obvious."
- See all Laptop reviews
- A look forward to Windows 8
- Integrate with Windows Phone 7
- Release it on time
Comments
simonturner34 said: The one thing I can think of for Windows 8 is a change to the taskbar - I like the idea of having icons pinned to the taskbar but the actual taskbar looks flat and uninteresting - maybe some styling on the taskbar to make it look 3D
John Winlow said: I see you are still pushing Windows 7 and now we are being encouraged to think about Windows 8Why If Windows 7 is so good and has only been out for a short time anyway why be looking for the next incarnation of Windows OSIll tell you why Its because Microsoft is all about CHANGE rather than IMPROVEMENT Simply put there is no money in developing and producing the BEST OSSo Microsoft simply change the product Yes there will be some genuine improvements but overall the new OS will be DIFFERENT not necessarily BETTER Microsofts real hard work comes in trying to make the DIFFERENT newand appealing and worth paying another licence fee forIMHO Windows XP was the best yet and I see nothing in Windows 7 that makes me feel it was really worth shelling out for
Iain Robertson said: Will there be a consumer service pack for Windows 7 with the features that theyre planning to add in Windows 8 As an early adopter of 7 Im not planning on buying a new PC in the next couple of years particularly since Ive got the 64 bit version which must have a couple of years of future-proofing in itI also agree with what one of the previous commenters said about Anglicising the dictionary Ive just been redlined againIm actually not that bothered by the start-up time which is definitely better on my laptop than it was on my old Dell desktop with XP SP2 Usually I start up from hibernation anyway
Douglas U said: Give VISTA users a break and a reward for being stuck with that appalling OS and issue at least one version of Windows 8 as VISTA SP3
Ben said: I would like to see the Minimise amp Full screenRestore down well separated from the Close - I am fed-up of hitting Close when I meant to MinimiseTyping the above has reminded me that I wish it was easier to select a UK dictionary that does not keep prompting me to use -ize etc instead of -ise I rarely use a z but know the Americans are addicted to them
Cyteck said: No1 YES agree make much faster boot loading amp login to desktop amp final user control of systemNo2 Ditch Bread crumbs give us back permanently UNC path statements such as cwindowssystem32 etcNo3 YES agree with the concept of windows having computer roles Yes not every user wants or uses Terminal services MSN messenger DVD maker or Telnet for example The security implications would be a definite no brainer tooNo4 One feature I definitely would welcome very much is the integration of being able to save files from a local machine to a free Microsoft cloud based storage account This would come free as a part of buying a copy of windows 8 with a set amount of free storage but extra which you could buy We are half way there already but the final integration of saving files directly from windows 8 to my cloud account would be great Im sure it will come sooner or later Its the final integration of cloud account to local OS thats missing IMO
Sam said: A version that boots and runs from an unwritable DVD and cannot be installed to a hard drive That way I can largely forget about malware If its uncopiable it can be cheap Ill take a contract to renew every six months if they sell updates for 10
fooooooool said: how about making it secure
Joe H said: The faster startups are a must And less different versions of Windows Cant we have one version for consumers and one for companies
Dragon said: 1st A quick start up 2nd Speed up logging off 3rd Make it a streamlined system with just basics and add-ons for those who want the fancy stuff 4th Make it cheaper I am a widowed pensioner and cant afford Windows 7 let alone Windows 8If I didnt need Windows for the majority of sites I use I would have switched to Linux years ago - or if I had the cash I would have bought a Mac