That's right, folks, there will be no Windows 9. MS have skipped 9 altogether, and
the next version will be Windows 10. Could this be an attempt to 'distance it' from
the perceived (and that's ALL they are) 'failings' of Win 8?

The first beta of Win 10 is available (has been for a few weeks) and now I have the
time and the inclination I will be downloading and installing it in a VM this evening.

The few screenshots I've seen of it look much like Win 7 or 8, but with the old Start
Menu reinstated, but I'll be able to see for my self very shortly.

It is currently installing in Virtual-Box as I type this.

Watch this space...

It's not the failings of Win8, which is nasty in it's native form, it's the perception and somewhat reality that every second OS they put out should be put down.
Win98=good, WinME=bad, XP=good, Vista=bad, Win7=good, Win8=bad(ameliorated somewhat in 8.1)

Carl D wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2014 at 9:42pm:


Sounds like a reasonable excuse for doing something unreasonable. If your product line is number based as MS have moved to that designation, then skipping a number begs a question, it also sounds petty. As if anyone would be confused between operating systems 20 years apart, to most of the users it would be ancient history and they've never used it. I would be interested to know if the "real" windows version(build number) jumps.

Well, it's finally been installed, but not without incident (no fault of Windows or MS).

My version of Virtual Box is several updates old, and the beta would not install, I kept
getting error messages. So, while downloading the latest version of V-Box I decided to
enable Windows 8/8.1's built-in VM (Hyper-V) and try the install there.

And it worked. First time, too.

Installation is straightforward, very similar to 7 or 8, and takes around the same time.

When install is complete, it reboots and starts by default in 'desktop mode', no tiles or
garish start screens at all. They can be enabled if you wish. The 'charm' bar is enabled
by default, but getting rid of it involves two mouse-clicks only.

And yes. The Start Menu is back. It's not the same as the Win 7 one, but is updated to
also give access to the tile screen(s) and apps. So far, I think it's OK, but need to play
around and experiment more before I can form a firm opinion one way or the other.

Here's what you get on first start-up after the install has completed... these are all
still default settings.



And here's one showing the long-awaited return of the Start Menu... again all settings
are the defaults at this stage.



More to come when I have a chance to play around a bit more... 

I have just only become acquainted with Win 8.

I have to say that if I had wanted a Tablet, I would have bought one; that's what it reminds me of.

I loaded the Pokki Start Menu, which is a pale imitation of what I am used to, but it does what I want...Sort of.

Keep us posted, Kat.

Is there an update available for 3.1 ?

greggerypeccary wrote on Nov 24^th, 2014 at 2:17pm:



Well, yes. There is, actually.

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (I have it as well).

It was the first (though only partially) 32-bit-capable Windows.

And, as Setanta said, you got built-in networking.

Team Froggie wrote on Nov 24^th, 2014 at 1:42pm:

The Mac OS is moving to be more like an iPad. I have resisted installing the latest version of MacOS because it is more pad–like still. The update is free but I still don’t want it! Wish I could go back to Snow Leopard, the best version of the OS IMHO.