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Windows 9 screenshots: Microsoft to return fully-fledged desktop

The first screenshots of Windows 9 technical preview have hit the Internet. The new pictures confirm that Microsoft Corp.’s next-generation operating system code-named “Threshold” will resemble Windows 7 in many ways and will return familiar elements. Unfortunately, the whole user interface will remain “Metro”-like.

The screenshots of Windows 6.4 Build 9834 published by ComputerBase.de and WinFuture.de reaffirm that Microsoft will return the fully-fledged desktop experience to Windows 9, at least in a version of Windows 9 aimed at desktops and notebooks. It will be possible to run all programs, including those with Metro UI, in windows, just like screenshots confirm.

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The upcoming operating system will allow to control windows just like in Windows 7 and older OSes, using minimize, maximize and close buttons in the upper right corner. Context menus will also resemble those from older Windows. Many elements of the OS (e.g., icons, logotypes, etc.) resemble those from previous Windows operating systems.

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Since the screenshots were taken in a very early version of Windows 9, a lot of things may change in the final version of the OS.

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Microsoft plans to release public preview of Windows 9 later this month or in early October. The software giant intends to launch its next OS commercially in the first half of 2015.

Microsoft did not comment on the news-story.

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KitGuru Says: The screenshots do not reveal a lot of things about Windows 9, but confirm that Microsoft decided to wed Metro UI with experience from the older Windows. While in general this seems to be the right decision, the Metro interface is just not really beautiful, which means that many users will not like Windows 9 just like they disliked Windows 8.

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25 comments

  1. I am looking forward to Win9! I am thinking about moving from Win7 to Win9 now.

  2. I think the Metro interface looks alright when it’s not all over the place. Windows 9 seems like it will be worth upgrading to (assuming it doesn’t eat more system resources).

  3. If anything that looks WORSE! I use Windows 8.1 and I like it because I can just ignore the metro UI. Windows 9 will shove it in my face.

  4. Start menu is gross looking, so is the weird dog paw thing they’ve got going on, so far sticking with Win7

  5. What are they smoking there at Microsoft?

  6. That wierd par thing isn’t likely to stay in my opinion.
    Remember the Win8 RC had that weird fish thing going on…
    The start menue is a huge improvement and I personaly think it will work very well to be honest.
    We’ll have to wait and see though

    I’ve misplaced my faith in MS before.

  7. I’ve had my share of REAL problems (by that I mean problems with RAM usage and compatibility which have STILL not been fixed) with windows 8 and I am not starting it all over again for windows 9. My next computer will be a windows 7 and I really think that I won’t change in at least 4-5 years. After that, I’ll be open to more possibilities.
    The problem here isn’t the damn interface, the problem is that windows 8 was a BAD OS. With REAL issues and a ton of bugs. I wouldn’t recommend upgrading from windows 7 to anyone.

  8. I really hope I can disable the start menu and go back to the start screen in Windows 9.

  9. I like win7… win8 with modern ui and also i will like desing of win9… but i dont care… for me more importand is stability and system speed to work faster and better 😉

  10. Cant Wait! My only wish is that they should keep the metro start screen as an option, but keep the apps in a window out of the way etc. The standard start screen is so clunky to navigate.

  11. I think bill is providing them with crack….. or crocodil, or something like that.

  12. that start menu man….. and that paw thing too. I dont like it.

  13. I don’t think they needed to go back. They just needed to make windows 8 more intuitive (especially as its the first really different os they’ve done in a while)

  14. I think the hate for Windows 8 is misplaced (or, at least 8.1). I recently started using it after being super skeptical and I kind of like it. Granted, it’s on a laptop, so it has gestures and stuff to make the entire system faster and easier to use than it would likely be with a mouse. I wouldn’t use it on a desktop for sure, but I don’t think it’s really intended to be used on something that isn’t a laptop or something with a touchscreen.

  15. When I built my new computer I decided to try windows 8, and also downloaded “star is back” making it more like Win7 and it’s great.

  16. I do like that they’re making it only run 1 OS at a time instead of making the desktop an afterthought. I just hope its more stable than 8 and less of a CPU hog.

  17. Everything Stardock have been doing since the beginning. Start8 + more

  18. So where’s Aero glass?

  19. Very few like your Metro interface, Microsoft. That should be plain enough with the failure of Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and your silly Windows phones.

  20. Hush!!!! They’ll bring back Bob and Clippy….

  21. Looks promising. Win9 maybe worth the weight

  22. just as i get used and they fixed win 8, classic micro-fail,
    This should just be 8.2 (another free update)

  23. Love it on tablet, with a few tweaked loved it on desktop too,
    not understanding all the hate…

  24. hope so this version of windows is better than 8 and 8.1.

  25. if you have not used windows 8 for an extended period of time, and you say it sucks, it is personal opinion. i hated what windows 8 looked like and the first few times i used it. i was biased, like most people. then i said, screw it, let me check it out. i went in with an open mind and to test it, see what it could do and what had been changed, what had been improved and what bad ideas they came up with. its better then what 95% of people say. if you put the computer icon and the control panel icon on the top, it is basically windows 7, but it runs better and looks a little different. if you really know how to control a windows machine, how often do you really need to press the start button ? and if you take the time to set it up, the whole metro interface is awesome. if you are lazy and just want everything to stay the same, that is your choice to dislike windows 8, but your opinion does not mean that it is bad. just like windows 7, windows vista, windows xp and every windows before it, it came out with bugs. that happens, always. no matter what computer software you are using, there are always bugs when it first comes out, you cannot do small alpha tests and small beta tests and get all the bugs out, ever. now that i have been using windows 8 for a while, it is a superior OS then 7 is. it boots faster, it shuts down faster, it uses less resources then 7 ( for real ) and it crashes about the same amount as 7, which has been never for me. is it a complete pain in the ass to get used to ? yes. if you can get over the changes and just use it for what it is, and learn it, and not complain because it is new and different, you may find that it is an amazing achievement and a really well balanced OS. I am looking forward to seeing what windows 9 ends up being like, it looks like they may be taking some of the criticism from windows 8 and giving some people more of what they want. hopefully it ends up staying balanced with current technology but takes advantage of the new CPU’s, GPU’s and ram that are coming out over the next 6 months to a year.