Microsoft teases a ‘next generation of Windows’ announcement ‘very soon’

Microsoft isn't talking about its big Windows plans at Build 2021 this week, and that's because the company is preparing to detail what's next for its PC operating system separately. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella teased this announcement during his Build keynote this morning, revealing he has been testing the next generation of Windows" in recent months.

Windows is in a bit of a rut. As far as its core frameworks and lower levels go, it's an incredibly solid, fast, extensible, and yes, secure operating system that can chug along just fine. The user experience, however, is a garbled, confusing mess consisting of bits and pieces dating back to Windows 3.11 (if you look hard enough). Almost every part of the operating system has multiple sides to it with different user experiences, looks, and feels, and if you come from a modern Linux distribution, the update experience, installing and managing applications, changing settings, and so on, are just downright laughably bad.

The user-facing part of Windows doesn't just need an overhaul - it's had countless overhauls over the years, all leaving various bits and pieces around that you still encounter today - but a complete redesign. I think the lower-levels and core frameworks are more than fine, but everything on top of that needs a clean start.

Microsoft has promised countless of these next generations" of Windows, and aside from the move from Win9x to Windows NT, they've all been thin, patchy veneers atop all the thin, patchy veneers that came before. After so many empty promises, it's just hard to take them seriously. Mark my words: this next generation of Windows" is nothing but a few nips and tucks to the current, existing UI to make it slightly less of an inconsistent mess.

Nothing more.