What does the future hold for Windows if it isn't Windows 10X?

Windows 10X Mock Laptop Dark Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central

With recent reports revealing that Microsoft has put Windows 10X on the backburner, the question effectually what the future looks like for Windows is more credible than ever. Windows 10X was supposed to lay the foundation for the next generation of Windows, simply with the project no longer happening, where does that leave Windows as a whole?

It's fair to say that Windows Desktop, while versatile and incredible in its own ways, is not a modern OS. It'southward a platform congenital on a codebase spanning decades, and yet relevant today to over one.3 billion users. That said, rival platforms like iPadOS and Chrome OS are much more modern, lightweight, secure, and easier to update, positioning each every bit increasingly popular every bit PC replacements.

Windows 10X was Microsoft's answer to these platforms. As modern workflows go on to evolve, Windows needs to stay electric current with user experience (UX) trends and technical advances, where Windows Desktop has fallen short. Maintaining that legacy luggage is important, but it typically comes at the price of platform and UX innovation.

For example, most modern platforms are partitioned up in a way that enhances security and updates. The terminate-user isn't able to access system files by default, and third-political party apps are installed into a split up segmentation, unable to access sensitive files or information without the correct permissions.

Windows Desktop has none of that. The entire OS stack is installed into one partition and everything has access to everything. This is what makes Windows an "open platform," equally finish-users and third-political party apps can do any they desire, just it comes at the cost of security and ease of updates. It causes farther troubles, allowing malware to access OS and user files with footling effort.

Windows 10x Mock Prox Split Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central

Microsoft was able to innovate modernistic OS platform changes with Windows 10X that information technology couldn't exercise on Windows x.

Windows 10X was where Microsoft was able to innovate these platform innovations, locking away of import OS files and user data into their ain partitions. It also allowed Microsoft to better Windows Update, meaning new feature releases have a few seconds, just like on Android or Chrome Bone.

Performance and OS size is another fundamental benefit of modern operating systems over Windows Desktop. A modern OS will often perform amend on the same hardware compared to Windows Desktop, which is a much heavier Bone in comparison. Information technology's besides much larger, taking up dozens of gigabytes on a deejay drive. Windows 10X typically takes upward less than 10GB.

Windows 10X is a production that sits in top of a modern reworking of the Windows codebase chosen Windows Core Os (WCOS.) Information technology'due south something Microsoft has been building for many years, and is a modular and lightweight Windows core designed for future calculating devices. Information technology's what powers HoloLens 2, and was going to power PCs with Windows 10X.

Only with Windows 10X on the backburner, these platform innovations are no longer coming to PCs equally they were developed with Windows Core OS in heed, not Windows Desktop. Then, what'southward side by side for Windows, and what happens to all the resources and time spent building Windows 10X? Allow's speculate.

What's side by side for Windows?

Windows Sun Valley Mock Source: Microsoft

The immediate future for Windows is actually quite heady. Microsoft has some big plans for Windows Desktop this fall that involves a major rejuvenation of the Windows UX. This volition introduce new icons, sounds, animations, app designs, and shell features nether an effort codenamed Sun Valley, designed to give the impression of a new Windows.

Windows is in dire need of a visual refresh to keep it current in a world driven by modern platforms. Microsoft wants to brand Windows easier to utilize, better with touch and pen, and more than personal and productive, all welcome changes on Windows Desktop.

But what's across Sun Valley? The reply is less obvious. I think nosotros'll meet Microsoft continue to embrace the "openness" of Windows Desktop. You tin can already run Linux apps on Windows with the Windows Subsystem for Linux, and they could hands expand that to back up Android apps too. In fact, nosotros know Microsoft is at least considering information technology with "Projection Latte."

Microsoft wants Windows Desktop to be the de-facto platform for calculating. Whether that be legacy Windows apps, modern Windows apps, web apps, Linux apps, and maybe even Android apps in the future. Microsoft is continuing work on Windows Desktop for years to come up, and I'm sure it's looking to bring over more nether the hood innovations from Windows 10X / Cadre Os too.

Windows 10X exists as it's incredibly hard to retroactively add together under the hood platform innovations to the existing version of Windows Desktop. Information technology was easier for Microsoft to rework the entire Windows cadre with Windows Core Bone and build a modern version of Windows. with platform innovations congenital right in.

Windows Registry Source: Windows Primal

Windows Desktop will ever be a legacy-driven Os.

Introducing platform changes similar system-wide Win32 app containerization or OS land separation could pause compatibility with some legacy apps or code. As always, Microsoft's commitment to legacy app support is its greatest marry and greatest curse. That said, I do think Microsoft volition attempt to turn Windows Desktop into something of a hybrid between Cadre OS and Legacy Windows where it can. The question is, where can it?

Windows Desktop will ever have a identify on the market, every bit at that place volition always be a need for legacy Windows apps. Only information technology will never be an operating system that can acquit Microsoft into the more mobile, unique, and futuristic device class factors that don't yet exist. Microsoft needs an adaptable, lightweight, and secure version of Windows, and that's what Windows Core OS delivers.

I retrieve we're going to see WCOS used sparingly going forward. Microsoft considered information technology the future of Windows for all devices at one signal, but that dream is untenable given Microsoft's commitment to legacy app support. And then instead, I think WCOS will go the default pick for new form factors where legacy Windows apps aren't manifestly necessary, just like HoloLens two.

But correct now, Microsoft'due south focus is where its users are: Windows Desktop, and information technology wants to make Windows Desktop feel as modern as possible for the best Windows laptops, desktops, and tablets out in that location. A new UX with new features and a fresh coat of paint is what Windows Desktop needs right now, so it makes sense that Microsoft is prioritizing the required work.

Windows is exciting again. Even with Windows 10X on the backburner, I think the side by side couple of years are going to exist remarkably interesting for Windows fans. What are your thoughts? Practise you retrieve Windows 10X is more than important than Windows Desktop? Let u.s.a. know in the comments.

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