This is the truth behind Microsoft skipping Windows 9

Recently, Microsoft introduced and provided a preview of the Windows 10 operating system for the first time. The most surprising news of this "preview" is that the next generation operating system after Windows 8 will not be called Windows 9, but directly named Windows 10.

According to Microsoft's historical convention, this version of the operating system should be named "Windows 9".

The tech media has made various analyses and speculations as to why Microsoft broke this convention. One view is that Microsoft named it this way to show that this version of the operating system has made great improvements and updates since Windows 8, so "upgrading two levels in a row" can reflect the innovative value of the new system.

However, this analysis is untenable. In fact, at the media briefing, the Microsoft executive in charge of the system demonstration also made it clear that the Windows 8 operating system did not strike a good balance between touch control and keyboard and mouse control, and the new system would need to make changes.

Windows 10 has more interfaces that are familiar to traditional Windows 7 users. The "retro" feature of this system is greater than innovation.

Recently, many IT industry insiders pointed out on Twitter and in the media the most important reason why Microsoft skipped "Windows 9" - there are technical conflicts with Windows 95 and Windows 98 released more than ten years ago.

Many people pointed out that in some software developed at that time, relevant functions were used to check the operating system version. The characters in front of Windows 95, Windows 98, and "Windows 9" are consistent. Since the application software developed at that time was not well considered, errors and problems may have occurred.

In other words, programmers at the time judged that if the operating system name contained "Windows 9", it was Windows 95 or Windows 98. Since these software have been used for many years, it is impossible to modify the code for the new version of the system. If Microsoft uses "Windows 9", it will cause a large number of historical legacy software to have problems.

According to analysis, based on this reason, Microsoft decided to skip "Windows 9" and name it "Windows 10".

At the above-mentioned briefing, Microsoft only provided a partial preview and introduction of the new system's enterprise functions. The system will continue to be developed next year and will be officially released to the public later next year. The earliest computers pre-installed with Windows 10 are expected to be available for sale at the end of next year.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.