How Much Can Microsoft Afford to Change Windows?

Pondering the next Windows 10

Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash

Windows isn’t software. It’s an iconic entity that’s allergic to change. Think of it as a cherished work of art that needs regular upkeep: Everyone is happy with the brighter colors and fresh shine, but no one is pleased with the redrawn contours, painted over a blemish, or poorly recreated visage.

Windows 10 bears little resemblance to the Windows I first encountered in 1991, roughly around the time of Windows 3.1. In the 30 years since, I’ve seen and beta-tested countless iterations, each promising better functionality, performance, and utility. Later came assurances of better security. With notable exceptions, most updates treated the interface like a precious canvas, very slowly moving key elements, introducing new ones, and, occasionally, deprecating others.

In some ways, this process was like watching someone you love gracefully aging. Unless you leave them for a while, you don’t always notice the subtle changes. With Windows, key elements like File Manager, Task Manager, Device Manager, and the Registry Editor have barely changed in decades. I think this is both out of necessity and by design. Even though Microsoft Windows code is arguably completely different than what it was in, say, Windows 2000, these remnants play a crucial role in bridging the…