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Business News/ Tech-news / News/  A fresh start: Microsoft’s Windows 10 wins plaudits
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A fresh start: Microsoft’s Windows 10 wins plaudits

The OS upgrade has seen positive reviews for its user-friendly and feature-packed interface

The Windows 10 launch was seen as important for the Satya Nadella-led Microsoft, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8. Photo: ReutersPremium
The Windows 10 launch was seen as important for the Satya Nadella-led Microsoft, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8. Photo: Reuters

Bengaluru: Microsoft Corp.’s launch of its first new operating system in almost three years, designed to work across laptops, desktop and smartphones, won mostly positive reviews for its user-friendly and feature-packed interface.

The launch was seen critical for the company, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8, an ambitious redesign that confused many users by ditching the start button menu and introducing a new layout.

The new OS, launched on Wednesday, will be available as a free upgrade for users of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1.

Wall Street Journal’s Geoffrey Fowler said Windows 10 fixes most of the issues with Windows 8 and improves on Windows 7, Microsoft’s most popular OS in recent years.

For one, the start button is back.

“Three months of testing Windows 10 determined that this familiar yet fresh overhaul far outweighs any problems," Fowler wrote in his review.

By offering free upgrades, Microsoft aims to put the system on as many devices as possible. The company would then make up for any lost revenue by selling services such as Office over the Internet, or cloud.

FBR Capital Markets analyst Daniel Ives said the cloud strategy could generate a new revenue stream.

“It’s a step in the right direction. They went back to their core DNA around software and a cloud-centric model and ultimately Windows as a service, a subscription model," Ives told Reuters.

Microsoft, which unveiled Windows 10 in September, skipped Windows 9 altogether, to put some distance between the new system and Windows 8.

At least one prominent reviewer was skeptical, saying the new OS was unlikely to boost PC sales or salvage Microsoft’s Windows phone business.

Re/code’s Walt Mossberg said some features were promising but the new OS was “surprisingly buggy".

“I doubt it will convert many Mac owners, spur a shopping spree in new PCs, bring in droves of new developers, or save the Windows Phone," Mossberg wrote. Reuters

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Published: 31 Jul 2015, 01:18 AM IST
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