Windows Threshold - Microsoft should have done this before

This post is my personal view with reference to some rumors published in few websites regarding Windows v-Next code named as Windows Threshold (probably branded for consumers as Windows 9, can’t say until Microsoft officially announces it).

After reading few rumoured posts, I am expressing my views in this small blog post. Irrespective of that, I would be happy to hear your opinions too.

In a post “Windows 'Threshold': More on Microsoft's plan to win over Windows 7 users”, Mary Jo Foley mentioned that:

“Users running Threshold on a desktop/laptop will get a SKU or version, that puts the Windows Desktop (for running Win32/legacy apps) front and center. Two-in-one devices, like the Lenovo Yoga or Surface Pro, will support switching between the Metro-Style mode and the Windowed mode, based on whether or not keyboards are connected or disconnected.

The combined Phone/Tablet SKU of Threshold won't have a Desktop environment at all, but still will support apps running side by side, my sources are reconfirming. This ‘Threshold Mobile’ SKU will work on ARM-based Windows Phones (not just Lumias), ARM-based Windows tablets and, I believe, Intel-Atom-based tablets.”

On the same day in a post “Windows Threshold: The modern UI takes a backseat for desktop users”, Brad Sams of neowin also mentioned that:

“Threshold will be a further move away from the Modern UI environment for desktop users. In some builds of Threshold, the Modern UI is disabled by default. You have to manually turn it back on but this is situation dependent, if you wish to access the live tile environment.

If you are on a tablet, the Modern UI is still present and takes precedence over the classic desktop but on traditional PCs, the Modern UI is no longer utilized by default.

Microsoft will still allow Modern apps to run in a windowed mode on the desktop and with the new Start menu (also present in Threshold) having the ability to launch un-pinned Modern apps, mouse and keyboard users can happily live on the desktop without being troubled by Metro-esque menus and screens if they wish.”

If these are true and expected to available in the vNext version of Windows, my opinion would be “Microsoft should have done this before in Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or it’s updates”. Generally speaking, a touch enabled tablets are better suits for Windows 8 Store (earlier named as Metro Design) applications, where as the laptops and/or PCs are well suits for desktop apps. Consumers using laptops or PCs are more interested on desktop based apps and should run to desktop mode by default with an option to enable the new start screen or metro apps.

ARM based touch devices or tablets are generally suitable for the new concept of UI (Metro apps) and I believe, there are very less nos. of people uses the desktop in those devices (which includes me too).

If the rumor is true for the next version of Windows, Microsoft should have done this before in any of the updates. But yes, I accept that it is better delayed than never. What’s your opinion about this? Do share your comments below.