Windows 10 Targets Windows 7 in Business

Windows 10 will emphasize appeal to enterprises, especially those considering replacements for Windows 7, which leaves Mainstream support in early 2015. Windows 10 is the next version of the Windows OS for laptop, desktop, tablet, and phone devices. It is available in a public technical preview and will probably ship in the third quarter of 2015. Windows 10 will bring back desktop features such as the Start menu and deliver enhancements for deployment, management, and the browser. Organizations can use the preview to begin evaluations and provide feedback to influence Microsoft’s direction, but release timing and pricing were not announced.

User Interface: The Return of the Desktop

The current technical preview of Windows 10 is mainly focused on changes to the Windows desktop and supplements Start screen functionality with a modified Start menu. The changes could appeal to organizations looking for a Windows 7 replacement.

Start Screen De-Emphasized

The Windows 10 desktop in the technical preview begins with the Start menu, which is an evolution of the Windows 7 Start menu that adds select aspects of the Start screen. Expected to evolve through future updates, the menu includes the ability to pin applications to it, run the most recently launched applications, and see a list of all installed applications, whether they are Windows desktop applications or Windows Store applications (sometimes now referred to by Microsoft as “Universal applications”). The Start menu can be resized, and it includes support for Live Tiles and pinned desktop applications. (See the illustration “Windows 10 Restores the Start Menu“.)