Could the latest version of the Windows operating system solve all user problems (and Microsoft's as well)?
"Threshold," the next Windows update, is likely an effort to pull in more adopters especially since the current Windows system hasn't been that successful, ZDNet reported.
Analysts are saying that Windows 8 was a flop and that even though Windows 8.1 features vast improvements, it's still being used on fewer than 25 million PCs. Microsoft is reportedly calling the new Threshold a solution to users' problems.
"Threshold needs to strike a better balance between meeting the needs of over a billion traditional PC users while enticing users to adopt this new Windows on new types of personal computing devices," said independent reporter Paul Thurrott on his Windows Super Site. "In short, it needs to be everything that Windows 8 is not."
According to Business Insider, the new operating system will likely ship next year.
If Microsoft plays into this bigger and better syndrome for Windows, it could risk issues similar to the problems with Windows phone, according to ZDNet. When the Windows smartphone was released, it didn't win over users due to its few available apps and features.
"What Microsoft doesn't need with Windows is to become known as the OS where the 'next version will be the big one'," James Kendrick of ZDNet said. "That smacks of each version not being good enough, probably due to lack of big enough sales numbers."
Each subsequent version of the phone has been touted as the one that will fix the problems, but none has pulled in the number of users that Windows wants.
Despite the low number of users that have implemented Windows 8.1, the latest operating system is strong in both its laptop and tablet OS versions, ZDNet naming it the most significant mobile tech of 2013.
Besides the struggles with Windows 8, Microsoft is facing uncertainty as to who will be its next CEO. The company is reportedly close to finding one and expects to appoint the new CEO early this year, according to Reuters.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?