Tuesday, Microsoft announced it will be launching Windows 10, which means yes, it will be completely skipping over Windows 9. In lieu of Windows 8 being perceived so poorly, Microsoft had to show a significant gain in improvement in its next Windows family. In fact, according to a company executive, “Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows”. Microsoft needs this. For a company consistently searching for a way to arouse its PC sales, having customers start enjoying their Windows experience again has to be of top priority.

Of the many changes taking place, don't expect to see those tacky tiles that we've hated since the very first time we saw them on Windows 8. On a positive note, the OS is expected to seem “comfortably familiar to many people”, and users will be happy to see that the beloved Start menu from Windows 7 is back, along with the familiar task bar. Windows 10 will work with PCs, tablets, smartphones, and even IoT devices for the connected home.

As far as being a shock to your system, it depends on what you are currently used to. USA Today says XP users are in for a drastic change, while Windows 7 and 8 users will find the new Windows 10 to be a nice blend of the two. This is good news considering Windows 7 remains the most popular Microsoft OS, with over 51 percent of desktop PCs still using it. Windows 10 is alleged to bump up the modern computing experience, meaning plenty of “touchscreen and on-the-go mobile access”, while also maintaining a more classic Windows experience. Sounds like a nice balance doesn't it?

Windows 10 will be compatible with the broadest number of devices, and Microsoft says it will even be able to “identify the device and change its interface mode”. Microsoft believes Windows lovers will understand the decision to make some serious upgrades to its OS, as more than simple incremental improvements were needed to bring back the love and respect of Windows fans. The new platform will open up an entirely new breadth of products to come. It is expected to become available to the public fall 2015.