Windows ‘Threshold’: More on Microsoft’s plan to win over Windows 7 users

ORIGINAL TITLE: Microsoft’s Plan with Windows ‘Threshold’: Targeting Windows 7 Users

Windows ‘Threshold,’ was Microsoft’s next major Windows operating system release, scheduled for Spring 2015. Targeted specifically at Windows 7 users, the goal of the Operating Systems Group at Microsoft with ‘Threshold,’ later branded as ‘Windows 9,’ was to attract those who had refrained from upgrading from Windows 7.

To achieve this, Microsoft incorporated numerous new features catered to desktop users in Threshold. This was in response to the significant user base who still engaged with their Windows devices primarily from a desktop or laptop PC.

In earlier Windows 8.1 Update, the design was customized based on particular hardware profiles. For example, some devices had Power and Search buttons on the Metro-style Start screen, while others did not. Some worked by booting up in the Desktop/Win32 legacy environment as default, with others (mainly touch/mobile-first devices) starting up on the Metro-Style Start Menu.

Such an approach was continued in Windows Threshold. The operating system’s appearance and functionalities changed according to the type of hardware.

Desktop/laptop users with Threshold received a version that prominently displayed the Windows Desktop for running Win32/legacy apps. Two-in-one devices, like the Lenovo Yoga or Surface Pro, allowed toggling between the Metro-Style mode and the Windowed mode, depending on whether a keyboard was connected.

On the other hand, the combined Phone/Tablet version of Threshold avoided a Desktop environment but still supported apps running side-by-side. This ‘Threshold Mobile’ version was designed for ARM-based Lumia phones, ARM-based Windows tablets, and possibly Intel-Atom-based tablets.

One of the company’s major goals with Threshold was to fix usability issues of Windows 8 for users relying primarily on devices where keyboard/mouse use was key.

Threshold’s Desktop/laptop SKU would introduce the Mini-Start menu, a new version of the traditional Microsoft Start menu. It would also permit running Metro-Style/Windows Store apps in windows on the Desktop. Details remained unclear on whether the Metro-Style Start screen with its live-tile interface would be entirely disabled, and tied Start Menu would become an optional feature from the Mini Start menu.

Microsoft intended to release a public preview of Threshold before its release in spring 2015, most likely in fall 2014. Meanwhile, Windows 8.1 Update 2, introduced no significant new features and its development was completed soon. The company’s main focus had already shifted to Threshold in an attempt to differentiate this OS release from Windows 8.

The company did plan to encourage Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8 users to Windows 8.1 Update, hoping for a smooth transition to Threshold. Details regarding packaging, pricing, and distribution were not finalized, but it was believed that Windows Threshold might potentially be free for Windows 8.1 Update and perhaps Windows 7 Service Pack 1 users.

Microsoft was eager to make a leap forward from Windows 8.x due to its resemblance with Microsoft’s Vista in terms of usability and functionality. The company’s focus was entirely on Threshold at this point.

Source: zdNet

Updated in 2025 to align with recent developments.