Improving Microsoft Windows

When Apple shifted its operating system from MacOS 9 classic to the Darwin-based MacOS X felines, it was very well received by the market; and for good reason. MacOS became much more stable and flexible, gained preemptive multi-tasking and other capabilities while retaining ease of use which the Mac is known for.

The Mac OS classics certainly had a pretty face but did not have washboard abs. OS X changed that by replacing the core with Darwin.

I was just wondering if Microsoft could also do the same thing with their Windows OS. Their user interface may not be as pretty as OS X’s, that’s for sure, but it is definitely more familiar than KDE or Gnome (familiar, but not necessarily better). If they’d follow Apple’s lead, they could also produce an OS with the familiar Windows interface and a rock-solid core.

They would have a lot of kernels to choose from. They could help develop Hurd, use Linux, or maybe any of the BSDs. Personally, I think the BSDs—more particularly, FreeBSD—would be better. First, I have the impression that it is better engineered; Second, the BSD license is more commercial-friendly than GPL. But they can always use Darwin too…

What’s clear is that Microsoft seems to have hit the wall in OS innovation. Windows 95 was good in its time, Windows XP also has been nice, but Vista was delivered late, with less features than expected and awfully bug-ridden.

To aggravate the situation, it is not yet long since Vista’s birth but Microsoft will be releasing the new Windows 7. This seems to be an admission by Microsoft themselves that Vista is no good that is why they will be replacing it ASAP—as if Vista never happened to disgrace Microsoft.

Contrast this to Windows XP. It lived to a ripe old age before a replacement from Microsoft came over; and even with that replacement, XP refuses to die. Vista, on the other hand, has not reached puberty yet but Microsoft is relieving it of its post.

That is a sign. If only Microsoft can perceive it.

That’s what I like about Apple: they can recognize a good thing (Darwin) when they see one. If Apple can do it, Microsoft should be able to do it—that is, if they want to. It is an indisputable fact that the change breathed a new life to Apple. Would Microsoft want the same success?