Windows May Be Your Father’s Operating System, But What’s an Operating System Anyway?

This friday Microsoft makes several epochal announcements, including a radically redesigned version of Windows that veers sharply from the established, tedious, conventions. Those who love tedious conventions will be annoyed, but those who like cool new stuff—most of us, these days—will likely be, at a minimum, intrigued, and perhaps enthralled. Microsoft should never be counted out. And alongside the new OS—coming in two versions for Intel and ARM chips—will be a new all-Microsoft device called Surface, based on ARM. It of course would love to be an iPad killer. Don’t hold your breath for that one, but the signs suggest Surface will be a hit, at least with the vast numbers of corporations that are deeply committed to Microsoft products.