Josh's Windows Weblog » Predictions for Microsoft in 2009

Predictions for Microsoft in 2009

ChannelWeb has a list of 10 predictions for Microsoft in 2009. Here is some of that list:

  • Windows 7 will get a better reception than Vista
  • Microsoft Online Store will ruffle feathers
  • Rich applications available will explode
  • Azure will be a hit
  • Hyper-V will become a standard
  • Windows home server moves to the cloud

Now I agree with much of this, and its easy to as they aren't that sensational.

  • I agree Windows 7 will get a better reception that Windows Vista.  I would be hard not to and they aren't reinventing the driver model with makes worlds of difference to stability.
  • I don't think the online store will ruffle that many feathers unless they start undercutting their other distribution channels.
  • I do think Rich applications will be more prevalent.
  • Azure will be a hit.
  • Hyper-V will become used in lots of data centers, but VMware will continue to out innovate keeping a good chunk of the market.

Here are some my predictions for Microsoft in 2009

  • Zune Phone Platform - I think we will see the launch of a new Microsoft mobile platform that marries more of its entertainment division. (Zune and Xbox)
  • Next Gen Zune players will ship and have touch capabilities
  • The Xbox 360 is about 4 years old now and this team will probably start to look to its future model. I think late in the year we will learn details on Microsoft's plan for a next gen console that will start to be available in 2010.
  • Office 14 will ship
  • Windows 7 will ship ahead of schedule and do well next holiday season. Netbooks with Win7 will be the biggest seller
  • Windows Home Server will have a new version, but I don't think it will move to the cloud. Like Ian, I do think that they will have an optional cloud "backup".  I also think it will have more media capabilities
  • IE8 will ship and web developers will complain because they didn't test
  • Games for Windows Live will expand to offer more of the Xbox out of games experience for Windows Users.
  • Windows Live services will continue to innovate and while some of the services will fail and or merge ultimately they will start to become pervasive for Windows Users and provide more seamless machine to machine use for Windows.

What do you think ? Have any predictions?

Posted Dec 03 2008, 04:57 AM by Josh Phillips
Filed under:

Follow Me on Twitter

Did you enjoy this article? If yes, then subscribe to our RSS 2.0 feed or

Comments

JoeM wrote re: Predictions for Microsoft in 2009
on 12-03-2008 7:14 AM

Couldn't agree more.    Not sure on touch Zunes,  but I could hope.

Matt Freestone wrote re: Predictions for Microsoft in 2009
on 12-03-2008 8:46 AM

Agreed Josh, I think you've got everything pretty much dead on.  The only thing I wonder about will be the Zune Phone.  Trust me, I HOPE you are right, and maybe that's the reason that Win Mobile 7 keeps getting pushed back but..... Just not holding my breathe.

Azure WILL be a hit, and Hyper-V is already in wide-spread use, and with Hyper-V 2 coming out with Win7 Server (Server 2008 R2) that will have live migration and all the other features it's missing is going to take I would guess 1/3, closer to 1/2 of the virtualization market within 2 years.

Josh Phillips wrote re: Predictions for Microsoft in 2009
on 12-03-2008 8:52 AM

Well it wouldn't be a prediction if I got everthing right :P

neodorian wrote re: Predictions for Microsoft in 2009
on 12-03-2008 9:15 AM

As far as a Zune phone, I would imagine that Windows Mobile 7 will use some of their Zune assets to try and compete with Apple as far as a modern phone with better built-in media management/playback.  Granted you can do this on the current WinMo but it ain't pretty or out of the box and people love pretty out of the box.  I'm also *very* interested to see what news comes out in 2009 regarding new WinMo phones (6.5 or 7) that utilize the new nVidia mobile Tegra chipset.  Hardware like that coupled with a more up-to-date mobile OS will be a serious contender for the smart/media phone market.

Brad Moczik wrote re: Predictions for Microsoft in 2009
on 12-05-2008 8:56 AM

Good stuff, Josh.  I agree that Windows 7 will have decent reception, but there will be some "this is what Vista should've been" baggage around it.  Windows Azure will be a hit.  As for Hyper-V, it will continue to gain traction in the SMB market where upgrades/migrations to WS 2008 will move more quickly.  As it starts to incorporate more advanced features, it will make inroads into the enterprise market, but will be playing catch-up to Xen and ESX as they continue vying for enterprise market share.  Xen will continue to have a strong presence in the cloud.  

Like you suggested, MS will lead the direction of next-gen WinMo phones that combine Zune capabilities.  I predict that MS will rename Zune or at least use different naming for the phone, as Zune is a pretty lame name.

What ‘Zune Mobile’ is and isn’t | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com wrote What ‘Zune Mobile’ is and isn’t | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com
on 12-12-2008 9:17 AM

Pingback from  What ‘Zune Mobile’ is and isn’t | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com

Bink.nu wrote What ‘Zune Mobile’ is and isn’t
on 12-12-2008 3:26 PM

Microsoft officials (finally) denied this week that the company will be rolling out a Zune phone at the

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Powered by Community Server (Non-Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems Themed By nb development