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Here's what we want to see from Windows 10 on Wednesday

Microsoft's upcoming event should fill in a lot of blanks on its upcoming new software.

Nate Ralph Associate Editor
Associate Editor Nate Ralph is an aspiring wordsmith, covering mobile software and hardware for CNET Reviews. His hobbies include dismantling gadgets, waxing poetic about obscure ASCII games, and wandering through airports.
Nate Ralph
4 min read

Juan Garzón/CNET

Microsoft's Windows 10 event on Wednesday should give us a chance to see what the company has planned for its future operating system. And while Windows 10 isn't expected until later this year, it'll mean we have a better idea of how well (or not) Microsoft's plans will fit in with the devices we're using now, and the slick-looking hardware we saw at CES 2015.

Tune in to CNET's live blog of Microsoft's event -- Windows 10: The Next Chapter

Let's face it: the Windows ecosystem is in a strange place right now. The majority of new PCs shipping today run Windows 8, but many of us haven't actually left Windows 7 -- to say nothing of those dedicated diehards still puttering around on older versions. Windows 10's success will hinge on whether or not those who steered clear of Windows 8 will find something to like. Here's what we want to see once we get there.

A release date, and a price

Windows 10 is expected to be released sometime this fall, but a concrete release date will go a long way towards filling us all in on how far along development is. The price tag is more important: Apple released OS X Yosemite to all Mac owners for free last fall, leaving the ball squarely in Microsoft's court.

I doubt Microsoft will follow suit. Apple can arguably afford to offer its operating system for free, as you need to own a Mac to get OS X Yosemite anyway. Windows users are free to build their own machines, to say nothing of businesses that will likely be deploying updates to large numbers of existing Windows PCs. But a competitive price will mean the difference between folks who were burned on Windows 8 taking a second chance, or holding on to earlier versions of Windows for a bit longer.