The problem is going to be hardware. A lot of older XP systems cannot run Windows 8.1 X86 or X64 though they can run Windows 8.0 X86.

MS would have to provide some kind of incentive with the OEM manufactures to get cheap new hardware to these folks with Windows 9 already installed.

May be the version they give away will be cripple wear ? Cannot join a domain, no group policy editor. Much like XP Home and Home Premium. May even limit the maximum RAM to 8 or 16GB on 64 bit systems and limit the amount of programs that can be run on the desktop but not on the new user interface to force users into the metro mode. In other words not geek friendly as I like my OS fully operational and not crippled in any way.

Please, no Windows 9 Starter edition.

azasadny, post: 34896, member: 293 said:

I hope they provide a fair incentive for those of us who have paid for all of our upgrades through the years and are running Win 8.1 Update 1...

That's what the discounted upgrade versions are for. At least that's my understanding. With these quick release cycles they may have to sweeten it even more though.

If I was to make a new OS, I would separate kernel and GUI, something like Linux. kernel of course should be able to work on different devices, from desktop and up. Metro style App store and it's workings could be just an ad-on module. Another module could be for let's say servers and another strictly business without any of those eye candy and useless applets home users would like.