Company Updates

Dell is Ready to Enter the Next Era with Microsoft Windows 10

By   |  
Topics in this article

On January 21, our partner Microsoft shared a preview of the next chapter of Windows at an event held on their Redmond Microsoft campus. We’re excited to continue partnering closely with them, as they deliver the next version of Windows – Windows 10.

Terry Myerson Microsoft's Executive Vice President of Operating Systems speaking at their Windows 10 launch event

A lot of you are also excited for it, and have been asking us about availability, drivers, upgrades, etc.

While we can’t provide more details on Windows 10 beyond what Microsoft shared, we can talk about our current Windows devices such as our new multiple-award-winning XPS 13 and our recently-updated Latitude portfolio of business systems.

And, you can purchase these today without worrying about obsolescence tomorrow.

“For people with qualified Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices, we are offering a free upgrade,” said Peter Han, vice president of Marketing, Worldwide OEM Division Microsoft Corp. “We want Windows as a service to power the next billion devices and we hope that our current and future customers love it.”

Some of the innovations and features announced yesterday that showcase how Windows 10 will empower people to do more include:

  1. Single Platform: Windows 10 is a single platform built to work seamlessly across all form factors including your phone, tablet or PC. This gives developers a broader app development platform as well, and enable customers to purchase an app once to use across all their devices.
  2. Cortana: Microsoft’s voice-activated personal digital assistant, Cortana is designed to help you to get things done more easily and efficiently and will be available not only on phone, but also PCs and tablets.
  3. Project Spartan: An all-new browser purpose-built to deliver a better web experience—one that’s made for easy sharing, reading, researching, and getting things done online.
  4. Office for Windows 10:New universal Office apps great for touch-first productivity across all devices.   
  5. Suite of In-Box Apps: A new set of in-box applications – universal for working consistently across all Windows devices – for Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging, and Mail & Calendar.
  6. Upgrade: Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified, new or existing, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year following the availability of Windows 10.

Another element that makes Windows 10 interesting is how the user community has been involved in its development. We’ve found great success with such crowdsourcing through our IdeaStorm community, our Social Innovation Challenge and more.

“Since we launched the Windows Insider Program in September, we’ve been joined by 1.7 million Windows Insiders, who have delivered over 800,000 pieces of feedback,” said Terry Myerson, Microsoft's executive vice president of Operating Systems. “We are truly co-creating the future of Windows with you and we’re humbled by your valuable role in this new open development process.”

Myerson also announced on the Windows blog today that some of the new features demoed on Wednesday will be available for Windows Insiders starting today.

For a comprehensive overview of the Windows 10 platform and some new devices announcements made at the event, please review the following Blogging Windows  blog post, Windows for your Business blog post and feel free to view the on-demand recording of the event.

A man stands in his living room using Microsoft HoloLens enabled by Windows 10.

About the Author: Laura Pevehouse

Laura Pevehouse was profiled as one of five “social media mavens” in the March 2009 issue of Austin Woman Magazine and named an AdWeek’s TweetFreak Five to Follow. She has been part of the Dell organization for more than 15 years in various corporate communications, employee communications, public relations, community affairs, marketing, branding, social media and online communication roles. From 2014-2018, Laura was Chief Blogger/Editor-in-Chief for Direct2DellEMC and Direct2Dell, Dell’s official corporate blog that she help launch in 2007. She is now a member of the Dell Technologies Chairman Communications team. Earlier in her Dell career she focused on Global Commercial Channels and US Small and Medium Business public relations as part of the Global Communications team. Prior to that, she was responsible for global strategy in social media and community management, as well as marcom landing pages, as a member of Dell’s Global SMB Marketing, Brand and Creative team. When she was part of Dell’s Global Online group, Laura provided internal consulting that integrated online and social media opportunities with a focus on Corporate Communications and Investor Relations. She managed the home page of Dell.com, one of the top 500 global web sites in Alexa traffic rank, and first brought web feeds and podcasts to the ecommerce site. In her spare time she led Dell into the metaverse with the creation of Dell Island in the virtual world Second Life. Laura has earned the designation of Accredited Business Communicator from the International Association of Business Communicators, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Louisiana State University. Before joining Dell Financial Services in 2000, she worked at the Texas Workforce Commission and PepsiCo Food Systems Worldwide.
Topics in this article