As a native Windows user, I’m a huge fan of Windows 7, while many computer users swear by Mac OSX, I think Windows 7 wins hands down with its superior file management, and Windows still feels like a superior work platform compared to a Mac which feels like more of a leisure OS for surfing and emailing.

Regardless, this isn’t a Windows vs. Mac debate, rather this is a post on my personal wish list for Windows 8, which would improve the OS to new heights, and may even win over some Mac users.

Cut down time to usable desktop

There’s no denying that Windows 7 has improved vastly over XP and Vista, in terms of reducing boot times. However, it still leaves a lot to be desired. My dual boot configuration currently has Fedora (Linux based OS) and Windows 7, Fedora can be ready to work with roundly 20 seconds, while Windows 7 takes roughly 90 seconds in order to boot to a workable desktop environment. Clearly, windows’ boot to workable desktop time needs to be cut down significantly to come close to its Linux and Mac rivals.

Either support Blu-ray fully or withdraw

Windows currently supports read/write access to blu-ray discs, but doesn’t play blu-ray movies at all, windows 8 should come with native blu-ray movie support in Windows Media Player, just like it currently supports DVD movies. Users have to either buy a secondary blu-ray player or hope that their blu-ray drive came packaged with an OEM blu-ray player. Mac doesn’t support blu-ray at all, and it could be justified, blu-ray is meant to be used for large TV screens, Apple believes the future lies in streaming movies, on laptops rather than TVs and does not see a viable future in blu-ray.

Windows for Tablet

Windows was first to hit the mobile/touch screen market with its Windows CE, originally launched in 1994. As far as user interface goes, it seems little has changed, Windows 7 on tablets still uses the usual desktop and start menu style user interface. Windows 8 should have a much more user friendly and liteversion of its OS for tablet users, with intuitive support for multi-touch, and a user interface designed specifically for desktop users, rather than the lazy attempt of adding touch screen support to a desktop OS and calling it a tablet ready operating system.

Better security again malware and adware.

While it’s finally possible to have an entirely virus free and malware free system in Windows 7, much of it comes down to investing time and money on 3rd party anti-virus and anti-malware software to protect oneself. Far too many novice computer users still get riddled with viruses and malware, this is because to be unaffected users must be experience and educated about PC security. Windows 8 needs to appeal to the masses and have native protection against virus and malware, without drawing huge amounts of system resources in doing so, protection must also be idiot-proof and built into the core of the OS.

File Synchronization

It’s rare for anyone to use a single computer these days, and it would be incredibly useful to have a Windows feature allowing libraries to be synchronized between PCs and user accounts, either through the cloud or LAN. Currently users have to subscribe to third party online backup services to do so.

Virtual Desktops

With the boundaries between work and play ever diminishing it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay organized, Ubuntu and Mac OS currently support virtual desktops to enable extended working environments, allowing users to separate their work desktop with their leisure desktop. Currently the only way to achieve this is to create different Windows logins, which comes with its own management issues, and would be far easier if an extended desktop feature in Windows was available.

Better Backups

While we can all wish for a crash free, virus free operating system, the truth is a meltdown is likely to happen at some point, even to the most tech savvy and diligent amongst us. When those times come it’s useful to have solid backups in place. Even though Windows 7 has improved vastly over its predecessor in the backup department. There is still a huge gap between the current Windows backup and Apple’s Time Machine.

The ability to quickly and easily backup all libraries, program settings, browser settings, emails, and if possible applications will make Windows backup a joy to use. Currently users do not have that luxury and have to spend great lengths of time tinkering Windows after a system re-install, in order to resume to the state prior to the crash or virus attack.

Well, there you go my 7 wishes for the next installment of Windows, having these in place will make me an even bigger fan than I already am right now. What are your wishes? Feel free to share them in the comments below.

=== About the Author ===

Guest post written by Abdul Karim, a tech enthusiast, Windows fan and writer for the online backup services website