Why Microsoft never released Windows 9: 4 versions
Possible reasons why Microsoft did not release this version of the operating system (photo: Getty Images)
In 2015, Microsoft released Windows 10, a significant overhaul of the Windows operating system. However, many were surprised that Microsoft skipped Windows 9 in favor of Windows 10. There are several reasons behind Microsoft's decision, according to the Medium platform, which publishes various blogs and articles.
Marketing
One reason for abandoning Windows 9 was marketing. Microsoft wanted to completely break away from Windows 8, which wasn't as well received as previous versions of Windows.
By naming the new operating system Windows 10, Microsoft could start fresh and create a new identity for the product.
Compatibility
Another reason for skipping Windows 9 was compatibility. Many legacy applications check for the presence of Windows 95 or 98 by looking for the string "Windows 9" in the operating system name.
If Microsoft had released Windows 9, these applications might have confused Windows 9 with Windows 95/98, causing compatibility issues.
Future plans
Finally, some believe Microsoft skipped Windows 9 because it planned to make Windows 10 a more long-term operating system.
With Windows 10, Microsoft transitioned to a new model of regular updates rather than releasing major new versions of the operating system every few years.
By skipping Windows 9, Microsoft was able to start Windows 10 on the right foot and indicate that it would be the future of Windows.
Superstitions
There is another theory: the number 9 is considered unlucky in Japan because its pronunciation resembles the word for "torture" or "suffering." This is similar to how Western cultures avoid the number 13 - "the devil's dozen."
Additionally, in Germany, the word "nine" sounds like "nein" - "no," which also doesn't contribute positively to marketing.
Other companies avoiding this number
Microsoft isn't the only tech company to avoid the number 9. In 2017, Apple also skipped number 9, naming its first bezel-less smartphone iPhone X (Roman numeral "ten"). This emphasized the device's novelty and significant departure from previous models.
