What Microsoft Will Crow About at Its Big Oct. 6 Media Briefing

At its Oct. 6 media briefing, expect Microsoft to make a number of significant announcements, including its long-awaited Surface Pro 4.

Microsoft’s CEO will have some news he is sure to enjoy presenting. Windows 10 is far more popular than Windows 8 and is well on its way to being the dominant operating system in the world. In fact, it is already the fourth-most-popular operating system, according to NetMarketShare, and is likely to take over the top spot as Windows 7 machines are retired in the next few years. Look for Satya Nadella to make that point and tout how well his operating system is performing.

One of the things Microsoft has been saying for months is that it will continually update Windows 10 to improve the overall user experience. On Oct. 6, expect the company to talk about the improvements it’s already made and those that it expects to bring on board in the coming weeks and months. Making platforms like Cortana and Search even better will be a critical component in the company’s success.

The cloud is truly the future in Satya Nadella’s eyes, so there is some speculation that it will play a prominent role at an event that’s supposed to be about hardware and software. According to some reports, Microsoft will use its cloud platforms as leverage to get laggards to jump on the Windows 10 bandwagon. It’s unclear how that will work, but it’s possible that more offers of free cloud storage and access to cloud-based platforms, like Office 365, could play a role at the event.

Microsoft will likely spend considerable time talking about its collaboration with developers to build enterprise applications. Microsoft will also likely talk about how it’s working with the channel to get Windows 10 devices into the office. Collaboration with developers that optimizes their software for Windows 10 and VARs that will market Windows 10 business applications are critical pieces in Microsoft’s strategy for enhancing its operating system’s market share.

To cap things off, Microsoft will announce the long-awaited Surface Pro 4 at its special press event. The device will likely be outfitted with a better touch display to address one of the biggest complaints facing previous models. The Surface Pro 4 will undoubtedly be running on Windows 10 and appeal directly to the enterprise with a stylus and attachable keyboard. The device is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iPad Pro.

Hybrids, or 2-in-1 devices that combine tablet and notebook functionality, are expected to come in all shapes and sizes at the Microsoft event. Hybrids are the driving force in tablet adoption right now, and it’s on those devices that Windows 10 performs best in the mobile ecosystem. Hybrids will be everywhere at Microsoft’s event.

In addition to hybrids, plain old notebooks will also be shown off at Microsoft’s event. Notebooks remain the most popular models in the PC market, and hardware makers are counting on Windows 10 to fire up sales. With the holiday season fast approaching, it would only make sense for Microsoft and its vendor partners to showcase some new options.

It’s easy to scoff at desktops, but let’s not forget that Windows 10 is optimized for touch screens. Sitting alongside notebooks and tablets at Microsoft’s Oct. 6 event will be a handful of all-in-one desktops designed for both consumers and enterprise users. And nearly all of them will feature touch displays.

One of the marks against Windows 8 was that it couldn’t quite attract broad vendor support. Microsoft is expected to immediately address that issue at its Oct. 6 event by allowing the world’s top hardware makers to unveil new devices. Microsoft will use its time on stage not only to display its own new technologies, but also those of as many vendor partners as it can get on stage. The more vendor support it can show on stage, the better Windows 10 looks.

Windows phones have been rumored for months. So it would only make sense that Microsoft will unveil at least a few new smartphones at its show, either its own or from partners. The devices will likely appeal to different price points, including the possibility of one taking on Apple’s iPhone 6s line. Microsoft is keen to the importance of smartphones, and it won’t allow a big event to go by without talking about its handsets.