Windows XP will be 17 years old on October 25. With official support suspended, no compatibility with new hardware, and some horrible bugs that Microsoft never fixed, any user trying to use it today knows they are on their own in that wild and daring adventure. But let's imagine for a moment that Redmond decides to clean the slate, go back to its roots, and redesign Windows XP applying everything it has learned so far...
One of the biggest challenges Microsoft faces is easing the fatigue of the average user... fatigue the company itself caused. You might think I'm being too harsh, but let's consider it: Redmond released three major operating systems in less than 36 months, breaking a paradigm of stability that had stood for years. Many users don't return to previous versions because they're stubborn, but because they're convinced (after accumulating thousands of flight hours in front of their desktops) that they work better. Every time we look back, the figure of old XP appears in the distance. Microsoft gave the thumbs down to standard versions in April 2014, although there are still tricks to get the few remaining patches. However, a recent concept posted by the Avdan channel on YouTube leaves a very interesting question: What if Windows XP were released today?
First of all, I think the biggest impact of this concept comes through color. Unless the user makes some adjustments, Windows 10 is stuck from the factory in the "white-black-transparent" triangle, and I dare say the blues, olive greens, and silvers (which follow XP's original palette) look refreshing. The start menu is clearly aligned with Windows 10's interface, dividing its space into a list that presents programs in alphabetical order and a section for universal apps. Those icons might work better here because their tone isn't so different from the background, they aren't animated, and they look more like operating system options than independent software. The cameo of the dog Rover is a special touch, but I imagine it must still be as bad at finding files as before.
What did the web say about Windows XP Edition 2018? More than 600,000 views in six days speak for themselves. Avdan's channel is also known for the Windows 11 concept it published last January, which easily surpassed a million views, though it wasn't as well received. If anyone wants to see something like this in Windows 10, they'll need some kind of skin. Microsoft has very important plans for its flagship operating system, starting with deep advances in its Fluent Design. The latest build 1803 debuted last week, but most users will have to wait a bit to receive it.
