Will You Buy Windows 10 When It Launches?

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By Chris Lange Updated Published
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MS Windows 10
Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced Wednesday the details of its new Windows 10 operating system. Effectively following this announcement, Windows 8 will fall to the wayside.

A free upgrade to Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year after launch.

There will be universal Windows apps that work across the entire device family, developers can build one app that targets the broadest range of devices ranging from PCs to phones, and even more.

Microsoft launched a Windows Insider Program in September that has added 1.7 million Windows Insiders who gave over 800,000 pieces of feedback, making it one of the largest ever collaborative developments that Microsoft has shipped.

To compete with Apple’s Siri, Windows 10 brings Cortana into the picture. Cortana acts as a digital personal assistant that learns preferences and provides relevant recommendations as well as fast access to information. Interaction with Cortana can be done either through typing or speaking.

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Project Spartan was the codename for the next generation browser that was built for this OS. It has some advanced features that play into Windows 10, including the ability to annotate on a webpage with either a keyboard or a pen.

The Xbox console is also integrated into this system and will allow players to directly capture, edit and share their gaming moments with a game DVR as well as play games with friends across devices.

Probably the most eye-catching feature from the new OS was the Holographic Future with the Microsoft HoloLens. This is considered the world’s first holographic computing platform, which would enable developers to create holographic experiences in the real world.

As a result of the presentation analysts began to weigh in on Microsoft:

  • Citigroup maintained a Hold rating with a $50 price target.
  • Credit Agricole maintained a Buy rating with a $53 price target.
  • Cowen had a Hold rating with a $50 price target.

Shares of Microsoft were at $47.06 in Friday’s trading. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $50.03 and a 52-week trading range of $35.69 to $50.05.

ALSO READ: The Bullish and Bearish Case for Microsoft in 2015

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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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