Shane, your responses were definitely worth bringing it to your attention. lol My first impression is that Microsoft is trying to do a fake-out to the general Windows using community and make everyone think it is an entirely different operating system than Win 8 is. (Trying to hide their shame.)
The number 10 was a surprise to me as well. Microsoft must still be feeling the sting from Vista. I had read the same articles that you had about naming the next release as v8.x or 9. They were talking about making it free, at some level, as well. Maybe they needed to go to 10 to dispel that idea. To me it truly looks like a more viable Windows 8.x than a new version of Windows.
I know your tools can't really support the new O/S until it's final incarnation is released. No problem. I thought you'd enjoy the heads-up and looking through the logs from running the Windows Repair app on it. I had nothing to lose but time. I was glad that I was able to note a couple things for you. Since the download and licensing for the pre-release is free, I can re-image that virtual machine at will, or with VMware just create a recovery point.
When MS were releasing Windows 8 workstation / Windows 2012 server, articles kept referring to 8 or 2012 as the server version, interchangeably. It was annoying. Almost as annoying as Microsoft Press 'NOT' providing self-training kit set of books. I do far better learning a new operating system by reading and then doing exercises to experience the product more closely and become conversant with it.
I have not read far enough yet to say that all versions of the next release will officially be known as Windows 10 or not.
I firmly believe that server administrators need a different interface than a desktop user does. And that most home users need a simpler interface than a employee at a company does for the work they do on the computer. A smartphone is in no way the same as a network managed domain or database server. I don't know how much MS has come to grips with that realization for this next Windows release. My guess is : probably not enough. But, so far my experience with the Win10 pre-release has been better than my time with Windows 8 (or 2012). They have done quite a few things with the interface better this time. The initial discoveries are the most challenging: what did they do with the Control Panel shortcut? Why don't I see my loaded CD drive from explorer? How could I add a silly 'Metro' block next to the Menu and so on. (They are easy to delete.)
Their default color-schemes are a little scary: pastels.
Time will tell. The article states that they don't plan to release a final version until later next year.
Let me know if there is anything you'd like your software users to keep an eye out for, with this latest version of Windows as it matures over the next year. If any other big thing jumps out at me while using it, I will pass it on to you.
Mark
