Poll: Windows 9 More Influential than iOS 8

With the impending release of both Microsoft (MSFT) Windows 9 and Apple (APPL) iOS 8, we asked readers to sound off on which of the big new operating systems will have the largest impact on their customers in the coming months. After the votes were tallied, nearly half of respondents expected Microsoft’s new OS to be the most impactful.

When it comes to the most important upcoming OS launch, 45 percent of voters said Windows 9 is bound to have the most impact on their customers, while only 28 percent of voters felt iOS 8 would make the biggest impression among customers.  An additional 7 percent of voters felt both operating systems would have the same impact, while 21 percent felt that neither would have any impact on their clientele.

Since neither operating system has made it to virtual shelves, its difficult to predict which OS will be the most influential as we close out 2014. On one hand, Microsoft’s flagship operating system has more than a few years of traction on the relatively new iOS platform, and has the advantage of running on both legacy desktop and mobile devices. However, the desktop market has been in a rut for several years as mobile computing becomes more popular, while Microsoft’s mobile efforts trail far behind those of Google (GOOG) or Apple’s popular devices.

On the other hand, Apple is always a reliable source for generating customer excitement, especially paired with the announcement for the Apple Watch and two new iPhone models during the same press conference. From what we know so far, iOS 8 is supposed to improve upon several aspects of the company’s previous software, from new keyboard and photo functionality to better integration with Mac OS X Yosemite, according to TechRadar. The only question that remains is how long Apple can keep people excited about its yearly software announcements when it’s painfully obvious something bigger and better is always just around the corner.

While Apple just announced the launch of iOS 8, Microsoft has yet to officially provide any information on its next-generation operating system. Several media outlets including Forbes suggested the new OS will feature the return of the start menu as well as the ability to switch between multiple virtual desktops. German website WinFuture recently posted a video showing several of these proposed features, including the ability to switch between the Windows 8 UI and the start menu setup, according to the International Business Times.

The good news is we probably won’t have to wait very long for answers: Apple is expected to drop iOS 8 on Sept. 17, with Microsoft rumored to follow suit sometime this month (Sept. 30, perhaps?) with a technical preview of the new OS.