The threat from Google's Chrome OS has arguably never been bigger, as people sprang for low-cost Chromebook laptops running the Google operating system instead of more traditional Windows or Apple macOS computers. As a result, Microsoft could release Windows updates that entice people to buy new machines, so that comparing results against the pandemic computer crush doesn't make for weak presentations to investors. That lifted growth rates for Windows license revenue tied to consumer PCs. Technology industry research company Gartner estimated that PC shipments in 2020 grew faster than they had in a decade. The coronavirus benefited PC makers including Microsoft as people rushed to buy computers to work and take classes at home. Historically, Windows has had a higher operating margin than the whole of Microsoft, and keeping Windows growing can make the company more profitable.

That has come about in part as a result of people buying PCs with Microsoft software pre-installed by manufacturers. Shipping new versions of big products such as Windows has in the past led to increases in Microsoft's revenue growth rate, the company has said. Here are nine possible justifications for Microsoft's decision to roll out a major update, which some suspect could be called Windows 11, instead of just another twice-per-year enhancement to Windows 10:

Windows 12 cost