This fan-made Windows 12.2 concept is the operating system we deserve, but will never get

I always have such mixed emotions while watching a fan-made concept video. If you’ve never seen them, someone will occasionally make a mock-up of what they imagine an operating system will look like. This could be based on an operating system that’s on the way, one that never managed to make it to market, or just people speculating what would have happened if Microsoft never canned the Windows Phone. Rest in Peace.

They’re a ton of fun to watch because they give us a small glimpse into an alternate universe where things were a little different. However, because they’re usually made by fans, for fans, they’re usually designed to be really appeasing for consumers. As such, we usually see a ton of cool features that we know, deep, deep down, Microsoft would never even consider adding to its OS.

This Windows 12.2 mockup makes us wish for greener pastures

As spotted by Windows Central, this awesome video comes to us via AR 4789 on YouTube. Before we go any further, it is important we emphasise that this isn’t a real operating system; it’s only a mockup of what AR 4789 wants Windows 12.2 to look like. While Microsoft should definitely take notes from it, it’s not official, so don’t expect it on your PC any time soon.

Anyway, here’s the mockup:

Looks amazing, right? I think the big tell-tale that this isn’t an official Microsoft project is when the demonstrator shows off going to the themes menu, picking out a Windows 7 Aero theme, and applying it all within the operating system. The change is instant and makes everything look like they were back in simpler times, with the sleek Aero look and a Start button on the left side of the taskbar by default. Ah, well, one can dream.

Granted, it’s very easy for a mockup artist to imagine Windows in whatever way they like. Given how many systems Windows is built upon over its decades of existence, it may be a little tricky for it to handle some of the stuff shown in the above video. However, given how popular Windows is worldwide, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine that Microsoft could achieve something like what’s shown in the above video when it releases Windows 12; that is, if we ever get it.

So, how likely is an official Windows 12, anyway? Well, if one report is to be believed, we’ve already seen Nvidia prep for a Windows 12 release. And if it is real, we’d love to sit Microsoft down and give it a full wishlist of all the cool stuff we want from it. We already have pieces on the features Windows 12 needs to borrow from its competitors and the Windows versions Windows 12 should shamelessly imitate.