Microsoft's software is standard in many enterprises, but personal users have started to look for more agile and light-weighted technologies with the help of Apple and Google.

Although Microsoft has been one of the first players to step on the cloud computing scene with Azure, it is generally regarded as being relatively late to develop efficient cloud technologies for personal use.

As Microsoft Office shifts towards the cloud, Microsoft seems to be taking new steps forward to meet the needs of individuals in its next generation of operating systems. Windows 8 appears to offer a very cloud-friendly environment. Furthermore, Microsoft is set to offer all of its new software on cloud as well as on premise.

Windows 8 will be used for desktops, laptops, and tablets and will allow users to interconnect them. Since the vast majority of PC users work on multiple computers, it would only make sense for Microsoft to embrace this feature. Probably its main improvement is cloud integration, through its “roaming profile”.

If you login from any device with Windows 8, through the ”roaming profile” and cloud synchronization, your settings will appear on the device, with the files synced with a cloud service. I personally cannot help but wonder how much similar this feature will be to iCloud.

Here are some other main features that according to rumor, will be part of Windows 8

• There will be a Windows App Store.
• Access to the Azure online storage service is integrated.
• The new UI, called Metro will launch apps instantly.
• The new OS will run faster. Its increased performance will dramatically improve the browsing on the Internet and web apps’ speed.
• Software developers can also develop apps for the Windows App Store. The Windows 8 Developer Preview was already made available for install on virtualization platforms such as the VMware workstation.

Cloud computing is getting so big that even Microsoft is trying to adapt its latest OS to include cloud features. Microsoft is rumored to want to reinvent the operating systems market, but it has fierce competition from the Google Chrome OS and Apple iOS. We will know for sure in late 2012, when it is rumored to be released.