Can't read the article at work but, what I gather from what you said you can upgrade for free from Windows 8 to 9? If that's true Microsoft will definitely win back a lot of consumers assuming Windows 9 isn't as clunky (for the average user) and they don't shove the upgrade down your throat like 8.1. Windows just has to make their OS look clean like OSX. Back in my Geek Squad days I'd get at least a customer a day come up to me and say "Sell me one of those Mac's, I don't want any of that Windows 8 garbage". I didn't even really have to sell them on it, just show them the cheapest one and tell them I'd see them in a month if they didn't get an AV. Then they'd laugh and laugh and tell me Mac's don't get viruses. Sure.
But seriously clean up WIndows 9, slap on the classic start menu, and people will eat that shit up.