With Windows 10, Microsoft is doing something different that no one has done before with an operating system. It announced Windows 10 way back in September 2014, and allowed people to use the unfinished version of the OS for free well before its general availability.

While, the company had done this earlier with developer previews of Windows, the technical preview of Windows 10 was a very early build. Microsoft runs a programme called Windows Insiders, where Insiders can test the OS and offer it feedback on how to improve it and iron out its quirks.

Now, the Redmond-based technology giant, has announced that it has received more than a million feedback messages on how to enhance Windows 10, which is expected to be available later in the year.

Microsoft's engineering manager Gabriel Aul, who is responsible for the Windows Insider programme tweeted, "Wow! We just received our one millionth piece of feedback from the Feedback app! Woohoo! #WindowsInsiders."

Windows 10 already at this early stage seems to be a hit with early adopters who believe it to be superior operating system than Windows 8.1. Microsoft, so far, has released two major builds of the technical preview and also has released a version for phones.

Windows 10 fixes many of the user interface problems users faced with Windows 8. On the phone, it also adds a lot of new features that are found on Android devices. The OS also scales across a wide array of devices that include traditional PCs, tablets, phones, wearables, the Xbox, and even Internet of things hardware. Recent reports have suggested that Microsoft will push updates through peer to peer technology. As of now the technical preview doesn't have this feature.

Microsoft is also re -imagining the business model around Windows. For devices that are smaller than 9-inches Windows is free. In fact, Windows 10 will also be a free upgrade for users of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Like its Office productivity suite, Microsoft is now planning to think of Windows as a service.

With the market for traditional PCs sinking, the success of Windows on new type of hardware is imperative for Microsoft. Windows is central to the company and in the past its Windows Phone platform has been a failure. The company hopes that this will change with Windows 10.