So what will the less localized OS actually mean? Microsoft says the shift will bring about a "cleaner" system. In general, the trending toward Web-based applications could help cut down on the hassles surrounding updates and program maintenance.

"The evolution of the product becomes more seamless and doesn't require as much thought," King points out.

Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie suggested during Monday's keynote address that relying on Azure rather than a PC's OS would create a more stable platform. With Windows Azure, he says, there is no single point of failure -- so if one computer goes down, all the applications and data won't go with it.

Word of Caution

On the flipside, as more applications move toward the Web, the already swirling concerns regarding data use become more and more prevalent. You can access information from anywhere -- but so, in theory, can anyone else.