Windows 10 Pros and Cons

Am using Windows 7 and received notice of FREE Window 10 upgrade reservation. Says it is not an abbreviated copy. Are there any reasons of why or why not I should do the download? Can’t imagine MS giving anything away free. Thanks

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What are some of the new improvements in Windows 10?

• Customizable Start experience.
• Refreshed icons and graphics
• Integration with Microsoft’s digital assistant — Cortana, can be used for finding and retrieving information on the Internet and your PC, such as files. You can also use it to control applications such as the Music Player and prepare an email message or track a package.
• Task View for managing applications using multiple desktops.
• Modern apps can now be windowed and behave just like desktop apps.
• Notification Center for centralized management of notifications and quick access to PC settings.
• Universal applications that work not only on your Windows 10 PC, but also your mobile phone running Windows 10 and also XBOX One.
• XBOX App for Streaming of live games to a PC or Tablet
• Touch optimized Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote and PowerPoint). Providing the power of Office on devices with touch support. Users can edit, prepare documents, spreadsheets and presentations with full document fidelity regardless of device.
• Continuum Mode — if you own a 2 in 1 form factor that works both as a laptop and tablet, you can easily let Windows 10 decide the best environment for you. Once detached into Tablet mode for instance, you can work in a more touch optimized user interface. Users will also be able to remotely use Windows 10 Mobile apps on their Windows PCs.
• Microsoft Edge — Windows 10 will include a next generation web browser called Edge that support advances in Windows 10 such as Cortana for finding information on the web, Annotation, PDF support, superior reading experience.
• Music and playlist integration in OneDrive.
• Unified messaging using Skype Integration
• Windows Hello and Passport for personalized authentication without the use of passwords.
• Device Guard for protecting devices against malicious applications.
• Support for media formats such as FLAC and MKV

Which features will be removed when I upgrade from a previous version of Windows?

Feature deprecation section

• If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center, or Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center and you install Windows 10, Windows Media Center will be removed.
• Watching DVDs requires separate playback software
• Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be removed as part of installing Windows 10.
• Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.
• Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts Games that come pre-installed on Windows 7 will be removed as part of installing the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft has released our version of Solitaire and Minesweeper called the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper.”
• If you have a USB floppy drive, you will need to download the latest driver from Windows Update or from the manufacturer’s website.
• If you have Windows Live Essentials installed on your system, the OneDrive application is removed and replaced with the inbox version of OneDrive.
• Windows Virtual PC with Windows XP Mode

Source:

Is Media Center supported in Windows 10?

No. Persons who need to use Media Center should consider carefully before upgrading from their previous version of Windows. The Windows 10 upgrade will automatically remove any installations of Media Center.

So what are the alternatives if I need Media Center?

Your best option is to continue running your existing version of Windows with Media Center.

• Windows 7 editions that include Media Center will continue to be supported until January 2020.
• Windows 8 Pro with Media Center will continue to be supported until January 2023.

Will Windows Media Center be available in Windows 10?

Windows Media Center is not part of Windows 10 and won’t be available after upgrading to Windows 10. If you use Windows Media Center, we will alert you during upgrade that Windows Media Center is not available on Windows 10. We know that some users use Windows Media Center to play DVDs, and we are providing a free DVD playback app in Windows 10 for Windows Media Center users.

Pros:

Free for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users

Simple setup and migration experience

Minimal learning curve, familiar user experience

Appropriate balance of classic and modern

Mouse, Keyboard and Touch friendly.

Return of customizable Start menu

Improved setup and recovery tools (rollback), backup

Richer cohesive, modern Settings app

Stable, robust modern entertainment and productivity apps

Customizable Universal (modern) apps – ability float on desktop, resize, snap.

Cortana digital assistant productivity benefits and accuracy

Task View for managing applications

Snap Assist for managing on screen windows more effectively.

Action Center for centralizing and managing app and system notifications

Clean, powerful modern web browser – Microsoft Edge

Stays ever green with ongoing improvements

Windows Update local network updating

Clean modern, logical, user interface with less distractions.

Cons

Two step process for performing a clean install and activation compliance check and 32 to 64 bit migrations.

Action Center limited options for notifications – can’t respond a tweet on the fly.

Mandatory Automatic Updates gives users less control over managing updates they might not want or can potential cause damage.

Microsoft Edge lacking Thumbnail Previews when multiple tabs are open

No extension model in Edge, some sites will still need to depend on Internet Explorer.

Some functions have been moved around that will require familiarization.

Number of Control Panel items have not been modernized.

Network Flyout does not support setting connection as a Metered Connection.

Windows 10 will be free for the first year to all Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Phone 8.1 users. This means, as long you upgrade within the first 12 months (July 29th 2015 to July 29th 2016), you will not have to pay for Windows 10 at all.

Wow, thats cool, but does that mean, I will have to pay for Windows 10 after the first year?

No. Its a promotion to get as many users to upgrade their existing Windows 7 PCs and Windows 8.1 devices to Windows 10. Once you upgrade within the first year for free, its yours forever at no additional cost. As Microsoft Program Manager for Windows Terry Myerson described it:

This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge.

I heard Microsoft representatives mention they are moving to a servicing model for Windows 10, does that mean Windows 10 is going to require a subscription?

No, Windows 10 remains a perpetual license, which means, you can upgrade to Windows 10 and use it forever without it expiring or going into any reduced functional mode.

Are you saying there will be no more versions of Windows after Windows 10?

Microsoft is moving Windows to a servicing model with Windows 10. The days of major revisions or what are called big bang releases are no more. As Microsoft Program Manager for Windows Terry Myerson described it:

This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet.

And just like any Internet service, the idea of asking «What version are you on?» will cease to make sense – which is great news for our Windows developers.

Why is Windows 10 free, is there some catch?

No, its not a catch. We are computing in different times. Windows 10 is free so app developers can standardize on one platform and reduce the fragmented market of different versions and editions of Windows that have been an issue in the past. When everybody is on the same platform, it means better quality apps, a healthier ecosystem and more advances in hardware and software innovation.

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Why has no one referenced what is (IMHO) the stupidest error in the new OS? That is, if you switch to «Tablet Mode» you lose access to the onscreen keyboard. The icon disappears and there is no way to access it until you turn off Tablet Mode at which point the icon immediately reappears. Only the overpaid tunnel visioned idiots at Microsoft would let something like this happen. As was the case with Millennium, Vista, 8 & 8.1, Windows 10 should NEVER have been released without actually being tested and having the bugs removed. Oh wait, I forgot we’re dealing with the company that can NEVER reproduce a bug that is complained about in forums all over the internet and, therefore, doesn’t exist. According to the ‘softies, all the users that complained about a bug don’t know what they are talking about since Microsoft can’t reproduce it. This has been the case for both alpha and beta testing at Microsoft since Win 3.1. I know because I have been a tester since then and not one bug that was ever filed with MS was ever reproducible

If you are lucky enough to have not downloaded the upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10, consider yourself lucky. It is further proof that the best one word description for Microsoft is SNAFU. Still.

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5 people found this reply helpful

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Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

What are some of the new improvements in Windows 10?

• Customizable Start experience.
• Refreshed icons and graphics
• Integration with Microsoft’s digital assistant — Cortana, can be used for finding and retrieving information on the Internet and your PC, such as files. You can also use it to control applications such as the Music Player and prepare an email message or track a package.
• Task View for managing applications using multiple desktops.
• Modern apps can now be windowed and behave just like desktop apps.
• Notification Center for centralized management of notifications and quick access to PC settings.
• Universal applications that work not only on your Windows 10 PC, but also your mobile phone running Windows 10 and also XBOX One.
• XBOX App for Streaming of live games to a PC or Tablet
• Touch optimized Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote and PowerPoint). Providing the power of Office on devices with touch support. Users can edit, prepare documents, spreadsheets and presentations with full document fidelity regardless of device.
• Continuum Mode — if you own a 2 in 1 form factor that works both as a laptop and tablet, you can easily let Windows 10 decide the best environment for you. Once detached into Tablet mode for instance, you can work in a more touch optimized user interface. Users will also be able to remotely use Windows 10 Mobile apps on their Windows PCs.
• Microsoft Edge — Windows 10 will include a next generation web browser called Edge that support advances in Windows 10 such as Cortana for finding information on the web, Annotation, PDF support, superior reading experience.
• Music and playlist integration in OneDrive.
• Unified messaging using Skype Integration
• Windows Hello and Passport for personalized authentication without the use of passwords.
• Device Guard for protecting devices against malicious applications.
• Support for media formats such as FLAC and MKV

Which features will be removed when I upgrade from a previous version of Windows?

Feature deprecation section

• If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center, or Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center and you install Windows 10, Windows Media Center will be removed.
• Watching DVDs requires separate playback software
• Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be removed as part of installing Windows 10.
• Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.
• Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts Games that come pre-installed on Windows 7 will be removed as part of installing the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft has released our version of Solitaire and Minesweeper called the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper.”
• If you have a USB floppy drive, you will need to download the latest driver from Windows Update or from the manufacturer’s website.
• If you have Windows Live Essentials installed on your system, the OneDrive application is removed and replaced with the inbox version of OneDrive.
• Windows Virtual PC with Windows XP Mode

Source:

Is Media Center supported in Windows 10?

No. Persons who need to use Media Center should consider carefully before upgrading from their previous version of Windows. The Windows 10 upgrade will automatically remove any installations of Media Center.

So what are the alternatives if I need Media Center?

Your best option is to continue running your existing version of Windows with Media Center.

• Windows 7 editions that include Media Center will continue to be supported until January 2020.
• Windows 8 Pro with Media Center will continue to be supported until January 2023.

Will Windows Media Center be available in Windows 10?

Windows Media Center is not part of Windows 10 and won’t be available after upgrading to Windows 10. If you use Windows Media Center, we will alert you during upgrade that Windows Media Center is not available on Windows 10. We know that some users use Windows Media Center to play DVDs, and we are providing a free DVD playback app in Windows 10 for Windows Media Center users.

Pros:

Free for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users

Simple setup and migration experience

Minimal learning curve, familiar user experience

Appropriate balance of classic and modern

Mouse, Keyboard and Touch friendly.

Return of customizable Start menu

Improved setup and recovery tools (rollback), backup

Richer cohesive, modern Settings app

Stable, robust modern entertainment and productivity apps

Customizable Universal (modern) apps – ability float on desktop, resize, snap.

Cortana digital assistant productivity benefits and accuracy

Task View for managing applications

Snap Assist for managing on screen windows more effectively.

Action Center for centralizing and managing app and system notifications

Clean, powerful modern web browser – Microsoft Edge

Stays ever green with ongoing improvements

Windows Update local network updating

Clean modern, logical, user interface with less distractions.

Cons

Two step process for performing a clean install and activation compliance check and 32 to 64 bit migrations.

Action Center limited options for notifications – can’t respond a tweet on the fly.

Mandatory Automatic Updates gives users less control over managing updates they might not want or can potential cause damage.

Microsoft Edge lacking Thumbnail Previews when multiple tabs are open

No extension model in Edge, some sites will still need to depend on Internet Explorer.

Some functions have been moved around that will require familiarization.

Number of Control Panel items have not been modernized.

Network Flyout does not support setting connection as a Metered Connection.

Windows 10 will be free for the first year to all Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Phone 8.1 users. This means, as long you upgrade within the first 12 months (July 29th 2015 to July 29th 2016), you will not have to pay for Windows 10 at all.

Wow, thats cool, but does that mean, I will have to pay for Windows 10 after the first year?

No. Its a promotion to get as many users to upgrade their existing Windows 7 PCs and Windows 8.1 devices to Windows 10. Once you upgrade within the first year for free, its yours forever at no additional cost. As Microsoft Program Manager for Windows Terry Myerson described it:

This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge.

I heard Microsoft representatives mention they are moving to a servicing model for Windows 10, does that mean Windows 10 is going to require a subscription?

No, Windows 10 remains a perpetual license, which means, you can upgrade to Windows 10 and use it forever without it expiring or going into any reduced functional mode.

Are you saying there will be no more versions of Windows after Windows 10?

Microsoft is moving Windows to a servicing model with Windows 10. The days of major revisions or what are called big bang releases are no more. As Microsoft Program Manager for Windows Terry Myerson described it:

This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet.

And just like any Internet service, the idea of asking «What version are you on?» will cease to make sense – which is great news for our Windows developers.

Why is Windows 10 free, is there some catch?

No, its not a catch. We are computing in different times. Windows 10 is free so app developers can standardize on one platform and reduce the fragmented market of different versions and editions of Windows that have been an issue in the past. When everybody is on the same platform, it means better quality apps, a healthier ecosystem and more advances in hardware and software innovation.

Thank you but leave me alone with windows 10, my first computer crashed and went into a loop after signing in on the log on screen, the desk top screen does not build up the apps.It will cost me a couple of hundreds bucks to get it fixed. Under the circumstances I would not go near 10 until those problems are fixed. I hope you provide a decent platform at some stage windows 8 was not the best and now 10 shows up worse.

I hope you have a solution soon and don’t leave users stranded