Windows users rejoice! Microsoft has made the Windows 10 upgrade FREE! And there is a lot of good news regarding Windows 10. Here are a few of the positives and negatives and my recommendation on whether you should upgrade.
Evaluating Windows 10
- It’s FREE! Let me say that again, it’s FREE to upgrade for a majority of existing Windows users. This is Microsoft’s attempt to pull the rug out from under the feet of Linux, Google and Firefox who have their own proprietary operating systems that are also free. In reality, Microsoft is trying to keep pace with Apple, who changed their upgrade policy a while back. However, it’s one less reason to switch to a different operating system. Good move Microsoft! Let’s just hope that upgrades STAY free…
- The major flaw in Windows 8/8.1 (having two distinct operating systems attempting – and I use that word loosely – to seamlessly operate as one) has been remedied. Windows 10 is streamlined and has successfully returned to the tried and true Windows desktop as its primary platform while integrating the usefulness of apps. Microsoft has seemed to recognize that they had alienated their primary user base:
- the home user looking for a streamlined, friendly user interface and…
- the office user looking for a familiar user experience with continuity…
- The Start Menu is BACK baby! I don’t know what Microsoft was thinking when they got rid of the Start Menu in Windows 8/8.1; cries echoed from around the globe and, within days, workarounds showed up all over the web to reintegrate some semblance of a Start Menu. However, most of them included ads or cost a few bucks. No worries, Microsoft actually listened to their users (what a novel idea)! The new Start Menu includes the ability to explore files, apps, and settings; it’s actually more useful than it has ever been if you take the time to get used to it.
- Cortana: She is Microsoft’s answer to Siri, which everyone knows is pretty darn awesome. Here is what Microsoft says about Cortana, “Cortana will help you find things on your PC, manage your calendar, track packages, find files, chat with you, and tell jokes. The more you use Cortana, the more personalized your experience will be.” Overall, I’ve found this to be true and useful – kind of rad to have a personal assistant that learns your habits and desires. Just click in the new search bar and enjoy the soothing voice of Cortana aiding your search.
- Edge: I never thought I’d say this, but Microsoft’s replacement for Internet Explorer (which I haven’t used in over 10 years) is actually blazing fast and quite intuitive – really. AND Cortana is integrated into the Edge browser which is like icing on the cake. It’s so good that I’ve actually considered using it as my primary browser over Firefox and Chrome. However, that lack of a robust Edge extension / development community and the inability to change the primary search engine from Bing to Google (Bing’s not that bad though, honestly) has kept me from making the leap.
- Increased security BUT decreased privacy. Windows 10 is more secure than ever, which makes life a little easier in a hacker infested world. They’ve even included facial and fingerprint recognition as a login security option – fun gimmicks. However, Microsoft is following the worldwide trend pioneered by Google, Facebook, and the United States government of invading our privacy. You can lock down Windows 10; however, you do so at the price of functionality.
- Operating system updates are no longer your choice. The price may be good (gratis), but the trade off is the freedom to choose which updates you want Microsoft to install on your computer. All updates are required – period, end of story.
- Bugs, bugs, and more bugs… I think you get the feel. Overall, Windows 10 is faster than it’s predecessor; however, it’s still buggy and patches aren’t very forthcoming at this point. Things freeze, crash, and don’t quite work like they should. Some drivers aren’t yet consistently working with Windows 10 as well. It’s stable enough to use; however, not stable enough for the person who depends on a consistent, stable user experience.
So, Should I Upgrade?
Ultimately, YES. The benefits of upgrading to Windows 10 outway the few drawbacks. However, if you use Windows in an business environment, you might hold off until 2016 so Microsoft can patch up some of the bugs AND hardware manufacturers can provide updated drivers that are fully compatible.
That said, I didn’t follow my own advice. I upgraded the first week and have continued to use Windows 10 since, hence the caution I have issued above. It’s only crashed on me at a very inconvenient time once, but it caused hours of headaches and I almost missed an important client deadline – almost.
So, download and enjoy the upgrade!