General Chat

The last edition of Computeractive No. 454 has a major issue of "Windowsd 10 should you upgrade" - It is a pretty detailed article discussing different systems etc. and what advantages and drawbacks there would be with each one - might be worth getting hold of if you can (my issue 455 arrived this morning). I realise Rollo and Errol might not agree with all of it! -but it might a worthwhile addition for your market research!

:-D :-D :-D :-D @ Graham and Mayfield!

Thank you Elizabeth :-)

I am cogitating, deliberating, ruminating even :-S.....

.......... and still as indecisive as ever! :-S :-S :-D

EM received 31/7

"When will my free upgrade arrive?

You’ve already reserved, so your free upgrade is on the way. This is the largest software upgrade event ever and we’re managing it so everyone has a great experience.

Your notification to upgrade could come as soon as a few days or in a few weeks. "

In time for Christmas then.....?

I think that two of the most important (if not vital) things to consider are that:

1. If you do a complete install and then decide you don't like it, you only have a month in which to roll your system back to your previous version of Windows (I think).

2. This is perhaps the most serious flaw in Win 10 - my understanding is that most users will not be able to turn automatic updates off which has very serious implications. You will no longer be able to choose which updates you want - something that some people consider to be a somewhat sneaky trick on the part of Microsoft.

I downloaded it a couple of days ago, it doesn't seem much different to Windows 8 to me, but I had the desktop set for the homepage for that as well

The only problem I had is that after a day, the windows key stopped working, it said there was a critical error with windows and cortana, which would be fixed by signing out then in again. That didn't happen, it just left me in a loop. Right clicking on the windows key gave me an option to shut down. On start up it was fine, but it happened again. I went looking for updates which are now in settings not the control panel. After I downloaded the available updates, it has been fine (touch plastic)

The only thing I don't seem to have is the Cortana thing, but I don't use the Apple version on my Ipad, so I wont miss it

Errol is correct in saying that most users won't be able to stop automatic updating.

However:
This especially affects users on the "Home" version those with "Pro" or above have the same choices as with Win7.
Even with the "Home" version automatic updating can be disabled and set the way you want with (as ever) a few registry tweaks. As Errol says such tweaks will not appeal to most users but ez2use gadgets won't take long to appear. Even in standard format updates can be stalled until a broadband connection is available.

Microsoft's thinking is that the uptake of security updates was very poor and this was a major factor in the rise of XP bot farming.

The biggest downside is that autoupdates include Microsoft's own hardware drivers. The default drivers for graphics cards are mostly notable for lack of performance/features which you only get from the OEM drivers. Gamers and graphics designers are not very likely to use Windows Home and will already know to give MS & graphics drivers a wide berth. OTOH maybe if you have problems with your revolutions it may be a "good thing".

ps: no built in support for floppy disks ( no, Mr Magoo not now).

One thing is for sure. Microsoft are once again trying to create their own walled garden. Just how many software developers and civil servants, NHS execs and so on will have to be given free tools, mobile phones and junkets to TechDev to achieve this is anybody's guess.

I do wonder if getting everyone on the same platform (which makes sense in principle) is a start towards making windows a subscription service as is the case with some of the products like 365 they now market.

Rollo - love the graphics and revolutions comment.

Mayfield - there are a number of flaws in introducing a subscription service for Windows.

The biggest is that people will simply not subscribe.

When you consider that some 60% or so of the market share is currently Windows 7 with Windows 8.1 trailing at about 13% and only just ahead of the dinosaur XP it is easy to see that the majority of users are not overly interested in running the most up-to-date OS. They prefer to stick with what they have from both a cost and a "comfort zone" point of view.

A misguided opinion could well be "why should I start paying for something when I can run the wonderful, creaking XP for free?" This attitude is, of course, rather nonsensical because anyone insisting on continuing to run XP is leaving themselves totally open to a great many problems - in both security and stability terms.

In addition, whilst some will stick with their existing OS, others (and potentially it could be a significant number for various reasons, not least of which is that it is free) may at least consider migrating to Linux.

windows 10....

well today at 8am it started its download and at 6.30pm it was still doing it god it was only at 63 % i got so fed up waiting i stopped it.... :-(

Blimey - are you on a particularly slow connection?

Or maybe dial up?

nope usually don't have any download probs this was the 1st..... no dial up either x

It should take only a fraction of that time

If it gets stuck next time you try it then stop it and start the update via the Windows Update in the Start menu.

That part should only take a few seconds. After that it takes a short while to download the files and an hour or so to do the install.

There seems to be a problem with google chrome not working, just timing out. Mine worked at first, but won't now. I also run googLe chrome Canary and that works fine, so hopefully they will have the fix for the normal chrome soon

Depending on system

Yes eRRolSheep no one will want to pay, but they could get sneaky, force another update (now automatic) on and start charging for updates.

Maybe I am just an old cynic but the thought has crossed my mind so I don't doubt they have considered it! ;-)

That said I have had no problems (fingers crossed :-D) I had no issues with 8.1 and from an operational view point I am pleased with 10.

Regards Mayfield

Microsoft have said that updates will be free for the lifetime of the machine the system is installed on.

The key thing here is "lifetime" - that can mean many different things.

But, basically I agree with you Mayfield.

"I do wonder if getting everyone on the same platform (which makes sense in principle) is a start towards making windows a subscription service as is the case with some of the products like 365 they now market."
(Mayfield)

yes, of course it is. Office has already moved to a subscription basis.
Microsoft have pulled out of a steep dive realising that their old biz model of selling gadzillions of units with all the cost overheads, piracy problems etc was no longer viable. SOHO and biz users with ancient versions of Windows. SQL server, office are quite content to bumble along. In the end a cash crisis would happen. OTOH a service based model (eg Azure) avoids having to cajole users into updating as they will get the updates like it or not. Big biz users & govt hate forking out sheds of cash up front and will be far more comfortable shelling out from their income stream. Other wins for M$ will be one version on all platforms (*), makes piracy a whole lot more difficult and above all shuts out the Dread Mr Linux on OEM boxes through the use of EUFI.(*2)

There are installations of Windows10 supporting touch screens as large as 50in. No, my arms are not that long either ... but touch is the way MS want you to go. So now is the time to found a screen cleaning startup not needing much manual intervention. Or maybe office workers will be banned from Subway etc.

(*) this is more fantasy than reality as smart phones are not really up to running core code written in high level languages. Meanwhile MS are selling their phones v cheap - even then there are few takers. Getting updates to previous incarnations of Windows Mobile could only be done unofficially.

(*2) EUFI bios allows total lockout of a second OS being installed eg linux. It is the OEM who chooses to have this option not the end user. Of course large end users can stamp their feet e.g. German govt. but UKGov sees it as a "good thing" 'cos it makes life easier for MI6.

So, pretty as it is, useful in some ways another moniker for Windows10 might be "the Empire Strikes Back".

Make sure yr young ones have a Raspberry Pi and discourage them from any kind of Windows. Luke Skywalker says you know it makes sense...

Ancestry doesn't seem to like the Edge Browser yet.

OH! :-(

I've no idea what much of any of that meant, but it didn't sound good!

As I am an ignoramus when it comes to technology, it has not encouraged me to press that button!

A pop up appeared twice today as well. Telling me to reserve Windows 10 before it's too late! :-S :-S :-S

Do I risk it?

Or stay with what I know?

Decisions Decisions :-S :-S :-S :-S :-S

:-D :-D :-D