After many weeks being part of the Windows Insider Program and working with Windows 10. I’m finally going to come out with my own observations and feelings on the product.
With July 29th 2015 just around the corner, I felt it’s time to say how I think and feel about Windows 10.
What first to me appeared be maybe another Windows 8 kludge. I was skeptical of the reported and lumping together of all of Microsoft OS on Desktop, Laptop, Tablets, Mobile Devices & Phones. However Windows 10 has really surprised me as of late, and I’m REALLY looking forward to moving majority of my Qualifying systems over to the product, as long as the quality and the bug fixes continue to be addressed in the fashion we have seen I’m going to be very pleased.
The details of my journey with Windows 10 follows for those wanting to KNOW what I went thru and why I say I LIKE this version of Windows.
I joined the insider program using an OLDER COMPUTER that originally had arrived from HP with VISTA on it. It had been upgraded to a copy of Windows 8 that I’d received from Microsoft for some BETA testing I did for them on another product. I had never gotten around to moving this box to Windows 8.1 so I wanted to see right from the start how this would work. The box was just right on the edge of being fast enough to have a purpose but I never used it much after my wife retired it from being her daily system.
The box is equipped with a AMD Athlon Dual Core Processor 5400B 2.80 GHZ and 3.00 GB Single-Channel DDR2 RAM @ 398MHz. This system certainly is not a HOTROD in todays standards. The HP/Compaq DC 5850 small form factor based on the 3029h motherboard, is older technology produced in 2008. This is the exact reason to try this candidate, to see how it handles the latest and greatest from Microsoft.
I obtained the first ISO for Windows 10 via the insider preview program. Surprisingly, I found it to have less bugs than previous BETA tests I’d been involved in for Windows 8 and 8.1. (Yes I’m an OS Junkie, and love trying new software out even in BETA form.)
I also was surprised by how the Windows 8 and 8.1 METRO interface had been integrated into the START Button. It had long been rumors that Microsoft had been listening to the complaints regarding Metro. Enterprises could never use the Windows 8 and 8.1 Metro interface without adding some kind of START Button as most of their workers didn’t need to be touching a screen all day or have the capability at their desktop systems.
Steve Jobs once to told staffers and engineers that wanted a touch based OS as part of OS X, to imaging getting Gorilla arm touching a screen at your desk all day long. I’d have to agree that it just really didn’t make sense.
Windows 10 resolved this long upsetting issue placing METRO/Windows Store based apps on the Right Side of the Start bar and allowing you can resize them, in 4 sizes. Microsoft also gave users the ability to turn off the LIVE TILES, that flooded you with notifications. The start bar still took a bit of learning as MY PC Icon was gone. Quickly I discovered PINNING items to the task bar and start bar it was as easy as I remembered in Windows 98. I found I was fond of very MINIMAL view of the start bar as well, keeping my icons to small and medium size. However this approach will change as my eye’s progress into OLDER AGE. I’m certain I’ll be enlarging the look and feel of those.
Many parts of the OS were explored during my time with the INSIDER Program. We were frequently issued QUESTS by our the development team at Microsoft to test out features an bug fixes. I accomplished 21 quests and about 26 Windows feedbacks. It’s not a ton but did get some nice achievement badges in their program along with many upvotes to the Feedback I’d sent.
The biggest challenge I faced was UPDATES, several times during the process. The FAST (bleeding edge updates) and the SLOW ring (stable release) for releases failed me. I had to resort reinstallation from an UPDATED .ISO (downloadable DVD image) from the insider website. I think I had to do this twice during my time as an insider. First was from a stuck slow ring that would not UPDATE to the latest version. The second occurrence was from some corruption that occurred to the OS after an update. So only reinstalling twice from a DVD during a BETA test was a GOOD thing.
Another new item I’m enjoying is the EDGE Browser, first called Spartan it is just that. SLIMMED down and really pretty quick. Let’s hope it remains so and does not follow down the HOLE that Internet Explorer (Exploder, Destroyer, Insert Petname here.) did.
I’m still playing with the latest preview updates as the INSIDER program which is now closed to new systems. With the July 29th, 2015 release date just around the corner, I’ll have to say. I LIKE this version of the OS. Enough to make me use it more than my OS X Yosemite computer? Well I’ll be using both as each has differing purposes for me in my household. However with that being said I’ve started back to programming on the Windows Platform working on a project that will cross from Windows 7 – Windows 10. So far only 2 of my systems won’t qualify for the windows 10 update. One having an OUTDATED RAID controller, another outdated INTEL chip set on the laptop. I’m hoping each of those will be resolved as well.
Will Windows 10 SAVE MICROSOFT? I’m not certain the PC industry is still with Desktops. I see the continued rise of Mobiles, Tablets and Laptops. So having Microsoft placing their OS on each of the platforms on the market certainly will see them relevant for some time. As long as Microsoft continues to listen to their customer base FIRST. I think it will remain relevant and this version of their operating system will certainly go a LONG WAY to resolving some of the GAFFS that have occurred in the past.