Issue 5.15
It has been rumored for a while. Some have said it is definitely coming and others have said, wait and see. It is now official that the Windows 10 OS (Operating System) will be available sometime this year. I know that is confusing. What happened to Windows 9? We have 8 and 8.1 and we (many of us) don’t like it much. Basically, they decided to skip 9 and start fresh with 10.
Finally, Microsoft has listened to all the complaints and particularly to the market shifting away from them and towards Apple and Linux and decided they had to do something drastic. Windows 10 is drastic and from everything I have seen so far, will be a definite improvement and welcome. The changes that Windows 8 made and tried to force us into will still be available on 10, but there will be flexibility if you want to use the “Start” button and menus you are used to. You won’t have to buy a touch screen to use it smoothly and can set your computer to automatically work like a Windows 7 system, but with the “tiles” available if you want them.
Some new additions are pretty cool if they turn out to work well. Cortana is the Microsoft version of the Siri digital assistant that Apple has included with recent cell phones, but Cortana will work with your Windows 10 PC as well as Microsoft powered cellphones and tablets. You can link them all through the cloud (online storage and unification of your data) which should make Cortana more responsive and accurate when answering your questions or finding your files, photos and other documents. Word and Excel will be available with the 10 OS that will come with your new cellphones and tablets but you will still have to pay for them if you want them on your computer.
Another cool thing that I think I will like is the idea of multiple dedicated desktops. You can have one for your games, one for your work and one for your social and email connections if you like and can switch between them quickly and easily. My desktop has too much on it and feels cluttered, but I need access to everything on it. Multiple switchable desktops could be a real answer. For me it is more that I need one for each of my work projects because they each involve different programs and email connections. If this works as advertised I may have to quit saying nasty (but at least previously true) things about Microsoft.
Finally and perhaps most important is the price. If you have Windows 7 or 8, upgrading to Windows 10 will be free for the first year after it is introduced. No word on what it will cost after that, but if it works well, we will probably all switch by then anyway. For you that still use Vista or XP, you will want to get a new computer, but luckily you don’t have to wait for 10 because you will be able to upgrade when it arrives and enjoy your new computer in the meantime. I admit to having suspicions and disappointments when it comes to Microsoft, but a lot of people I think of highly have played with it and are impressed enough that they are excited for it to become available. I’m sure there will be bugs, but even with bugs it should be better than Windows 8.
Keep your eyes open and watch this space for more news on this development, and always remember to back up anything on your computer that is important to you.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 33 years, 26 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.