The Windows 10 upgrade was released on Wednesday, July 29, and it already has people talking. Microsoft decided to make Windows 10 free to some users who have Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating systems. The new upgrade comes with its share of positive features, but it also comes with its share of concerns and deal breakers.
Windows 10 is worth the upgrade, since it’s free to those who can get it. However, not all Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will get Windows 10 for free — and it’s not cheap, either. “Windows 10 Home” retails for $119, while “Windows 10 Pro” edition retails for $199.
Of course, the latest Windows upgrade comes with its share of bugs that can’t be found on Windows 7 or Windows 8. Some of the bugs include disappearing icons, the Start Menu locks up, copy and paste problems, audio problems, and Windows Store download errors.
Windows 10 is ambitious because the OS will run on all Microsoft devices from the Windows phone to tablets, laptops, and desktops. It also has an advantage with its Edge Browser, which is reportedly faster than Internet Explorer. Users are reportedly already happy with the browser that’s way ahead of IE 11 and on par with Google Chrome. Windows 10 also took some inspiration from Mac OS X with its Virtual Desktop, which allows users to set up multiple virtual desktops to split usage between work and play.
Some are noting that the new Windows upgrade might be even better than Apple’s Macintosh OS X. Microsoft introduced Cortana, a Siri-esque personal digital assistant that made its first debut on Windows phones, to the desktop. Cortana will give you the apps and information you need at hand. Like Siri, Windows also tells users the story of Cortana, the same voice used in the Halo video game series.
The Windows upgrade provides lots of personalization. The Windows 10 features also make you agree to statements such as the one below.
“Personalize your speech, typing and linking input by sending contacts and calendar details, along with other associated input data to Microsoft… Let Windows and apps request your location, including location history, and use your advertising ID to personalize your experiences. Send Microsoft and trusted partners some location data to improve location services.”
Not everyone will love it, since the upgrading means sacrificing your personal information. One advantage is that you can say goodbye to passwords, including logging into Windows every time you turn on your tablet or computer. Users quickly found out that the Windows 10 upgrade was giving out their passwords to other users, including personalized Wi-Fi passwords .
Microsoft will wants you to love this upgrade, even with all its flaws. The tech company knows that most people use Apple at home and Windows at work. Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella is aware that Microsoft is to compete with both Apple and Google, then they will have to make users love Windows.
“We want to move from people needing Windows to choosing Windows, to loving Windows,” Nadella added.
That hasn’t stopped 14 million users from upgrading to the latest OS. Microsoft’s Windows 10 has already been downloaded to 14 million computers and mobile devices since its launch, according to an official blog post. Microsoft is doing its best to roll out the upgrade as quickly as usual, but it could take up to weeks for some users.
Windows 10 is being offered as a free upgrade for up to one year after its July 29 release. Your computer needs to be running the latest version of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to upgrade to the new OS. Your computer must also meet the minimum system requirements below.
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
- Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20GB for 64-bit OS
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 800 x 600
What are your thoughts on the Windows 10 upgrade? Are you in love with it despite all its flaws? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
[Image: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Dell]