Windows 10 launched on July 29th and has already been downloaded over 14 million times. But why?
Microsoft MSFT +0.00%’s decision to make Windows 10 free plays a big part (especially given warnings to wait) but it is also just the tip of the iceberg.
So let’s weigh up the main differences between Windows 10, Windows 7 and Windows 8. There are a large number of pros but also some significant cons, including a few potential deal breakers.
1. What Makes Windows 10 Worth The Upgrade
Cost – While some Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will not get Windows 10 free, for the vast majority there is no cost to upgrading whatsoever. On paper this is a great deal because Windows 10 is not cheap and ‘Windows 10 Home’ and ‘Windows 10 Pro’ editions retail for $119 and $199 respectively.
By contrast Windows 7 and Windows 8 have not been made free by Microsoft following Windows 10’s release and the company has no plans to make them so. Consequently even if you revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8 in time, it would seem to make sense to take your free Windows 10 upgrade while it lasts.
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Longer Support -Another key reason for getting the
latest edition of Windows is Microsoft will support it for longer than
both Windows 7 and Windows 8. The Windows Lifecycle page (screen grab below) breaks this down into two sections: Mainstream Support and Extended Support.
Mainstream Support is the deadline for adding new features and functionality which makes it less crucial, but Extended Support is when Microsoft will stop supporting the platform with security updates. As you will see Windows 10 gives five more years Extended Support over Windows 7 and two more years over Windows 8:
Flexibility And Universal Apps -Where Microsoft
deserves a lot of credit with Windows 10 is its ambition because the OS
will run across all future Microsoft devices from desktops and laptops,
to hybrids, tablets and smartphones.
The biggest benefits of this are:
Gaming -Windows 10 brings with it DirectX 12 and for serious gamers this is a must have. Initial reports suggested DX12 would bring a 30-40% performance gain over DX11 and whereas the reality is closer to 10-20% that’s still money for old rope. Windows 7 and Windows 8 will never get access to DX12.
In addition Windows 10 supports streaming games from an Xbox One. Controllers for the Xbox One are compatible with Windows 10 PCs and you can be playing The Witcher 3 on your desktop or laptop in minutes. Best of all, Xbox One streaming is fast and responsive and again it will not come to Windows 7 or Windows 8 at a later date.
Search / Cortana – Windows 8 offers fairly decent
online search baked into its controversial Start Screen and Windows 7
only offers local searches (what is on the computer itself), Windows 10
easily trumps them both.
The secret to its success is Cortana, a voice assistant ported over from Windows Phone and whose name comes from the Halo video game franchise. Like Siri on iOS and Google GOOGL -1.06% Voice Search on Android, Cortana can respond to voice commands and perform everything from quick Internet searches to core tasks around Windows 10 like opening a new email, creating calendar entries and much more.
Cortana isn’t perfect, but she/it works pretty well out the gate and will only get better with time.
Edge Browser and Virtual Desktops - I’ve listed these both together as they are catch up features. The Edge browser (which is still feature limited at launch) is Microsoft’s attempt to claw back momentum from Chrome. Edge works significantly faster than Internet Explorer and is only available on Windows 10.
In addition to this Windows 10 finally adds Virtual Desktops like those long seen on Linux and Mac OS X. These allow users without multi-monitor setups to create multiple virtual desktops which are handy for splitting usage between work and leisure, work into projects or whatever you require. It’s a great feature.
Minimum Requirements - Technically Windows 10 doesn’t win this category, but in requiring a PC with no greater minimum specifications than both two year old Windows 8 and five year old Windows 7 Microsoft deserves great credit. Those specifications:
Read more – When ‘Free’ Windows 10 Becomes Expensive, You Must Know This
Security - While both Windows 7 and Windows 8 do a pretty good job of keeping users secure, Windows 10 ups its game with several new features. First is ‘Device Guard’ which blocks zero-day attacks by vetting unsigned software programs and apps. Device Guard can also operate virtually so even if it is compromised a remote version can recognise and neutralise malicious software.
Next
is ‘Windows Hello’ which is enhanced biometric support designed to
reduce reliance on passwords by using your face, iris, or fingerprint.
You’ll need hardware support for this on your device (webcam,
fingerprint reader, etc) but initial feedback is it works well and again
should improve over the lifetime of Windows 10.
Lastly in Windows 10 Microsoft now delivers security patches outside Windows Update so they go straight to your computer the moment they are available. In theory this means Windows 10 computers are always up-to-date which gives hackers a much harder time, even if there are also some notable downsides.
In fact, while this list may make upgrades to Windows 10 sound like a no brainer, there are actually serious pitfalls in moving to Microsoft’s latest OS.
So now here are all the reasons you should stay put on Windows 7 or Windows 8…
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Microsoft MSFT +0.00%’s decision to make Windows 10 free plays a big part (especially given warnings to wait) but it is also just the tip of the iceberg.
So let’s weigh up the main differences between Windows 10, Windows 7 and Windows 8. There are a large number of pros but also some significant cons, including a few potential deal breakers.
1. What Makes Windows 10 Worth The Upgrade
Cost – While some Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will not get Windows 10 free, for the vast majority there is no cost to upgrading whatsoever. On paper this is a great deal because Windows 10 is not cheap and ‘Windows 10 Home’ and ‘Windows 10 Pro’ editions retail for $119 and $199 respectively.
By contrast Windows 7 and Windows 8 have not been made free by Microsoft following Windows 10’s release and the company has no plans to make them so. Consequently even if you revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8 in time, it would seem to make sense to take your free Windows 10 upgrade while it lasts.
?
Mainstream Support is the deadline for adding new features and functionality which makes it less crucial, but Extended Support is when Microsoft will stop supporting the platform with security updates. As you will see Windows 10 gives five more years Extended Support over Windows 7 and two more years over Windows 8:
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Windows Lifecycles – Image credit Microsoft
The biggest benefits of this are:
- Apps in the new Windows Store will run on any device which means a single version of Angry Birds works everywhere.
- Microsoft’s ‘Continuum’ feature allows you to potentially connect a phone or tablet to a monitor and keyboard and use it like a PC. Yes Windows 10 really does run through every device and the user interface can adapt to its environment – be that phone, tablet or PC and touch, mouse or keyboard interaction.
Gaming -Windows 10 brings with it DirectX 12 and for serious gamers this is a must have. Initial reports suggested DX12 would bring a 30-40% performance gain over DX11 and whereas the reality is closer to 10-20% that’s still money for old rope. Windows 7 and Windows 8 will never get access to DX12.
In addition Windows 10 supports streaming games from an Xbox One. Controllers for the Xbox One are compatible with Windows 10 PCs and you can be playing The Witcher 3 on your desktop or laptop in minutes. Best of all, Xbox One streaming is fast and responsive and again it will not come to Windows 7 or Windows 8 at a later date.
Windows 10 is the single operating system working across all Microsoft desktops, laptops, tablets and phones
The secret to its success is Cortana, a voice assistant ported over from Windows Phone and whose name comes from the Halo video game franchise. Like Siri on iOS and Google GOOGL -1.06% Voice Search on Android, Cortana can respond to voice commands and perform everything from quick Internet searches to core tasks around Windows 10 like opening a new email, creating calendar entries and much more.
Cortana isn’t perfect, but she/it works pretty well out the gate and will only get better with time.
Edge Browser and Virtual Desktops - I’ve listed these both together as they are catch up features. The Edge browser (which is still feature limited at launch) is Microsoft’s attempt to claw back momentum from Chrome. Edge works significantly faster than Internet Explorer and is only available on Windows 10.
In addition to this Windows 10 finally adds Virtual Desktops like those long seen on Linux and Mac OS X. These allow users without multi-monitor setups to create multiple virtual desktops which are handy for splitting usage between work and leisure, work into projects or whatever you require. It’s a great feature.
Minimum Requirements - Technically Windows 10 doesn’t win this category, but in requiring a PC with no greater minimum specifications than both two year old Windows 8 and five year old Windows 7 Microsoft deserves great credit. Those specifications:
- 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
Read more – When ‘Free’ Windows 10 Becomes Expensive, You Must Know This
Security - While both Windows 7 and Windows 8 do a pretty good job of keeping users secure, Windows 10 ups its game with several new features. First is ‘Device Guard’ which blocks zero-day attacks by vetting unsigned software programs and apps. Device Guard can also operate virtually so even if it is compromised a remote version can recognise and neutralise malicious software.
Windows 10 is the single operating system working across all Microsoft desktops, laptops, tablets and phones
Lastly in Windows 10 Microsoft now delivers security patches outside Windows Update so they go straight to your computer the moment they are available. In theory this means Windows 10 computers are always up-to-date which gives hackers a much harder time, even if there are also some notable downsides.
In fact, while this list may make upgrades to Windows 10 sound like a no brainer, there are actually serious pitfalls in moving to Microsoft’s latest OS.
So now here are all the reasons you should stay put on Windows 7 or Windows 8…
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