We Think Most Of You Are Going to Love Windows 10
One of the biggest mistakes Microsoft ever made was trying to be another Apple. When it released Windows 8, Microsoft basically thumbed its nose at the very users who made Microsoft the successful corporation that it is: the desktop user and the business user. Businesses have work to get done and most all businesses use a mouse and keyboard – as do most home users. Windows 8 was designed for touchscreens because … because we think Microsoft had Apple-envy. But they mistook iPads and iPhones as computers for home users and business users. But had they looked deeper they would have seen that Apple still makes Macs and Macbooks and none of them have touch screens.
After scurrying around after realizing their mistake and releasing a half-hearted attempt to appease all the disgruntled Windows XP, Windows 7 ( and to a much lesser extent Windows Vista) users, called Windows 8.1, they finally got rid of the decision makers who nearly ruined Windows. Windows 8 was so poorly received that Microsoft decided to skip Windows 9 to put more air between Windows 8 and the next version of Windows.
I (TC) was once was a big fan of Microsoft and used to take a lot of flack for being one. But my love of things Microsoft has been waning since Windows XP, which we both feel is the best Windows ever. Maybe it was the best because it was the only Windows since Windows NT that was built from the ground up – and not piggy-backed on a previous version of Windows.
So we will tell you, we didn’t hold out much hope that Microsoft would ever again achieve the goal of creating an operating system as good as Windows X. But Windows 10, if the tech preview is even close to the final version, is everything Windows 8 should have been, and is a useable and friendly and stable as Windows XP. It lacks one thing that will keep it from being as good as Windows XP though and that’s a good email program. As of now, in this early version of Windows 10 they have brought back the sappy email app from Windows 8 – but we’ll keep hoping that an Outlook Express-like email program will find its way into Windows 10.
What’s so great about Windows 10? The greatest thing about Windows 10 is that it isn’t Windows 8. It’s more like Windows 7 with a lot of new features.
Here are some things we like the best about Windows 10 so far:
No matter what device you install it on – you will always get the right operating system
If you install Windows 10 on a touch device, like a smartphone or tablet, you will get the “Metro” (start screen). If you install it on a desktop or laptop you’ll get the version of Windows that works best with a mouse and keyboard or a touchpad and keyboard. The start screen with its huge tiles does not show up ( you can still access it – if you want to dig around for it).
Windows 10 plays any Windows 7 compatible software, drivers, or hardware so it will be an easy upgrade for Windows 7 home users as well as business users.
The start menu is back and it’s better than ever.
The Windows 10 start menu is a hybrid menu that looks and works almost exactly like the Windows 7 start menu but is far more customizable. You can choose to show small tiles (from the old start screen) – for example the weather, stocks, email etc along side the regular start menu. Or you can do away with the tiles completely and it will look just like Windows 7’s start menu, albeit a big more modern.
Apps if you like – and live tiles too. Or look below, you can have just a start menu. It’s all up to you.
Multiple Desktops – with just a click No 3rd-party software needed.
Just clicking the multiple desktops icon on the taskbar gives you as many desktops as you want.
And switching between them is a snap!
Windows Explorer (also known as This PC and File Explorer on Windows 10) now has a home button which opens up your favorite folders all in one view.
So far we are finding a lot of things to like about Windows 10 – and Microsoft seems to be listening carefully to input from users.
We’ll be keeping you up-to-date on the development of Windows 10 so by the time it is released, you will know it pretty well!
Thanks TC (and EB),
Having you two to be a buffer between what’s new and what’s reliable is truly a blessing to all of us ‘not so tech savvy’ people. I was one who jumped from Windows7 to Windows8 (I am a Desktop only user) when it was released and I should have waited because I had noticed you didn’t go “all-in” at the time of the release. I now know you are testing Windows10 and you will be an expert (in my eyes) by the time it is ready to launch next year. Hopefully Bill’s (Gates) minions will feel sorry for us 8.1 victims and give us version 10 as a sort of repentance. LOL Thanks to you both for all that you do for us! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thanks very much! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Windows 10 sounds promising! I have hated Windows 8 & 8.1 ever since I had to start using them. Windows 7 was fine. One of the main things I hate with Windows 8 & 8.1 is that unless you set up some third party software, the PC automatically boots into the awful huge icon covered window and you have to click on one of those buttons to get to the windows desktop. I soon found some good software to circumvent that on my own PC but couldn’t do that on the one I use for tutoring seniors. The tutoring PC is a touch screen and the first thing I thought was that it was highly impractical for seniors as they often find it difficult to keep their arms raised for long. That’s fine on an iPad or similar as that is usually on a flat surface, but a touchscreen PC is a different story. I’m looking forward to trying out Windows 10 and I’m sure all my seniors will be pleased to see the familiar start screen and button again.
Hi Sylvia,
You don’t need to download 3rd-party software to boot to the desktop in Windows 8x (the regular Windows desktop with small desktop icons and a taskbar).
Also you can switch back and forth from the Start Screen ( the one with the huge tiles on it ) to Desktop mode by simply pressing the Windows Key + D .
You can set your computer to book directly to the desktop and bypass the start screen by doing this:
1. Make sure you’re in desktop mode (if you’re not in desktop mode, press Windows Key + D )
2. Right click on the task bar and choose Properties
3. In the Properties dialog, click the Navigation tab, then check the box that says “When I sign-in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start (see below):
4. Click “Apply/OK” and restart your computer for the change to take effect.
You’ll now boot to the regular desktop instead of the tiled Start Screen. If you ever want to switch to the start screen press Windows Key + D and Windows Key + D again to go back to the desktop.
Thanks,
TC
Windows 10 is something to look forward to. I do wish with all my heart that they have an “Outlook Express” or a similar email program where I can colour code my emails and categorize them and add stationery and gifs, graphics and music like I used to do in Outlook Express. Now that would be a definite feather in Microsoft’s cap if they did that.
I don’t see that every happening. The world has changed and email is only one of many ways people communicate. Unlike the days of Windows XP, there are Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media. There are text messages – there are many ways to communicate now and email is just one of them. Back in the day of Outlook Express, email was THE way to communicate. Sadly, I don’t think there will ever come a day when Email again becomes the primary form of communication. The world is changing and we’re powerless to stop it.
Thank you for this update. Since Microsoft has done so much research and discovered the complete unhappiness from their Window programs customers, maybe with the least detested exception of 7, then surely they have also read the negative opinions about their backward e-mail programs. It would not have been difficult for them to return to Outlook Express. With your description of Windows 10 and their premeditated skipping of a Windows 9, why then didn’t this group of geniuses reinstate Outlook Express? The Windows 10 with Outlook Express would have been a win – win situation.
I don’t think you’ll ever see Windows Mail or Outlook Express in Windows again. People connect to the Internet in so many ways now – Tablets, Phones, computers – and Microsoft is still playing the “one-size-fits-all” game. And Outlook Express probably won’t work on Tablets and surely not on phones – and even if it did not all its old features would be enabled. That’s how I see it – the day of the full-blown email program is coming to an end, sorry to say. We’ll be dealing with Web Mail and simple E-mail apps from now on. Even email programs like Thunderbird are doomed unless they can be used across devices – maybe that will happen, but I don’t see that Microsoft or Apple see full email programs as a priority. I think MS Outlook works on Windows tablets and maybe phones, but it’s not free and I don’t know what kinds of features it has if it does work on those devices – Darcy I have only Android and Apple tablets and phones – except for our PCs and laptops which are still Windows.
Thank you for your input regarding my earlier response to this article.. I am wondering if I just shouldn’t go with a Apple Tablet and goodbye to PC’s.
And how in the world could i forget: We’ve never met, but as with so many others throughout all these years together, you’ve become friends.
A Very Merry Christmas to both of you and your families and a 2015 filled with an abundance of Good Health, Joy, Laughter and Prosperity.
With warmest regards,
Joan
I won’t have a problem with their email because I switched to Thunderbird years ago….I do hope future Windows OS do not force me to hack the registry in order to have move to and copy to folders & wish they would make fonts viewable in programs without having to open a font handling program also.
When will it come out?
I want to purchase a new computer but I am waiting for 10 to be released.
By the way, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!