Windows 10 Discussion

[Greyfox]

It appears that Microsoft are to release Windows 10. Details here: http://www.itpro.co.uk/operating-system ... -announced

Further info here: http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindow ... /#top-link

[kamnet]

Wow, I'm genuinely impressed with their vision. I hope the transition from 7 to 10 will be seamless because there are a lot of people who will be taking advantage of the free upgrade.

And, holographic apps? Okay, we need to get OpenTTD 1.6.0 ready for this! HA!

[Greyfox]

Hi Kamnet. Yes indeed, I agree with all of what you said. However, I think we must remember that Windows has not got a good reputation for being all it's cracked up to be. Also, people tend to acquire new PC technology because it's there. not because they need it.

These are just my thoughts.

[Dave]

The Microsoft bashing is old now.

That's for the legions upon legions of idiots who have a Linux partition and want to avoid following the crowd. Only, the crowd doesn't care because they're all happy with their working Microsoft product.

Windows 8 was clearly a bust but all developers release dross on a vision that doesn't come to fruition.

7 was (and remains) excellent.

Microsoft are starting (slowly) to embrace all the concepts that a modern developer (and indeed OS creator) needs to have a viable product in the constantly fluctuating market we are now in.

If my laptop supports it (it won't) then I will be taking advantage of the free upgrade for sure.

[Greyfox]

@Dave: First of all I was not "bashing" Microsoft as you put it, but merely stating the facts. Considering the problems that Microsoft have had in the distant past, and indeed the recent past, with their OS: bugs, malware, spyware, (User error aside), repeated security updates because Microsoft failed to see the problems that were present.

Then, of course, the class actions that Microsoft have had to address which involved millions of dollars in compensation. All because Microsoft breached certain laws/rules, particularly with the EU.

I've been using Microsoft Windows since 1991, and after spending 20 years in the I.T. industry, (now retired), I have seen a lot of flaws in their OS. But for the most part, Microsoft have addressed those issues. I use Windows 7 Home Edition, and there is nothing wrong with it, now, But there was. All issues were fixed after spending a lot of time on the internet looking for answers, and got them.

In summing up, Microsoft "bashing" is not old, it still exists. As for Linux users, that's their personal choice, so who's bashing who. As for Windows 10, well....we'll just wait and see.

Cheers.

[Voyager One]

God bless the XP.

[YNM]

From what I can read : I just hate that nowadays, companies tends to make themselves as the only one thing. I mean, hey, it's better to have another choice anytime, to be redundant in any case... like using another browser or another player, or another document editor, or another search engine...

Or using another OS in parallel with it. Like, I wanted to install Linux Mint on my laptop (with win8 from start), but it seems like it's not going so well... none my phone or my flashdisk were read by the bootloader.

Hope it won't be that hard.

[Pyoro]

Yes, that's true. From a business perspective it's obvious: buy MS OS, buy a MS console, buy a MS phone, buy MS office products, use MS browser, use MS search engine ...

From the user perspective it stinks.
But really, Windows doesn't have much alternatives for gamers. It's either arranging yourself with knowingly installing US closed-source software or deciding not to play a great many games. Well. Maybe time to reevaluate my priorities

[SkeedR]

God bless the XP.

Get out. Get out now. I'm fighting a losing battle against XP users at work and it's so very frustrating when even Microsoft has stopped supporting it. I for one will welcome Windows 10 and it's holographic shenanigans as I really quite like Windows 8[.1].

[kamnet]

"From the users perspective it stinks."

Only if the entire experience fails to live up to expectations. Windows 95, 98SE, XP and 7 certainly did live up to the hype. 98, ME, Vista and 8 did not. Internet Explorer, at various and multiple times, has been one of the best and one of the worst web browsers available. People love MS Office products and cling to it, and also curse the day it was ever created.

I'm a multiple OS household myself. I run Microsoft OSes on my main computer and laptop, I run Linux-based servers, all my tablet devices are Android. My children use both Windows 7/8 and MacOS X at school, but on their home PC after dealign with them continually dabbling in pirated software and getting their PC blown up by viruses, two years ago I bought them a PC that shipped with Ubuntu pre-installed, put an admin software manager password on it, and forbade them from replacing it with Windows. They've been forced to learn how to use Linux shells and command line, and they're much better off for it IMO.

[kujichagulia]

Uh, what happened to Windows 9? Is 9 an unlucky number in the Pacific Northwest?

[Greyfox]

Another point of reference here: http://www.knowyourmobile.com/microsoft ... start-menu

Forgot to mention, Windows 10 will be free, (conditions apply), for the first year only.

[FooBar]

Forgot to mention, Windows 10 will be free, (conditions apply), for the first year only.

More precise: upgrades from 7 or 8.1 will be free in the first year after the release of 10. If you don't upgrade in the first year, then you'll have to pay to make the step forward.

[Greyfox]

As I said, "conditions apply". More info in the link.

[Auge]

Hello

Uh, what happened to Windows 9? Is 9 an unlucky number in the Pacific Northwest?

Windows 9 would force responds of the countless checks for "Windows 9..." of the countless outdated but still used ancient softwares. Not a good idea.

Tschö, Auge

[Pyoro]

"From the users perspective it stinks."

Only if the entire experience fails to live up to expectations.

I'm not even talking about whether I like MS products or not; all I'm saying is that I should have the choice: if I want to use IE, I can install it. And if I don't want to use it, I should be able to uninstall it (which currently isn't completely possible. I don't think the fact that it comes pre-installed with Windows is a problem, just the fact that it's unremoveable). Now MS seems to move into a direction of more pre-installed and connected things and I don't like this development. It's never done for the good of the costumer ^^

[keoz]

That's for the legions upon legions of idiots who have a Linux partition and want to avoid following the crowd.

You may also consider the possibility that the "legions of idiots" (thank you) using Linux instead of windows don't do that to avoid following the crowd, but just because, for their own reason, they feel better with linux.

[YNM]

Yes, that's true. From a business perspective it's obvious: buy MS OS, buy a MS console, buy a MS phone, buy MS office products, use MS browser, use MS search engine ...

From the user perspective it stinks.
But really, Windows doesn't have much alternatives for gamers. It's either arranging yourself with knowingly installing US closed-source software or deciding not to play a great many games. Well. Maybe time to reevaluate my priorities

Least are OpenTTD, Simutrans, KSP is also on Linux (those are the games I play seriously; three others I play are ETS2, Banished, TrainSim). Also actually most computers used for research (or by research people) use linux already, so why should I be afraid...

Also, a Linux partition helps when your windows has some silly virus in it. Just delete it from Linux and your windows is fine. Think Microsoft should open up a new architecture to battle the viruses ?

[Expresso]

In the past I cared about which OS I used, causing me unnecessary problems.

Nowadays I look at what I need. I have a checklist for needs and any system which supplies those needs (without a too big price tab is welcome in my home. Here they are:

1. Stability (bye bye default install of windows on new laptops).
2. Security (the same as above).
3. Privacy (I don't like espionage agencies or companies analyzing my stuff -> no chromebooks).
4. Ability to produce documents (a word processor, and maybe a spreadsheet).
5. Laptop form factor (so I can take it with me).
6. Reasonable keyboard (not too compact).
7. Reasonable performance (I HATE waiting for programs to start).

Anything which complies with the above list will do for me. I don't need the latest and the greatest and don't care anymore for what OS it is running, as long as the OS doesn't fall apart after a few years of usage. Windows 7 serves me well at the moment, so I see no need for complaints or upgrades. However, when I get a new computer, I will be looking for a system which does what I need for the best price. Not the best machine for the best price (which will turn out to be very expensive).

There's some noise on the web about windows 10 being subscription based. If that happens and I need an upgrade, then I will switch back to Linux. I'm not going to fork over €100 a year for the ability to use my computer , I need that money for my life.

[Chris]

Also actually most computers used for research (or by research people) use linux already, so why should I be afraid...

Here at the University of Leeds all of our lab computers run Windows (7 mostly, occasionally there is some software which isn't compatible hence XP in some cases).