A year ago Microsoft released Windows 10 upon the world. Within the first year MS made good on their promise to upgrade older operating system users to Windows 10 free of charge. This turned out to be a popular decision, as Windows 10 went on to be the fastest adopted new OS in company history.
Pretty great. Except for those who, you know, didn’t want their OS upgraded. But that’s neither here nor there.
But with that promise came a catch: Within one year only would Windows 10 be a free upgrade. This offer is coming to an end on July 29, 2016, which means people have to choose to upgrade now or stick with what they got, lest they pay for it in the future.
A tough choice, right? Well, let’s make it a little easier on you and weigh the pros and cons of adopting Windows 10.
A Mixture of the Old and the New
Windows 8/8.1 despite its flaws was built on a firm foundation. But, it was almost too different for people to feel comfortable adopting it. For one, when it first launched it went a bit too far into tablet/phone territory with its design and app-centric focus. Not until 8.1 was released did Microsoft backtrack a bit and offer the option to actually boot into desktop mode did it start to feel like Windows again.
Windows 10 didn’t make the same mistakes.
Like its predecessors, Windows 10 boots into Windows and features familiar features such as the quintessential Start Menu. Upon clicking it, Windows 10 combines Windows 7 and 8/8.1 features and shows off a Start bar as well as the tablet-style apps bar, which can be used to quickly access daily news, emails, weather information, and more. It’s slickly lain out and fully customizable to suit the user’s needs.
It’s Taken Care Of
The benefit of being the most recent OS (and apparently Microsoft’s ‘last’ one) is it is being looked after. Unfortunately, MS has already announced it will no longer be supporting Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 with security updates, meaning new threats discovered over time will only be upgraded into the Windows 10 security functions.
While this can be scary, it’s important to keep in mind our instant recovery software is capable of keeping older operating systems clean and safe from modern threats.
Automated Updates
Anyone who has installed Windows 10 Home Edition knows by now updates will be pushed any time Microsoft tells it to. Needless to say, having less control over your system is not ideal.
Unlike operating systems of the past, users will not be able to turn off updates without going through some confusing steps many users would be uncomfortable following. This can lead to systems being updated outside of a time convenient for you, or even pushing out updates you as the user did not want nor need.
Privacy Concerns
One particularly controversial Windows 10 feature is the tracking system which sends all search bar queries to Microsoft servers, and the Windows Store app is tracked for ad targeting. On top of that, Windows 10 also tracks the PC’s location, typing, Edge browser behaviour, and program installations.
Many of these features can be disabled, but some of it simply cannot. If this makes you uncomfortable, then Windows 10 may not be the best choice.
Compatibility
A new OS means a lot of upgrades, and not just by Microsoft. Companies (including our own system restore software) had to upgrade their software to meet the new operating system requirements to run properly.
But, not all of us are there yet. Certain programs just aren’t compatible, and even those which are can suffer from bugs not present in other operating systems.
It’s important for a potential Windows 10 user to do their homework first. Find out what programs are important to them, ensure they’re compatible with Windows 10, and then choose whether to upgrade or not.
Are You Happy With What You Have?
The final question you need to ask yourself after running through the list of good and bad is the most important, and that question is, “Do I even need to upgrade?”
Sure, having the option to freely upgrade to a new operating system is like any new thing you’re able to get – it’s exciting. Powering on a PC and seeing a new desktop can feel refreshing after years of booting into the same setup, but as the old adage says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The lure of the momentary new just can’t beat out the old, yet reliable. If you’re happy with your system, then stick with it. If there are no problems, don’t make some.
While Windows 10 may be getting the attention from here on out by Microsoft, many companies, including our own, are still standing guard against PC threats.
Feel free to try this 14-day free trial of RollBack Rx Professional, and see how you can keep your old PCs running clean and smooth, even after Microsoft stops its updates.