How are people finding Windows 10?

That's good. Corel 10 is one of my mainstays.

Also good that everyone who says they don't like it was able to revert. (so far).

> We each have an iPad and I have an iPod ! One nice little touch is that the iMac, iPad and iPod calendars are all synchronised so entering an appointment in one appears on all.

I have a multi-user licence for Office 365, if only I could the Apple users at home to use Outlook instead of 'What's App' and 'FB' to plan their lives I could have a fighting chance of knowing when I'm meant to pick my daughter up from college

Neil

I purchased a new Asus desktop with 8Gs ram and 2 Tets storage for my daughter for Christmas. I selected the Win 8.1 platform. I have two Phd computer gurus in my extended family who both say I made a wise choice (for a change). I am using 8.1 and like it. I loved XP.

Bill

I've upgraded several machines to windows 10.

When it worked I'm fairly happy with it. On 2 or 3 machines it allowed me to upgrade, but then didn't really work. The main culprit was the video card which either didn't work at all or only at low resolutions. In two cases I backed out (latpops). In the other (Madam's computer), I've ordered a new video card.

I'm also a tablet user and I think it's poor on a tablet. Windows 8 was much better. Windows 10 has worse battery life, the 'improved' mail and calendar applications are terrible and crash erratically. And this on Microsoft's Surface 3.

If you have a recent desktop and don't mind learning a few new tricks it's worth the upgrade.

Iain

Win 7 -> Win 10 upgrade here. No problems.

Was a bit concerned about my "precious" programs, but Win 10 runs:

• Thunderbird for email
• Firefox/Chrome/IE (but EDGE is a bit naff IMHO)
• my CAD package for PCBs (Diptrace)
• my C compiler (Codevision) programming via STK500
• Atmel Studio 7 programming via STK500
• Arduino 1.6.5
• the PICAXE programming editor
• AND my ancient Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe v17.0.120.3817

...all with no issues

Edited By MM57 on 30/12/2015 21:10:00

I upgraded two machines to Windows 10, one from 8.1 and the other from Win 7 Pro. Both upgrades went smoothly and I like the look and feel. As others have noted there are problems with "clutter", not all applications are guaranteed to run after the upgrade, there might be hardware and driver compatibility issues, and there are a few bugs.

But it is the privacy issues introduced by the upgrade that that caused me the most grief. Sorry Neil but I found the amount of information being leaked by Windows 10 to Microsoft and their partners to be unacceptable, and I also disliked various strong nudges during the install that encouraged me to adopt new applications like Cordova that "share" even more of my information. The problem is that the customer has to hunt down the offending features and turn them off manually. And it turns out that the only way to completely stop your computer reporting back to Microsoft is to buy the professional version.

My advice is to proceed with due caution. Don't just accept "recommended" settings, don't set up a Microsoft account unless you need one, and don't adopt the likes of Cordova and Edge unless you specifically want them. (They're not evil, but...) Make sure that features you don't use are disabled: for example do you really want applications to be allowed to access your microphone or webcam?

Most of the internet is a good thing but never forget it has a dark side. There's spam, malware, spoofing, hijacks, phishing, bots, trojans and people who collect and sell details of your interests, contacts, and spending patterns. Some of data collection and misuse is criminal. I think it wise to manage the risks and wasn't pleased to find that Windows 10 opened me up by default.

Cheers,

Dave

I upgraded my Windows 7 to 10 and it installed and worked without issue but I only use that computer for one very large program (Ham Radio Deluxe) that refuses to cooperate on my Linux machine. Only had limited use but I think Windows 10 is probably the best modern MS offering so far.

+1 Norman, no faff & it just keeps on working!

Martin.

Interesting comment, Phil. How will you like the subscription path instead - which appears to be where everything is headed these days and at first sight seems almost obscene for the home user?

Looked at in one light though, subscription software could be seen as just another version of the upgrade path with a couple of differences:

- The user is forced to buy and install the upgrade (since earlier versions expire).

- The software vendor is no longer obliged to make significant ( albeit mainly cosmetic ) changes to justify the upgrade - which might not be a bad thing on your principle of " if it ain't broke ......".

Thanks Norman.

I have been using Windows since 3.1, upgrades always seemed variable but most were not too bad, I used to like Win 95 at home and work.

When the new Workshop expense is sorted I will look into it more, if I have any cash left that is!

Thanks for the tip. However, if you have automatic updates turned on (or if you otherwise allow the "Important" update KB3035583 to be installed ), the "Get Windows 10" app will be promptly reinstalled.

One thing that happens in Windows 10 consumer versions is that you can no longer turn off "Automatic Updates" (you can delay them for a short time) so people won't have the choice in future. This change (removal of the automatic updates choice) is also being applied retroactively to Windows 8x and also (I believe) to Windows 7 along with some of the nefarious privacy issues that have been discussed. Anyone concerned about those issues who uses Win-7/8 might want to check his/her update log, see if any of the following updates are incorporated and act appropriately according to their wont:

KB3068708 ; KB3022345 ; KB3075249 ; KB3080149

Neil: I'm sorry if you judge this to be MS-bashing - personally I think it's relevant information for anyone trying to make an informed decision on whether to update - but go ahead and delete it if you think fit.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 30/12/2015 23:06:04

I've no real objection to the sort of measured comments we have here. But we've all seen how these things can go - I really wasn't sure about asking this question although my hope that a lot of answers of use to me and others would result has been realised.

I think I will wait a few more months for all the wrinkles to be ironed out, then set aside a couple for days for backing up, tweaking all the privacy settings, getting rid of the bloatware and testing programs.

Neil

I've used DOS and most versions of windows from 3.11 up until Win 7 at work but wouldn't use any of them by choice. I've also used Macs since OS6.5 at home and have enjoyed all of them except the first version of OSX which was a shock to the system. They used to say at work the Macs they bought were expensive compared to PC's but they lasted at least twice as long and required virtually no support so I expect the overall cost was about the same, perhaps even cheaper. Virtually all surfing and email is now done on an iPad so the desktop machine only gets used for photo editing, drawing or letters that need to be posted. I've heard quite a few folks who switched to Mac say "I will never ever go back to using a PC" but never the other way round! If asked I do advise those thinking about getting a Mac to think very carefully as once they've tried it they won't want to go back to using a cheap PC again. Each to their own though, I've heard plenty of folks that still want to run old DOS stuff...

If I were interested (I'm not based on the bad privacy press plus a test installation on a spare machine) I'd wait until the the first service pack is released .... Windows 10.1 or however they designate it this time. Pretty much SOP these days.

I agree with Dave. Microsoft appear to have cashed in to the the data-mining and profiling model that other companies (such as Google, VigiLink, DoubleClick et al) use to sell advertisments tailored to your web-surfing history. Now Microsoft want their share of the honey pot: You click, somebody pays!

As for access to microphone and webcams, this could lead to a massive invasion of privacy. Which advertiser/spammer/hacker/govt dept do you want eavesdropping and watching you today? And to be realistic; how many average (innocent/nieve) users are aware of this or have the requisite knowledge to disable these 'features'.

A friend of mine trialled an update (Win7-Win10) on a 15 month old HP laptop (used as a guinea pig) connected to his business network. It has a touchscreen. The programs that reported difficulties were his AVG Antivirus, MYOB Accounting and a dedicated Mercury outboard motor diagnostic hardware/software interface. AVG and Myob can offer updates (cost?) while the (Oz) Mercury support team just sighed (after 35 min on hold).

A network activity monitor attached to the router soon revealed the thousands of data packets outbound from his node and they were to multiple IP addresses. Including Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard among others.

Anyway for a day's work I am the proud owner of a 15 month old HP laptop. It might be useful in the workshop, I wonder if it will run MsDos 3.1?

And for all the Apple lovers out there .... we are tracking your iPhone. - Like the electronic advertising boards on the Paris Metro - your phone triggers an ad 'tailored' just for you!

The next generation of mobile phones appear destined to become 'wearable' items btw - it gets rid of the bulky slabs (notice how that mobile phones are getting bigger, just like the first ones?) - interface by the ubiquitious 'sunnies' (Sun glasses) and voice activated.

I'm sorry about the long rant (not really) but if George Orwell had been born a few generations later he could have written '2019 - 35 Years On from 1984' as a fitting sequel. I bet that the poor bloke is turning in his grave. Even though he died in 1950 his predictions were remarkably accurate.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 31/12/2015 04:50:46

I think we have to accept that there's a 'new normal' and up-coming generations are aware of and completely happy with this level of personal data sharing. They just shrug and say 'if I'm going to see adverts, I'd rather see ones for things that interest me'*.

Those of us who value our privacy will never be comfortable in a world where you can look at your phone and identify like-minded strangers, customers or even potential partners sharing your train carriage, but that's the way the world is going.

Neil

*Interestingly the first report I read about 'smart glasses' reported how the inventor trialled his prototype by getting them to use his position to blank out all the adverts on his route to work...

They need to fix it. I lost left click on the icons at the bottom of the screen and right click on the start menu and the Windows key does not work. This is a pain and it has not been fixed in 2 months. I have tried all of the fixes I can find published online but no luck.

I do like Windows 10 as it seems a lot faster and I got it for free as I was running Windows 8.1.

What happened to Windows 9 or can't Microsoft employees count?

I love Windows 10! I've installed it on my desktop, laptop and tablet and had no real problems at all. I just love the fact that a photo I take with my Windows phone automatically appears on all the other devices - some sort of magic! I have to admit that I uninstalled it on my tablet at first, then I discovered tablet mode, re-installed it and now wouldn't want to go back.

David - there never has been a Windows 9 - Microsoft's story is that they wanted to have a fresh start which distanced the new OS from previous versions. My son works in IT and his story is that the number 9 is considered unlucky in some cultures, so it was skipped.

David.

Windows 9 was bypassed as some 3'rd party programs cannot distinguish between Windows 95 and the present day - I suspect they (Microsoft) never anticipated that problem.

* Danny M *

I upgraded from 7 to 10 with no real problems apart from a very poor quality display, which was soon put right with a driver update. I would recomment the Professional version if you have a choice because it gives you slightly more control over updates, plus a few other things I don't curently use.

I turned off or uninstalled all background apps and set all privacy settings to maximum, my broadband is too slow to have 'apps' constantly online using up valuable bandwidth.

The 'Magic' of cloud storage and synchronisation across devices is basically all your data being stored on someone else's system, which might be fine for sharing photos, but I'm not so keen on my more valuable data being held in that way.

As for older software, TurboCAD 8 & 16 both work as do Paintshop Pro 10 and Serif PagePlus 12. XAMPP Apache server, and all the Mozilla programs are ok.

The only peripheral I had trouble with was an old SnapScan1212u scanner which I eventually got working with VueScan.

Mike.

I'm beginning to think that having read every body's problems that my W10 is faulty because I've had no faults