How are people finding Windows 10?

If I connected to Microsoft's computers, uploaded a load of data and altered settings, I would be classed a an evil hacker. Microsoft however, are free to do this to my computer if I run Windows10. I do run w10 but only to keep it up to date until Judgement Day(which will come when enough people have been bullied into accepting the upgrade). I then swop hard drives and run Linux Ubuntu to use the Internet.

I have older machines running old versions of Windows so I can use Office, Photoshop, CAD programs and loads of other stuff, without having to pay for the latest versions. (comes from living in Yorkshire). These are not set up to use the Internet. This might seem paranoid, but Microsoft remotely mucking about with MY computer, really gets up my nose.

Virtualbox is available for Windows 10 and is free. I haven't used it on W10 but run the Linux version to run Windows XP for certain old programs and it works very well.

Russell.

For my six penny worth - I've recently heard first hand that Windows 10 was to rolled out on a multinational companies system but the IT guys found so many security problems due to all and sundary could have access to files etc. A corporate modification is underway to make it more secure.

On that basis I won't be upgrading for sometime. Just like when XP was first released. I still think XP professional take some beating.

John

If you buy a new "home" laptop, you are pretty much forced to take W8 or W10. New machines simply aren't available with anything else and even if you think you could install W7 or earlier yourself, you'll be disappointed, as there aren't going to be drivers for any of the peripheral devices. You could build your own desktop which would give you a bit more flexibility but I suspect you would struggle to find drivers to work with the older OSs too.

I just go with it. I have several W10 laptops now and they work fine. From an i3 / 4GB / Intel HD5000 to an i7 / 16GB with graphics card and by and large they work as you'd hope. W10 seems to be almost the same as W8 with an interface somewhere between W7 and W8.

The main difference is the groovy interface but at least it's better than W8. And they have renamed "programs" as "apps". Wooo! And are trying to get you to find programs in the "app store" (ie pay for them). Most of the settings are probably in the same place but camouflaged behind the groovy new interface. That can be frustrating.

You either go with Microsoft or Apple or Linux or combination of these. I've got better things to do with my time than rebel endlessly. It's what's out there and if you can't write your own OS(!!), why not just swallow it and get on with life? It isn't a giant conspiracy....

Murray

I still think XP professional takes some beating

I use the 32 and 64 bit versions and have no intentions of ever upgrading my computer, it's just so EASY

For tablets you need something more advanced though and I have settled on Win 8.1 and disabled absolutely everything, as I did with XP

I use Zonealarm Pro to block any bad guys

For browsing I use Firefox version 27.01 and again all upgrading is disabled

A previous suggestion to use different computers for different OS's is the best one IMO, good second hand machines can be had for under 100 bananas nowadays, plus an external multi terrabyte drive to back up and store all those critical files we all have

Plenty of new laptops available with Linux (Ubuntu usually) installed.

And Chromebooks as well.

I am now getting the 'Box' every time I start the PC urging me to go, Win 10. I did try it for a couple of days but soon reverted to Win 7. but the Win 10 shell is stored in the hard disk..Updates appear occasionally.

My youngest Son has it installed but is having so much trouble as a business base that he has now also returned to Win 7. My PC is 8 years old and has a quad core Intel chip and only 2 Mbits of memory but runs Win 10 fine.

I personally do not like the interface and the fact that it is telling me what to do rather than let me think for myself.

Also it deletes good software that I use regularly. I will resist as long as I can.

Clive, PS. XP rules as far as I am concerned.

No Problems............

Norman

Norman

That's not an Incider picture is it ?

Martin

Not yet but it is the single core version !

N

I had a similar problem recently. My 10-year old desktop was getting very arthritic so I went and spoke to my friendly IT salesman and told him I wanted to buy a new PC but it had to run Win XP Pro as I have a lot of bespoke software that will not run on any of the newer Windows versions. Also I need at least 2 COM ports and a LPT port to drive the radio telescope system.

Well, no deal as none of the newer machines can handle XP or have COM or LPT ports, but they do have a limited number of PCI slots.

Finally came across a company that sells refurbished Dell PCs with all the features I need and they are less than half the price of of even an entry grade desktop. Ordered one to see if it does the job and was astounded in the quality. Inside it looks absolutely new, all the motherboard electrolytics replaced and not a speck of dust to be seen. Outside it had a few minor scratches on the covers but nothing to concern me. And it came loaded with XP Pro with SP3 plus a whole lot of other software.

So I am a happy chap and now will order some more for the radio telescope systems which DO NOT have Internet connections but have to have COM and LPT ports.

Of course. I was talking about the choice if buying a Windows machine.

Many companies still will only buy W7 after the fiasco of W8, which is why you can sometimes choose to "downgrade" from W10 to W7. But these are sold as "enterprise" or office machines. For home machines you simply don't get that choice. Microsoft have stitched up the home laptop market good and proper.

There aren't many situations where a desktop trumps a laptop these days but you can use a laptop pretty much wherever you want. Staying with a desktop just so I could continue to use XP etc doesn't appeal. And increasingly, peripherals are expecting to find current motherboards to connect to.

I made the mistake of upgrading to Windows 10 on my laptop. I have been using Microsoft products and operating systems since the first ones were ever available.

Lots of existing software (that I had paid for) didn't work, and there were no upgrades for those pieces of software to make them work on Windows 10. The software companies said to me that Microsoft were trying to edge (ha!) everyone out of the market with their own products that would run on Win10.

Apart from that I hated the interface.
So I cured the problem once and for all, and bought an Apple desktop, which has been utterly brilliant.

Rod

Edited By Rod Neep on 16/04/2016 14:44:24

None here either

Russell.

Did you know that the particular variety of Apple is the "McIntosh"? Which is of course where the term Apple Mac comes from.

**LINK**

I think Normans looks more like a Royal Gala. I prefer a good Russet myself. Wish we could buy Bramleys for cooking here

Russell.

When I was young we had four large apple trees at the bottom of the garden. One was a Russet - I agree very nice but a poor cropper. The largest was a Bramley and this gave a large enough crop to keep us supplied in apple pies, apple tarts, apple charlotte, baked apple, stewed apple etc. etc. pretty much all year round. In consequence apple anything is now my least favourite dessert!

Norman

( Oh yes the one shown is Royal Gala which I do quite like to munch occasionally - maybe whilst sat in front of my Apple computer?)

Edited By NJH on 17/04/2016 11:48:33

I have windows 10 on two machines the main tower is fine and has worked ok to-date . The laptop with windows 10 has changed . It worked fine initially then developed the Windows 10 fault and now takes over ten mins to start up.

I do not have power save to sleep the laptop switched on and it worked fine before with this disabled . The only answer I can find is to put the power settings back to the default to sleep if the lid is closed. My bigger machine has this disabled and it works fine. I have found no answer why this has started doing this .

Martin

Regarding apples, the best variety I have found is a 'Crispin'. It keeps until March and is sweet and as said quite crisp to eat. It is a Japanese variety but it grows quite large, about as big as a Baseball..You can use it as a cooking apple also where it retains a bit of the solid when cooked.

Clive, PS, i grow Bramleys, Worcesters, Cox's orange , Crispins and Newtons. Plus pears and Plums.