Should I upgrade to Windows 10?
The free upgrade to Windows 10 ended. But you can still upgrade. Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Is Windows 10 any good? We explain who should upgrade to the new version of the OS, plus things to consider if you're using older hardware and software.
By Martyn Casserly
(source)
The free upgrade to Windows 10 ended on 29 July 2016. But you can still upgrade. Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Is Windows 10 any good? We explain who should upgrade to the new version of the OS, plus things to consider if you're using older hardware and software.
Last updated to include the news that Microsoft will end support for Windows Vista in April, prompting users to upgrade
Windows 10 ceased to be a free update on 29 July 2016, exactly a year after its initial release to the general public.
However, while the free offer has ended for the general public, Microsoft has kept the upgrade deal open for users of assistive technologies, at least partly because the Anniversary Update brings quite a few improvements in this area. The firm has already said to ZDNet that this isn't meant as a workaround if you didn't upgrade by the 29 July deadline and now want Windows 10.
However, as there appears to be no verification as to whether you use any of Windows' assists, it is possible you can still upgrade for free. Clicking the Upgrade Now button downloads an executable file which enables the upgrade to start.
Those who choose to upgrade to Windows 10 will also benefit from the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which came out on 2 August 2016 and the Creators Update which is set to come out in Spring 2017. (Read more about the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.)
With many new features, and various system improvements upgrading is a no-brainer for most people. Here, we’ll explain who should and shouldn't upgrade: the pros and cons of Windows 10.
If you're not sure now is the right time to upgrade, there are steps you can take. If you're looking to upgrade your computer parts and want to be on Windows 10, you should upgrade and extract your new Windows 10 product key using ProduKey. This means you can upgrade your new computer and later have the option to install Windows 10 directly on the new machine.
Microsoft has done everything it can to convince people to take advantage of the Windows 10 upgrade offer, and in the final few weeks resorted to a full-screen 'sorry to interrupt...' message as a last-ditch attempt. However, if you're adamant that you don't want to upgrade, we suggest you also read how to stay on Windows 7 or 8 forever.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Can I downgrade Windows 10?
One of the first questions we’re often asked when it comes to upgrading a system is how easily can you go back to your old one if you don’t like it. The answer with Windows 10 is that it's very easy.
Microsoft has built in a simple process that only requires a few clicks to have the system roll back to your previous version of Windows (so long as you haven’t deleted the windows.old folder in which the previous version lives). You can read our guide to downgrading Windows 10.
When we tested this helpful feature it successfully took data and installed apps with it, meaning you’re good to go as soon as the process is complete. Of course, as with any operating system installation, you’ll want to make a full backup of your data before you begin either the upgrade or the downgrade. We're heard that the roll-back doesn't always work perfectly, so there is a chance that upgrading and rolling back won't be a seamless process: bear this in mind if you're thinking about upgrading just to see whether you like Windows 10. Again, make a FULL backup beforehand to guard against any problems.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? It's no longer free to upgrade to Windows 10!
The biggest decision taken by Microsoft with Windows 10 was to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/features)">offer the OS as a free upgrade to current users of Windows 7 and 8.1. After 29 July 2016, the free upgrade was no longer a viable option, meaning you will have to purchase.
The cost was always associated to XP or Vista users, as Windows 10 was always a paid upgrade - this means if you want to get Windows 10, you'll now need to purchase it no matter which version of Windows you're on.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? It's not just for tablets
It’s hard to imagine that Windows 8 will be fondly remembered by anyone. While it has a fine engine at its core, the clumsy interface that favoured touch over traditional mouse and keyboard inputs made it confusing to use at first.
Splitting apps into two desktop environments - modern and classic - gave the whole OS a schizophrenic persona and one that was totally unnecessary as so few decent Modern apps were actually available. Windows 10 avoids the same pitfalls by returning to a Windows 7 style desktop, complete with a Start Menu that features optional live tiles for those who liked that addition to Windows 8. The Charms bar is no more, instead replaced by a more robust Settings section that is easily available from the Start Menu.
Modern apps run in windows on the desktop, and the newly introduced Universal apps mean that you purchase something once and then have it available on all your Windows devices - be they a PC, Surface, tablet, phone, or even Xbox One. Of course touch hasn’t disappeared entirely, but now it’s handled by a new feature called Continuum which senses what kind of device you are using and adjusts the interface accordingly. So, for example, if you have a Surface Pro 3 and remove the keyboard, Windows 10 will then switch to an entirely touch based system, and vice versa.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Cortana is a great addition
Virtual assistants are already helping out on your phone, with Google Now and Apple’s Siri grabbing the headlines, but Microsoft intends to make them big news on desktops with Cortana in Windows 10. This intelligent assistant can now be found on laptops and PCs - not just Windows Phones.
It will now allow you to control elements of your PC by using your voice. Clicking on the search section of the Taskbar will open up Cortana, and from there you can make web queries thanks to the new universal search facility that incorporates the internet as well as your device. You can also schedule appointments in your calendar, dictate notes and reminders, control your media, get map directions, and a host of other commands. What’s even better is that Microsoft is releasing version of Cortana for Android devices and the iPhone, so no matter what your choice of device you can still sync up your data.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? No Microsoft account required
With Windows 8 a Microsoft account was mandatory, as you used it to log in. With Windows 10 you can elect to create standard accounts instead, using whatever email address you want. Of course if you want the cool Microsoft-embedded features that work with OneDrive then you’ll still need to sign up.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Handy new features
Another addition in Windows 10 is that of Virtual Desktops. With this neat feature you can use the Task View mode to easily create multiple workspaces on your PC and switch between them as if they were on different screens. You can also arrange windows on your desktop using the Snap Assist feature, so that they take up one half of the screen or even split into four quarters of the desktop.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Bonuses for gamers
Gamers will take heart that Microsoft is building in features to enhance the experience in Windows 10. These include the ability to stream games from your Xbox One to your PC (great if someone else is watching the television), a new gameplay recording capability called PC Game DVR, and of course the latest version of DirectX 12 which is already garnering praise for its performance improvements on graphics cards and CPUs.
Better still Windows 10 also has the ability to play Xbox One games through Xbox Play Anywhere - a feature that allows you to play games designed for the Xbox One-only, but are now open to Windows 10 users too - games like Gears of War 4, are a welcome addition to the PC Gaming scene.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Privacy concerns
After writing this article in June 2015 before Windows 10 was released, there was quite the backlash from people who felt that their privacy was being invaded by Windows 10, and rightfully so. Not only is Microsoft now urging people to upgrade to Windows 10, but it's almost forcing them.
The reason appears to be data harvesting. Windows 10 collects a variety of data, some for improving the effectiveness of features such as Cortana. There are ways, even before installing Windows 10 to disable most of these features and prevent your information from being captured in the first place.
By switching them off, you'll have more privacy, but how much more data Microsoft is collecting is anyone's guess. We certainly can't say that you can prevent 100 percent of your data from being sent to Microsoft, bu it's safe to say that Windows 10 does have the most data harvesting of any version of Windows yet. As we've said, this can also be seen as a good thing, since the data is used to provide you with a more personalized operating system, such as with Cortana's search functionalities tailoring to your specific needs.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Not if you have old software and hardware
One other concern for those moving up to Windows 10, especially from older versions of Windows, is whether their important applications will work on the new OS. For major software releases this will almost certainly be a smooth upgrade, but it’s worth checking with the software provider, as they may still be working on a new version.
You don’t want to upgrade and suddenly find you can’t do your normal work on your PC. The same holds true for peripherals such as printers and scanners, which may require the downloading of new drivers to ensure they work properly on the new platform.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Are there bugs in Windows 10
With its launch on 29 July 2015, there were naturally many bugs and software glitches, mainly with the compatibility of older legacy devices. Currently, the bugs and the majority of problems have been ironed out. However as we noted on one of our machines running an old AMD X600 graphics card, the compatibility issues still remain.
Compatibility issues are mainly due to other manufacturers, in our case AMD and outdated graphics card drivers which don't support anything later than Windows 7 64-bit. Therefore, the blame can often be assigned to the other manufacturers and not Microsoft, but it goes without saying that some people will experience problems when upgrading, no matter which company is to blame.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10? Are you upgrading from XP or Vista?
As we stated above, Windows 10 was a free upgrade for existing Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows 8.1 users prior to 29 July 2016. This offer didn't extend to XP or Vista and you can’t simply upgrade even if you're willing to pay. Updating requires a clean install.
Whether you should buy an upgrade then is a trickier question in this instance. While the advantages of Windows 10 are clear, if you’re running specialist software on your XP or Vista machine, then the chances are it’s pretty old and might not be compatible with the latest OS. Then there’s the price to consider. You're able to buy Windows 10 from Microsoft's website.
If your software is compatible with Windows 10, or you're happy to update to new versions of the software then it's more sensible to buy a new PC with it already installed, rather than spend money on Windows 10. While you might be happy with your machine, if it’s running Vista or XP then the chances are it’s quite old, and likely to have parts wearing out.
Remember that increasingly software will end support for older operating systems such as XP and Vista - the Google Chrome browser is the latest to join the list, and those running XP or Vista will no longer receive updates. While you could switch to another browser, how many times will you switch your software before you upgrade your PC?
Update (16/03/2017): While there are already a myriad of reasons to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows Vista, there's now another very important reason: Microsoft is due to pull the plug on Windows Vista support on April 11 2017 after being available for a decade.
Microsoft has said that "the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources towards more recent technologies", meaning that it will no longer receive Windows security updates, nor will developers offer support for the dated operating system. We advise upgrading to Windows 10 if possible after this date, as you'll have limited access to new software and may be vulnerable in terms of online security.
Bottom line
While Windows 8 was an unpleasant surprise for a lot of people, Windows 10 goes a long way to putting that right. The OS is clean, familiar, like it was on Windows 7 and its predecessors, where it's easy to understand, plus it has a wealth of new, helpful features that you'll actually want to use.
Despite now being a paid upgrade to all, Windows 10 offers a good performance boost for Windows 7 users and below, and a better user experience for those on Windows 8/8.1 - making it easy to recommend for all.
