So, Is Win10 As Bad As I Think It Is?

I'm...a very slow adopter, suffice to say. Still using the XP box from my sig, even though it's basically steam-powered now. And I'd love to upgrade to a Win7 machine, but even with a custom build that's looking pretty unlikely these days.

On an upgrade, I would like to stick to some kind of Windows, if only because I do some low-end offline gaming and looking into some newer online stuff, and a lot of stuff is still Win only. Otherwise, my PC is an internet and office machine.

I've been doing a lot of reading on Win10 lately, maybe too much - with all the discussions I've gone through, it's hard to separate the useful information from the tinfoil-hatting. Anyone have a reasonable list of bullet points to consider regarding security? I like to at least maintain my illusions of control and privacy on my computer. Is it worth it getting over 8's interface instead?

 

CyrDraconis...

First, you can control Windows Updates if you have the Pro or Enterprise version of W10. As far as I know this is a fairly new revelation about Windows 10, but you can control them. This is a huge key for me, and it's why I recommend the change in the final analysis. Otherwise, I would have hands down stayed with W7 with no remorse.

That said, W10 is simpler than 8 and much more like 7, which is nice. It's really pretty sleek and simple. There are some settings issues to learn if you are on XP, but I guess it's 90+% the same under the surface...much closer even with Windows 7 (95%+). One thing that bothered me was no "Computer" and "Control Panel" links on the start menu. I soon realized they can be added to the Start Menu tiles area or to desktop as a shortcut or can be pinned to the Task Bar. I got over that one pretty fast.

List of Pros and Cons for changing:
Pros
1. MS security updates support for Windows 8.1 ends 7/11/2023,Windows 7 ends in 2020, Vista 2017, and XP is expired
2. Win 10 has never ending support from MS and that means from developers and driver writers too
3. Upgrade is free through July 29 2016
4. Driver support will focus on Win 10 from now on with Windows PCs
5. No more changes to make, since the support is for the life of the PC and no more new OSes coming from MS

Cons
1. Learning new OS
2. Built in security concerns with live tiles and very aggressive and intrusive data collection
3. Cortana and other cumbersome/bulky add ons
4. Possible hardware incompatibilities, especially early on...these will go away with time (you may not have any problems with this)
5. Cortana and OneDrive apps can be disabled and fully removed from view but can't be uninstalled (like Internet Explorer)

There are already some extrememly powerful anti-data collection protection programs for Windows 10. I have gone with a simpler one in Sypbot Anti-Beacon, but there are some that go waaaaay beyond SBAB when it comes to control. Anyway, I like to put this into a perspective with the fact that there aren't any new OSes coming from MS. This means the focus will all be on 10. Also, long term, we should see a high interest in drivers for legacy hardware that may not be supported now. So maybe there is a short term issue with hardware, sometimes, but, long term, all the creativity that was focused during XP times on XP and 7 during its time will now be focused on W10. This can only be a good thing.

Security-wise, I have heard that the native W10 security with Defender is pretty good. Especially early on that's nice while you are configuring things and don't want to have to hunt down the issues for adding a security program. That said, all the issues are the same, and W10 will be getting full support from developers, so security should not be a problem. The main thing is that you will have security updates from MS for the life of the PC with W10

Here are a couple of links:

How to completely control updates in W10 Pro and Enterprise:
http://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how...cally-downloading-updates/?PageSpeed=noscript

Anti-data programs for securing Windows 10:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/which_windows_10_privacy_tool_is_right_for_me_(video).html

I would say I am 80% high (and rising) on the change to Windows 10 for all eligible for the free upgrade, based on what I have seen so far from developers in the overall sense. There are some programs that have been lost with 10 that just won't work correctly on the platform. That's tough, but, it does appear to me that things will/are getting better and fairly quickly I would say...

 

No chance of buying a Windows 7 refurbished PC and then making the free upgrade using the key?

 

i really like windows 10 i have it on a desk top and a laptop.

 

If the OP decides to go this route, he/she needs to make sure the Win 7 is SP1. Otherwise, the OS won't be eligible for the free upgrade to Win 10.

 

I am just now getting acquainted with Windows 10 via a laptop. Still have Win 7 Pro on two desktops. I have seen enough though that I can conclude it definitely will be a good OS. CyrDraconis - remember this one thing - every OS has entered onto the scene with pros and cons. I truly believe most of the Cons are relative to people and impatience - a deadly combination. Remember back when you were first trying XP???? Well, same set of circumstances - a learning curve. I advise all new Win 10 OS users to give yourself a break. Get the OS installed - CORRECTLY - then focus on the first most important task/software/application (relative to "your" daily computer needs) that you need the OS to perform for you. Learn the OS for that task/software/application and then move on to "your" next task/software/application need. You learn the OS this way by adjusting it to accommodate a chore that you have been performing on an old OS for a long long time. Everything starts to come together quickly. All that said - rest assured that 10 has outstanding promise.

Yes, these are Cons and AltBo is totally correct and justified in laying them out on the table to you and everyone else. However, AltBo and others already know - and - you need to know that they are so minor in comparison to the positives that you will quickly learn from the new Win 10 OS - and - you WILL begin to enjoy Win 10 very much. Then - XP did what for me??

Again, I iterate to everyone upgrading. Be patient. Enjoy and have fun with a new OS. In a short amount of time it will go to work for you. Don't try to cram everything you have been doing with your old OS into a two day period of time with the new OS. Crawl before you walk, walk before you run. Works every time.

And for crying out loud do the following "above and beyond everything else" --- LEARN TO DO SYSTEM BACKUPS, RESTORES, AND DATA BACKUPS ... AND THEN FAITHFULLY PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE WITHIN YOUR DAILY REGIMEN. ONE MORE THING - IMHO - I STRONGLY SUGGEST Drive PARTITIONING -OR- SEPARATE DRIVES. SOOOO much headache is prevented when the OS is separate from the Data. SOOOOOOOO much headache eliminated!!!!!

 

O&O's Shut Up 10 will deal with all privacy concerns in Windows 10:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/oo_shutup10.html

 

Interesting - I just hit on the link. I'll be looking into this myself.

 

Yes. That being said Redstone is on the way, so who knows what tomorrow brings. I will give it a run. 200 million BETA testers is a good thing.

 

Redstone was the name for Windows 10 in development - it's been and now 6 months into final release.