Windows 10

[wrayperson]

Is it worth upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?

[murraymints]

waiting for a bit myself..

[EDDIE51]

Can anyone tell me what benefit if any I will get by changing from W7 to W10? Very old laptop 2008 vintage.

[Gizmonster]

I'm also wondering what the benefits of upgrading from 8.1 to 10 will be.
I'm quite happy with 8.1, so I'll need persuading.
My train of thought, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[woofgang]

I hated w8 it was slow. clunky, not intuitive. Win 10 for me is faster, easier and generally better.

[ukbod2015]

This should help some of the questions
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/08/02/windows-10-vs-windows-8-vs-windows-7-whats-the-difference/

[DTCwordfan]

the difference in keyboard speed is remarkable - Windows 7 and 8 soaked capacity up, not the best use of architectural memory apparently. The speed in 10 is great, a marked difference.

As I understand it, pcs are now pretty clean when it comes to upgrading to 10 - there are issues for non pcs, androids etc that have yet to be fully bottomed out. I upgraded on Tuesday but haven't yet ventured into tablet....very good and little visible change.....

[Hopkirk]

I absolutely hated Windows 8.

Windows 8.1 was a bit of an improvement.

Windows 10 is much better, so go for it.

However Eddie on Windows 7 should stay with it, that is the one that wasn't broken so didn't need fixing.

[VHG]

One of the positives with staying on W7 and W8 is that once you have paid for it then you have it for ever.

But if you look at MS Office they moved from a "buy it once and use it forever" model to a "yearly subscription" model with Office 365. You have to pay each year to keep using it.

The rumour is that once everyone (or nearly everyone) has moved up to W10 they will start this yearly subscription for Windows and you will have to pay so much a year to keep using it (and getting fixes).

If you dont pay then the fixes stop and maybe even some of the Windows function is reduced, who knows.

[hc4361]

The rumour has no foundation whatsoever, VHG, and if it does happen it won't be for a few years yet. MS have stated that is not in their plans and deny it will ever happen.

[woofgang]

VHG, I think that might be suicidal for Microsoft. Apple's OS is already cheaper than Win if you have to buy it.

[hc4361]

W10 boots up and shuts down a lot faster than W8.1 and previous Windows.

It is fast in use, the user interface is straightforward and easy to get to grips with. It looks fresh and modern and I really like it.

[VHG]

>>Apple's OS is already cheaper than Win if you have to buy it.

Yes but Apple make both the hardware and software so get money from the very expensive hardware when you use their software products.

MS get no money from the hardware if you decide to put Windows on a PC.

Both Windows and Office have been "cash cows" for years for Microsoft so they cant afford to keep giving Windows away for ever (though the free upgrades to W10 don't apply to Enterprise customers so they will still get money that way).

However I cant see Windows being "free" for Home users for ever, unless MS expect to make more money from digital downloads in the future (games, films, TV shows, music etc) to subsidise the loss of revenue from Windows itself.

I realise the OS market is changing, with people getting their OS "for free" on their smartphone or tablet (including OS upgrades), but I still cant see Windows being free for home users.

Unless in the future MS ships a "core" Windows for free and you have to pay for extra features, that is one way to make money.

[hc4361]

VHG, many PC users can go their whole lives without buying a copy of Windows - it comes on the machine every time they buy a new one. That is not going to change, when you buy a new pc, laptop, Windows tablet or Windows phone you will be paying for the pre-installed Windows.

[ukbod2015]

Win 10 is already out there for sale - there will be future buyers as XP and Vista users move on. You will be paying for the OEM version indirectly when you buy your new machine. If, as is mooted, this is the last full version and the future is just upgrades on the core program Microsoft will save a fortune on producing whole new versions and all the integration and kerfuffle that goes with that.