Windows 10: Why would I change from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Some will always say "Everything that Microsoft puts out is great"...
But for me this build (9926) is not one of them
Nothing seems to work, Java, many apps, live tiles, etc. and for myself it far more difficult to navigate. I suppose if you like this interface it is great, but I much prefer my 8.1 with (Start 8) over this and everything works on it.

We still don't even know if they are going to have different types of versions (home, pro, enterpise), and what about Media Center, no mention of that yet.

Perhaps, they will change things.
Even with them giving this away for free, as it is, I would/could never recommend it to anyone.

 

Instead of saying many apps are not working why not tell us what apps are not working. The reason I say that is I haven't had a problem with any as of yet.

 

There is this thread Windows 10 Preview Tested Apps which Jamie has put a lot of effort into.

Most things work and for me at least some of the ones marked as not working (VirtualBox and EMET) do work (for me anyway). I agree - not working is far more interesting than working if almost everything does.

 

I think you are right. W10 is an improved release of W8.1. It is probably a good idea to upgrade W8.1 systems with it. But hard core W7 users should not budge. Hi there

And Why is that please.

I can think of some much better reasons as to why they should move - always providing Costs are right and programs run.

Here's just a few for people at least to CONSIDER before mouthing stuff without realising what the FULL options are. By all means stay on W7 if that's what you want but please make INFORMED decisions.

Much more improved faster efficient OS that can take account of latest developments in processors and graphics (Windows 7 is a great OS but it's getting old now ) -- 10 years or so since its inception which is really a GEOLOGICAL age in computer and hardware development.

Security is an order of magnitude better than W7 and it's built directly into the OS. To secure W7 properly you need to add on security packages whether MSE from Ms or 3rd party.

Users of large (really large) data directories such as big databases and large multi-media files can use Storage Spaces for making pools of data storage using multiple HDD's (of varying sizes) which can dynamically be added to (or removed) with decent data integrity --much more efficient too than striping or using software RAID which requires all volumes to be THE SAME SIZE.

Direct mounting of ISO files - no more software needed to perform that function - very useful if your machine doesn't have DVD drives any more.

Continued support of newer office functionality - better "groupware". While Office 2010 will continue to run the latest incarnation of Office (2016) looks as if it will be quite a good release. This won't be back-ported to run on W7.

Intel Wireless Screen handling - great for remote screens -- ever been at a large office meeting and want to give a presentation where there's just a minefield of cables etc - Intel remote screens makes for easy sharing Without cables etc.

Tablet and phone integration - whether you like these devices or not they are playing an ever increasing role in a modern workplace so the ability to run mobile apps on any sort of platform will become more important.

Probably a lot more I can't think about. Remember also W10 is still work in progress so you should if undecided wait until more concrete info appears and we get a definite conclusion as to what will be in the RTM.

Finally a FREE upgrade is worth considering - to get a Brand new OS for free surely must tempt a few users.

Now please arguments for NOT upgrading -- I'll buy the argument that you won't upgrade if a vital piece of hardware / software doesn't work (but even then it might work in a VM) - otherwise serious arguments as to why you should stay on W7.

Cheers
jimbo

 

If the free upgrade is not a permanent license upgrade, then it could be better to not depend on an OS is that not guaranteed to last. People don't want to take MS at their word of a free upgrade and then later discover that upgrade has been taken back at a time when they need to reformat and reinstall.

 

This is exactly the reason I won't upgrade my W7 installation to W10. But as I said previously, I would be willing to upgrade my W8.1 Pro installation, provided I like the final W10 product.

 

This is exactly the reason I won't upgrade my W7 installation to W10. But as I said previously, I would be willing to upgrade my W8.1 Pro installation, provided I like the final W10 product. I'm afraid I have to agree with LittleJay, at least when comparing Windows 7 x64 Ultimate to the current Windows 10 x64 Enterprise Build 9926 edition. There's still a long way to go before the final release, but the direction MS is taking with Windows 10 is clear. Rather than providing desktop users an operating system that enhances and brings up to date our beloved Windows 7, I've found the following arguments against upgrading, at least for now:
- Modern Applications are at best a distraction to my productivity and I'd prefer the option to install Windows 10 without them. I've tried to "uninstall" several of these (Zune Video, Zune Music, etc.) but they keep coming back!
- I couldn't select Google as the default search provider for the Windows Search utility in the task bar
- I installed Classic Shell to add some transparency to the dull task bar, but Windows kept blocking my scheduled task and wouldn't let the program load at startup. Another program I'd tried to load via Task Scheduler was blocked with an error message to the effect that the system administrator couldn't authorize its use
- Battery life was at best equivalent to my experience in Windows 7 but probably worse, since there were a heck of a lot of programs running in the background and I couldn't render any Modern UI Apps inactive as in Windows 8.1
- In standby mode the computer slept for around 10 minutes, woke up and "phoned home" to Microsoft and then went back to sleep. Having no control over what was being forwarded to Redmond gave me an uneasy feeling.
- Having two Windows Store applications, neither of which worked consistently, as well as two Control Panels just proves that this operating system is in transition. With Windows Update missing from the Control Panel I felt I'd lost more control over my system, especially when others have reported that drivers are constantly being installed against their will.
- Cortana could be an incentive to upgrade if she can't be made backward compatible, but after pronouncing my name correctly after I'd set her up I never heard from her again. And forcing me to sign in to a MS Account just to have the pleasure of chatting with (OK, I admit it) that sexy gal isn't fair. I suppose even if she had responded once I'd gotten past the flirting stage I'd have signed off for good.
- Since I don't have a Windows phone or other device that could profit from Continuum, and I'd prefer to stay away from "the cloud", OneDrive doesn't really excite me either.

To sum up, Microsoft's insistence on Modern UI applications, Bing everything, OneDrive integration, privacy invasion and overriding my own attempts at customization as "unapproved" make me feel relieved when I wipe my hard drive and restore that good ole Windows 7 backup.

 

One app that does not work is Maps. I was playing around with it. Got a map of the Aquitaine region in France and tried to get directions from Bordeaux to various cities in the region. In all cases it sent me into the boonies.

 

Jimbo, those are good functions that I could see myself using.

And this is something I do not wand. I do completely different things on my phone and my tablet than what I do on my desktop. I do not want all my desktop stuff to appear on my tablet or phone. A bad example I just had - Google synced my stuff from my Linux virtual machine to my W10 Chrome. I learned my lesson and will not sign into my Google account again.

 

Yes I still think it will be slower than the old hierarchical menu.
Edit: after a bit more of a play, W10 actually does this(with for example all the MS Office programs grouped together in a folder). I need to have more of a play though.

I took advantage of the cheap prices when Windows 8 came out to upgrade from XP - assuming 10 still runs then (as stated) it will be a no-brainer to go to 10.

 

This argument buries ones head in the sand and assumes that Desktop apps as they are today will always be the primary way the OS is used. In fact, each successive release of Windows, this becomes less and less the case. In fact, you cannot even use Windows 10 without using Metro anymore because key functionality has been moved to Modern apps, such as Windows Update, many pieces of Control Panel (user management, network management, etc, you can't even connect to a WiFi router anymore without using a Modern App).

Modern apps are the new API for Windows, and eventually... maybe not this release, or the next, but eventually there won't be any standard desktop functionality left. Yes, there will still be standard Win32 apps for a decade or more to come, but these will run in a virtualized mode most likely.

Stop pretending that the Modern apps are a Fad and will go away. They aren't. They Won't. They will just get more prevalent. This is the future, and the future is sort of-kind-of here now.

So, the point of that statement is.. No, you can't install windows Without them. They are part of windows.. it's like installing without the desktop, or installing without File Explorer. You can certainly hack them out after the fact, but you're not going to get Microsoft to willingly lobotomize it's baby out of the box.

You do realize that Microsoft doesn't write the search providers for IE, right? The various companies that provide them do. I'm sure when Google provides a search provider for this, they will include it.

This happens every time they make major changes to the menu. It takes some time for the App vendor to fix their app to make it work correctly. And, when it does, you can then use it. It's blocked because the app doesn't work completely.

This sounds like a huge assumption. Just because you have more processes doesn't mean its using more CPU power. Most of those processes could be sitting idle doing nothing and using no more power than if they weren't there at all.

You're using beta software that sends telemetry to Microsoft. That's the price of getting it for free. If you don't like it, don't use it. Microsoft clearly outlines the data they collect in their privacy agreement.

Of course it's in transition... nobody ever said otherwise. It's going to be years before this conversion to Full Modern is complete. You're arguing about something that is not only obvious, but has been flat out said and roadmaps created...

I'd say something about Captain Obvious, but you don't get those commercials over there i'm sure...

You have to have a MS account (that doesn't mean you have to have a MS email account) to use most Modern features, including the store. The same is true of Apple's Mac Store, and Siri as well. The same is true of Google's Ok Google...

What you don't know is that your computer is not powerful enough to host Cortana on its own, nor are the phones that use it. Cortana is cloud-based service, and when you speak to her, your voice is transmitted to the cloud to be analyzed by powerful clusters of computers with Petabytes of data behind them. These services are designed to work with your preferences, to know who you are, and track what you like... That's how they work, and what they're designed for. Some people like that, some people don't... Regardless, it's irrational to expect that functionality from your disconnected PC.

Until your hard drive crashes and you lose all your documents and pictures... OneDrive is just like DropBox or iCloud or Google Drive... Network backup, and they give you a good chunk of space for free.

Most of your complaints are related to things that are only in place because of the preview. Mandatory updates, mandatory telemetry, etc.. Your other complaints are either of the "Grrr.. get off my lawn you young whippersnappers" variety or lack a fundamental understanding of the way they function, and the usefulness (or lack therof) of said functions in isolation. Maybe it's just me, but maybe you should have read your Preview Agreement and Privacy agreement before downloading and installing this.. Or maybe you just aren't cut out for being a previewer.

 

I think it's broken at the moment.

When I tried to add it to IE in 10 preview, it doesn't work.. but when I looked on a Windows 7 PC running IE9, it didn't work either.

My suspicion is that either Google or Microsoft have broken something, but it isn't just confined to 10 Preview.

 

Fair question. I suppose it comes down to; what features will 10 offer that you use or need?

For me, I do not use: Cortana, One Drive, Xbox, Zune, Bing, Social Media, Skype, or Outlook so many of the perks of those apps do not apply to me. Also I do not have a surface or windows phone, so connected cross platform devices and such also falls into the N/A category. Not a fan of modern apps running in the start menu, well the weather app is nice, but the others, I find insufficient, as the the headlines take just as long, if not longer to scroll along from one another, as it would for me to simply click my browser and the bookmark of the news/sports page of my choice. Perhaps if you can alter them to your liking, such as just having a score board for hockey scores or the like would do the trick.

The system runs rather well as others have pointed out, smoother boot, better usage of CPU and SSD, but in the long run, I do not have any complaints with my current setup and I've never uttered the words "I need more of this" since what I have suits all of my gaming and work needs. Also, the task manager is nice, as is the quad snap and file transfer duplication warnings waiting until after all other have been transferred (8 feature I believe, but I digress).

I really hope they offer some customization, as I do not care for the flat look and pre-school colors and icons, but that's just me. I know many who love the look and that's fine, but it would be a bummer to not have the option to make the OS fit your liking (I know, I know subliminal advertising is why they aren't going to bend on this, but it would still be nice to do without a bunch of third party software.)

For me, I'll probably dual boot, but I might wait for a few months after the final release, but as of now my 7 setup really isn't giving me problems and I'm sure 10 has it's advantages, but I don't' see any current disadvantages with my setup now, so 10 will be a play OS for a while and then it will grow on me like the others have.

Free is also a great thing, so don't rule that out*Thumbs

 

Of course all of this will only happen if M$ can get a user base.

 

Of course all of this will only happen if M$ can get a user base. I imagine that part of the reason for making Windows 10 free for a year is to build a user base and also to encourage developers to write Modern apps.

I can see myself much more likely to use a Modern app with the 'windowing' within Windows 10 than in 8/8.1.