How are people finding Windows 10?

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by stevetee on 30/12/2015 19:17:48:

 

As for Win 10 I went into system 32 and changed the folder GWX to ' dont GWX' now the annoying reminders have gone away.

Thanks for the tip. However, if you have automatic updates turned on (or if you otherwise allow the "Important" update KB3035583 to be installed ), the "Get Windows 10" app will be promptly reinstalled.

One thing that happens in Windows 10 consumer versions is that you can no longer turn off "Automatic Updates" (you can delay them for a short time) so people won't have the choice in future. This change (removal of the automatic updates choice) is also being applied retroactively to Windows 8x and also (I believe) to Windows 7 along with some of the nefarious privacy issues that have been discussed. Anyone concerned about those issues who uses Win-7/8 might want to check his/her update log, see if any of the following updates are incorporated and act appropriately according to their wont:

KB3068708 ; KB3022345 ; KB3075249 ; KB3080149

Neil: I'm sorry if you judge this to be MS-bashing – personally I think it's relevant information for anyone trying to make an informed decision on whether to update – but go ahead and delete it if you think fit.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 30/12/2015 23:06:04

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I've no real objection to the sort of measured comments we have here. But we've all seen how these things can go – I really wasn't sure about asking this question although my hope that a lot of answers of use to me and others would result has been realised.

I think I will wait a few more months for all the wrinkles to be ironed out, then set aside a couple for days for backing up, tweaking all the privacy settings, getting rid of the bloatware and testing programs.

Neil

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by NJH on 30/12/2015 20:16:24:

V8

I had been running Windows machines since the very early days with few problems. My kids though are artists and graphic designers and have been on at me for years to " get up to date Dad" and buy a Mac. Last year I did so and bought the big machine with the 27" screen. I really like it – it does mean doing things a bit differently but it is very stable. I am used to Microsoft Word , Excel etc and I bought the MS Office for Mac package so that is OK. My interest, other than ME, is photography so Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop work seamlessly on the Mac. OK it is an expensive machine but I will judge the true cost when next it is time to change. As a "best of both worlds" position my wife has a Windows machine running Windows 8 . We each have an iPad and I have an iPod ! One nice little touch is that the iMac, iPad and iPod calendars are all synchronised so entering an appointment in one appears on all.

Regards

Norman

I've used DOS and most versions of windows from 3.11 up until Win 7 at work but wouldn't use any of them by choice. I've also used Macs since OS6.5 at home and have enjoyed all of them except the first version of OSX which was a shock to the system. They used to say at work the Macs they bought were expensive compared to PC's but they lasted at least twice as long and required virtually no support so I expect the overall cost was about the same, perhaps even cheaper. Virtually all surfing and email is now done on an iPad so the desktop machine only gets used for photo editing, drawing or letters that need to be posted. I've heard quite a few folks who switched to Mac say "I will never ever go back to using a PC" but never the other way round! If asked I do advise those thinking about getting a Mac to think very carefully as once they've tried it they won't want to go back to using a cheap PC again. Each to their own though, I've heard plenty of folks that still want to run old DOS stuff…

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 31/12/2015 00:22:54:

I think I will wait a few more months for all the wrinkles to be ironed out, then set aside a couple for days for backing up, tweaking all the privacy settings, getting rid of the bloatware and testing programs.

If I were interested (I'm not based on the bad privacy press plus a test installation on a spare machine) I'd wait until the the first service pack is released …. Windows 10.1 or however they designate it this time. Pretty much SOP these days.

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 30/12/2015 21:23:12:

snip >>>>>

But it is the privacy issues introduced by the upgrade that that caused me the most grief. Sorry Neil but I found the amount of information being leaked by Windows 10 to Microsoft and their partners to be unacceptable, and I also disliked various strong nudges during the install that encouraged me to adopt new applications like Cordova that "share" even more of my information. The problem is that the customer has to hunt down the offending features and turn them off manually. And it turns out that the only way to completely stop your computer reporting back to Microsoft is to buy the professional version.

My advice is to proceed with due caution. Don't just accept "recommended" settings, don't set up a Microsoft account unless you need one, and don't adopt the likes of Cordova and Edge unless you specifically want them. (They're not evil, but…) Make sure that features you don't use are disabled: for example do you really want applications to be allowed to access your microphone or webcam?

Dave <<<<< snip

I agree with Dave. Microsoft appear to have cashed in to the the data-mining and profiling model that other companies (such as Google, VigiLink, DoubleClick et al) use to sell advertisments tailored to your web-surfing history. Now Microsoft want their share of the honey pot: You click, somebody pays!

As for access to microphone and webcams, this could lead to a massive invasion of privacy. Which advertiser/spammer/hacker/govt dept do you want eavesdropping and watching you today? And to be realistic; how many average (innocent/nieve) users are aware of this or have the requisite knowledge to disable these 'features'.

A friend of mine trialled an update (Win7-Win10) on a 15 month old HP laptop (used as a guinea pig) connected to his business network. It has a touchscreen. The programs that reported difficulties were his AVG Antivirus, MYOB Accounting and a dedicated Mercury outboard motor diagnostic hardware/software interface. AVG and Myob can offer updates (cost?) while the (Oz) Mercury support team just sighed (after 35 min on hold).

A network activity monitor attached to the router soon revealed the thousands of data packets outbound from his node and they were to multiple IP addresses. Including Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard among others.

Anyway for a day's work I am the proud owner of a 15 month old HP laptop. It might be useful in the workshop, I wonder if it will run MsDos 3.1?

And for all the Apple lovers out there …. we are tracking your iPhone. – Like the electronic advertising boards on the Paris Metro – your phone triggers an ad 'tailored' just for you!

The next generation of mobile phones appear destined to become 'wearable' items btw – it gets rid of the bulky slabs (notice how that mobile phones are getting bigger, just like the first ones?) – interface by the ubiquitious 'sunnies' (Sun glasses) and voice activated.

I'm sorry about the long rant (not really) but if George Orwell had been born a few generations later he could have written '2019 – 35 Years On from 1984' as a fitting sequel. I bet that the poor bloke is turning in his grave. Even though he died in 1950 his predictions were remarkably accurate.

* Danny M *

 

 

 

 

Edited By Danny M2Z on 31/12/2015 04:50:46

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I think we have to accept that there's a 'new normal' and up-coming generations are aware of and completely happy with this level of personal data sharing. They just shrug and say 'if I'm going to see adverts, I'd rather see ones for things that interest me'*.

Those of us who value our privacy will never be comfortable in a world where you can look at your phone and identify like-minded strangers, customers or even potential partners sharing your train carriage, but that's the way the world is going.

Neil

*Interestingly the first report I read about 'smart glasses' reported how the inventor trialled his prototype by getting them to use his position to blank out all the adverts on his route to work…

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

They need to fix it. I lost left click on the icons at the bottom of the screen and right click on the start menu and the Windows key does not work. This is a pain and it has not been fixed in 2 months. I have tried all of the fixes I can find published online but no luck.

I do like Windows 10 as it seems a lot faster and I got it for free as I was running Windows 8.1.

What happened to Windows 9 or can't Microsoft employees count?

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

I love Windows 10! I've installed it on my desktop, laptop and tablet and had no real problems at all. I just love the fact that a photo I take with my Windows phone automatically appears on all the other devices – some sort of magic! I have to admit that I uninstalled it on my tablet at first, then I discovered tablet mode, re-installed it and now wouldn't want to go back.

David – there never has been a Windows 9 – Microsoft's story is that they wanted to have a fresh start which distanced the new OS from previous versions. My son works in IT and his story is that the number 9 is considered unlucky in some cultures, so it was skipped.

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Posted by David Clark 1 on 31/12/2015 09:45:25:

What happened to Windows 9 or can't Microsoft employees count?

David.

Windows 9 was bypassed as some 3'rd party programs cannot distinguish between Windows 95 and the present day – I suspect they (Microsoft) never anticipated that problem.

* Danny M *

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

I upgraded from 7 to 10 with no real problems apart from a very poor quality display, which was soon put right with a driver update. I would recomment the Professional version if you have a choice because it gives you slightly more control over updates, plus a few other things I don't curently use.

I turned off or uninstalled all background apps and set all privacy settings to maximum, my broadband is too slow to have 'apps' constantly online using up valuable bandwidth.

The 'Magic' of cloud storage and synchronisation across devices is basically all your data being stored on someone else's system, which might be fine for sharing photos, but I'm not so keen on my more valuable data being held in that way.

As for older software, TurboCAD 8 & 16 both work as do Paintshop Pro 10 and Serif PagePlus 12. XAMPP Apache server, and all the Mozilla programs are ok.

The only peripheral I had trouble with was an old SnapScan1212u scanner which I eventually got working with VueScan.

Mike.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I'm beginning to think that having read every body's problems that my W10 is faulty because I've had no faults

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I "upgraded" from Win7 to Win10 and has been mentioned above , I am not happy with the privacy issues. I also resent the fact that Microsoft can just load whatever they like onto MY computer and I have no control over it. In addition, various programs (DVD player for example) no longer work.

I did clone my win7 hard drive before upgrading so I can easily go back. Thank you Bandrsnatch for the heads up regarding the sneaky win7 updates.

I am currently trying the different flavours of Linux (just download an ISO image and burn a disk). I like what 've seen so far so, for me it could well be bye bye windows.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

A Mac user since late 2007/8 and never regretted it for a second, except that is for the debacle on updating my iPhone/iPad to iOS 9 and finding that OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard was not compatible.

I was so incensed I wrote to Tim Cook complaining, and got a call from their Ireland tech support a week later who tried to sort the problem out, but my MacBook was too old!

The only thing I and many Mac users really really hate about Apple is that they disown older versions of their OS, and give no warning at all!

Luckily, however, my 2008 MacPro was capable of going straight from 10.6 to 10.10 Yosemite, and that only required a reboot on completion, unlike my previous MS experiences of multiple reboots, freezes, crashes etc on updating.

I dual boot with Vista, but have given up on MS now, as the last time I tried updating it went into sulk mode and froze, so time to format that HD and put it to good use I think.

May upgrade to 10.11 El Capitan, as that appears to be a well locked down system, giving the same improvements that Snow Leopard did for Leopard, BUT improving internet security.

Geoff – Calm restored to Chez 'OuBallie' with 10.10, but lesson learned!

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by OuBallie on 31/12/2015 11:37:50:

The only thing I and many Mac users really really hate about Apple is that they disown older versions of their OS, and give no warning at all!

I can't agree with that. I'm still running 10.9 on our 2009 iMac and we still get security and other updates for it.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Vic,

10.9 yes, but 10.6 not as Apple 'retired' that release from all updates last year, hence my use of the word 'disown', unlike MS that has to look after older versions due to its massive installed business base.

MacBook now used mainly to record video directly from camcorder.

I 'should' be able to upgrade to Mavericks, so must give it a try if I can get hold of a copy.

Geoff – Just pruned the apple tree then tidied up, and cannot believe how warm it is!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by OuBallie on 31/12/2015 14:11:27:

… but 10.6 not as Apple 'retired' that release from all updates last year …

.

Agreed … My three Macs are now 'frozen' at 10.6.8

Likewise, my iPad at iOS 5.1.1 and my iPodTouch at iOS 6

New applications, and many updates, require the use of a later OS.

No backward compatibility = planned obsolescence

… But we're still battling on.

MichaelG.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

I bought a new desktop computer running on Win 8 a few months ago, and upgraded to Win 10 three hours ago. On first impressions I prefer Win 8. Does this confirm that I am weird? It's just an unfriendly feel the thing has – I have had no software issues, but I didn't expect any because all my software has been replaced or upgraded during the last nine months. So far, I think I'm going to keep my laptop running on Win 8, and likewise the two desktops I bought on a Lottery grant for use by voluntary groups in our village.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 31/12/2015 14:20:25:

Posted by OuBallie on 31/12/2015 14:11:27:

… but 10.6 not as Apple 'retired' that release from all updates last year …

.

Agreed … My three Macs are now 'frozen' at 10.6.8

Likewise, my iPad at iOS 5.1.1 and my iPodTouch at iOS 6

New applications, and many updates, require the use of a later OS.

No backward compatibility = planned obsolescence

… But we're still battling on.

MichaelG.

Can you not update the operating system? My machine is 6 years old and came with 10.6 installed but it's now on 10.9.5 FOC from Apple.

I heard folks complain about the lack of security updates for older versions of windows so how much "support" do MS really provide for obsolete OS's?

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Posted by Mike on 31/12/2015 14:57:59:

On first impressions I prefer Win 8. Does this confirm that I am weird?

Yes Mike. There is almost certainly something wrong with you! Despite being retired, perhaps you have the mind of someone under 20?

The only way I could just about stomach W8 was by cloaking it to look like W7 by using Startisback or Classic Shell to give me back the start button and get rid of those damnable tiles, "charms"(??) and the Metro interface. With W10 I find I can manage without them, although I continue to be annoyed by the changing names and places for settings and devices. As you know, in W10 we are now running "apps", not programs.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I've got win10 on 3 machines and happily XP on older ones. The nuisance with win10 is when an update defaults all the privacy issues back but I believe spybot now do a utility to keep then private. That and a bandaid over the camera lens and mike. It just took a bit longer than 1984…

Oh, and since there's no cell reception here I don'r bother with a phone contract but it's a handy pocket camera. the xp machine may well go to a linux distro if it doesn't die of old age as my shed laptop did this month.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Vic on 31/12/2015 15:38:36:

Can you not update the operating system? My machine is 6 years old and came with 10.6 installed but it's now on 10.9.5 FOC from Apple.

.

Vic,

Yes, I could have updated from Snow Leopard, but I chose not to … because I would have then lost Rosetta.

That would have meant losing Adobe CS2, and [having spent over £1K on that], I am simply not prepared to throw any more money at it.

MichaelG.

.

Apologies to Neil, for dragging the thread even further off-topic.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 31/12/2015 16:23:46

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

All in all it seems WIN 10 has a thumbs down, I have today been reading a Computer mag. and the concensus there is leave it alone until the first update. IE, 10.1 or such. Privacy issues are top of the list with readers in the mag. Also the fact that in idle periods the PC is downloading like mad.

Again, Microsoft are updating WIN 7 and WIN 8 as if it was already a WIN 10 operating system which to my mind is not on and have they the right to do this? Some people like the, 'Blocky' look of the screen and can work with it but a square box on a screen does not mean much to me. I much prefer a Programme/softwre to say what it is. The subject of incompatability of older software and drivers is contentious and means abandoning good hardware and functions. Then, having to buy new functions is distasteful.

Clive

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

A couple of months ago I bought a new small laptop that had W8.1 which I quickly updated to W10 and prefer it. My W7 64 desktop though has rather more software installed so I have been hesitant about pressing the upgrade button. However, I have just bought a 3TB USB hard disk to increase my backup options and have come across a known (but not previously to me!) issue with W7 backup not working with disks larger than 2TB. This may drive to me to upgrading to W10. But, and this is the question, not advice about alternatives : Can anybody confirm that W10 backup will work with 3TB disks?

Cheers,

Rod

Edit:  Doh! Stupid, stupid me I just have to plug it into the laptop to test it for myself!

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 31/12/2015 17:40:55

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Michael

I tend to agree that the "old" system of purchasing s/w from Adobe was good and you could chose when to "stick" !

I decided – some years ago when changing computer – that I would go with the ( from Adobe's viewpoint) popular solution of a subscription to their " Creative Cloud ". The meat of this is Lightroom and Photoshop CC at a cost of £8.57 per month. Previously I was using Lr and Photoshop Elements and keeping up with the upgrades. I think I am better off with the subscription package with the added advantage of always running the latest version. In truth Photoshop is not much used as my philosophy is to attempt to capture the image in camera and keep adjustments to a minimum – so Lightroom alone is usually sufficient. I find the process of heavily Photoshopped images tedious to do and unexciting to view – but that's just me. To succeed in photo competitions however it seems ever more necessary!

( Phew I feel a bit better now – sorry! )

Norman

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I'm not updating my OS ( Win 8.1 ) until I have to, according to the info' I've been reading there are still a lot of bugs within W10. & MS will still upgrade all users to W10 by July 2016 whether they want it or not. I find it very annoying, very arrogant & presumptuous for MS to impose an OS upon it's clients without the choice of yay or nay, & still flawed with bugs & giving the opportunity for hackers an OS that is relatively easy to get into. I'm not saying that Safari, Linux, or Ubuntu can't be got into but I reckon MS has got to be the easier of all the systems ( percentage wise )

George.

Edited By mechman48 on 31/12/2015 17:41:28

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