How are people finding Windows 10?

[frank brownParticipant @frankbrown22225]

Went from Win 7 to 10, after twenty years PC goes through the BIOS so quick you can't see it most times, so boot up time much better then any thing I have ever had, even DOS 3.1 buts that for a different reason!. Also close down is quicker, now its not " Saving your setting", which have not changed. The touch pad has that nauseating squeeze/spread to change the displayed screen size (Control + or Cont- to cure).

If Windows want to look at my machine – good luck to them. Real problem is cookies which are slowly filling up my disc and I wonder how resistant the operating system is to malware, not very I bet.

Microsoft are a funny company, never yet paid a dividend on their shares, yet people still buy them???? They are very good at screwing money out of the hoi polloi, but as for writing software?

Frank

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

I refrained from criticising Microsoft in my previous post, but I'm happy to join in . . .

The 'Edge' browser and the Mail app may be ok once they're finished but last time I tried them they seemed to be less functional than they were in the preview edition!

Nearly all the new 'features' of 10 are useless unless you're one of the children with their touchscreen devices, and are mostly redundant on a PC/Laptop.

BUT underlying all the pretty window-dressing there appears to be a very stable operating system, which is almost indistinguishable from 7 if you disable the extras. However there are definitely driver problems on some older systems, especially laptops, so it pays to do some research about your particular hardware before upgrading.

Mike.

Edited By Farmboy on 31/12/2015 17:50:32

[Enough!Participant @enough]

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

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.

I don't know how you can say that Geoff. Microsoft "disowned" XP a couple of years ago despite the fact that there is still a (very) significant installed base out there (just look at this thread, or any other Windows forum).

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by NJH on 31/12/2015 17:30:44:

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

The obvious advantage to a subscription like yours Norman is that if you buy a shiny new camera it will work with your software. If you stick with an old package it won't support the newest cameras if you shoot in RAW. If I didn't shoot in RAW I wouldn't need LR so it's a chicken and egg situation! I've not much bothered with PS since LR came out.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Nobody has mentioned if it needs more processor power or memory??? though one did imply it was faster.

We only just got upgraded to W7 at work, so 2 more bouts to go.

re privacy I was looking at a new TV and the carton says you have to agree to Google's privacy terms before you can use the TV. – frightening.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I'm still on xp32. Got xp64 for the memory stuff so I can do huge databases, which curiously run fine on xp32

With these new super speedy SSDs(solid state drives) you can have an essential program on a separate boot Operating System and keep all your old favourites on an older system

Save any critical files to one of those big external USB backup drives and bobs your auntie

The good old days of trying to get everything working on a single Operating System are over IMO

Edited By Ady1 on 31/12/2015 20:41:36

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

What are the privacy issues?

I have a Logitech 920 webcam and a blue yeti Mike although I don't use them a lot. I use the mike with Dragon Dictate.

Microsoft must have listened to me because after I said Windows 10 needed fixing they updated my PC and it works fine now.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by David Clark 1 on 01/01/2016 10:30:46:

What are the privacy issues?

.

David,

This is probably a good place to start:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Thanks Michael Gilligan. Regards David

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

+1

Thanks Michael, that link makes it easy to do the main things that need doing.

Neil

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Reading some of this thread makes me wonder if MS have started a new form of beta releases. I have run these when I used Windows in the past. They were given to selected people some time before the real releases came out. When the actual release was installed over these a message saying we can do better than that popped up. Little difference really and as always machine slowed down as more and more updates are installed. That aspect will get worse and worse as releases age.

The content of that link may encourage more people to switch to Mac or Linux so I really like that. God like companies that infringe people rights without them being fully aware of it should be stamped on. These days though especially with Mac there is so much wifi going back and forth it's hard to be certain what is going where.

Interesting extension of the commercial web though. I had a laugh yesterday. I wanted to check something I had already bought. No one would buy another and adds for it started appearing on several sites – suppose it helps the owners cover the cost of running the sites though. Increasingly I use one browser for looking for things and another for buying. Then there is one that retains nothing that I sometimes use for fun. It probably does keep something though even when everything is turned off.

MS have been at loggerheads with commercial users in the past. They take no notice. The users continue to use what ever release they are happy with rather than upgrading but later have no choice usually saying they are happy with the one after that. In real terms it's given them more time to prepare.

All in all MS have a fantastic business model. Good for them but us? I remember reading an estimate on how many hours their users waste planet wide some time ago.

John

–

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 31/12/2015 18:16:00:

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

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.

I don't know how you can say that Geoff. Microsoft "disowned" XP a couple of years ago despite the fact that there is still a (very) significant installed base out there (just look at this thread, or any other Windows forum).

Easy

XP has had a much much longer run of updates, 2001-14, compared with Snow Leopard, 2009-14.

I still have an XP laptop but cannot remember the last time I booted it up, as well as a Dell running Win2000 Pro that I use in the HobbyRoom.

Before I switched to Mac my DIY tower unit ran XP, and still in use on occasion to run SpinRite to check my NAS/RAID disks.

Waiting for Steve Gibson to finish his SQRL (squirrel) so that he can start on getting SpinRite to run on Macs.

I hope most fervently that 'squirrel' takes off, as it will make passwords a thing of the past! It's nearly ready.

Geoff – Washing and vacuuming done

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

My test of the Backup programs with W10 was successful and I was able to backup the laptop to a 3TB disk. That prompted me to take the plunge and install W10 on my Core i5 500Gb (about 40 Gb free) 3MHz desktop with W7. I had a few installation failures which dumped me back into my old W7. A bit of a search suggested that I should turn AVG off for the installation download and that worked fine. W10 now and the desktop looks exactly the same as it did on W7 and it has left Firefox and Thunderbird as my default web and mail clients. I haven't tried all my apps yet but the ones I have tried so far have been fine.

Works for me,

Rod

 

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 02/01/2016 20:28:21

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

I'm a big fan, the only thing I miss is the traditional "my computer" icon and window. This seems to have been replaced with a window containing "frequent folders" and "recent files" with the "explorer tree" on the left as usual however this is also plagued with "quick access" "cloud" "documents" "music" all sorts of crap, then down at the bottom, requiring looking/clicking/scrolling to finally find, is C: D:, my USB key, SD card etc.

These "Bottom of the pile" options, are my most frequently used things bobbing in and out of SD cards and USB keys, so I'm disappointed to find I have to continously fiddle to find and select/transfer files.

That aside, I wouldn't go back to win7 and generally find everything is pretty much where I expect it. I did sort the privacy issues out straight away, several of which were hogging CPU and internet usage.

[MM57Participant @mm57]

Posted by Russ B on 02/01/2016 20:56:25:

this is also plagued with "quick access" "cloud" "documents" "music" all sorts of crap, then down at the bottom, requiring looking/clicking/scrolling to finally find, is C: D:, my USB key, SD card etc.

You could right-mouse-button on the C:/D:/USB Key etc and select "Pin to Quick access" thereby having them at the top left of the Explorer as well as their normal, lower, position.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Russ try setting> personalisation>Themes>desktop icon setting

H

Posted by Russ B on 02/01/2016 20:56:25:

I'm a big fan, the only thing I miss is the traditional "my computer" icon and window. This seems to have been replaced with a window containing "frequent folders" and "recent files" with the "explorer tree" on the left as usual however this is also plagued with "quick access" "cloud" "documents" "music" all sorts of crap, then down at the bottom, requiring looking/clicking/scrolling to finally find, is C: D:, my USB key, SD card etc.

These "Bottom of the pile" options, are my most frequently used things bobbing in and out of SD cards and USB keys, so I'm disappointed to find I have to continously fiddle to find and select/transfer files.

That aside, I wouldn't go back to win7 and generally find everything is pretty much where I expect it. I did sort the privacy issues out straight away, several of which were hogging CPU and internet usage.

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

I believe you can go back to the win 8 menu system by choosing settings and changing back to the win 8 start menu.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Harry Wilkes on 02/01/2016 21:27:50:

Russ try setting> personalisation>Themes>desktop icon setting

H

Posted by Russ B on 02/01/2016 20:56:25:

I'm a big fan, the only thing I miss is the traditional "my computer" icon and window. This seems to have been replaced with a window containing "frequent folders" and "recent files" with the "explorer tree" on the left as usual however this is also plagued with "quick access" "cloud" "documents" "music" all sorts of crap, then down at the bottom, requiring looking/clicking/scrolling to finally find, is C: D:, my USB key, SD card etc.

These "Bottom of the pile" options, are my most frequently used things bobbing in and out of SD cards and USB keys, so I'm disappointed to find I have to continously fiddle to find and select/transfer files.

That aside, I wouldn't go back to win7 and generally find everything is pretty much where I expect it. I did sort the privacy issues out straight away, several of which were hogging CPU and internet usage.

They did this sort of thing on linux a long time ago. You may find that you can create more of these "windows" and put what you like in them. On Linux some have viewed each one as an activity. Must admit I don't like it so don't use it especially as I use my desktop for frequently accessed things and for temp storage of certain things.

It's interesting aspect as windows is windows. All of the changes are just presenting the same thing using the same technology in different ways and calling it an upgrade.

John

–

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

Russ, a few minutes spent customising the file explorer window will sort out most of those issues. You can 'pin' or 'unpin' the 'frequent folders', so the ones you need are top of the list. Right-click on a folder and the menu should have the option "Pin to Quick Access". The explorer tree sections may be expanded or collapsed as required.

Windows 10 Professional is surprisingly easy to customise; maybe less so the Home edition. And, so far, most of my settings have been retained through many updates, though the recent major upgrade did reset a lot of things to default.

Mike.

(edited for spelling)

Edited By Farmboy on 03/01/2016 10:27:56

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Harry Wilkes – Jackpot, "My Computer" know called "This PC" and it's exactly how I remembered it. (I've renamed it for old times sake )

MM57, Ajohnw, Farmboy – thank you, I have just had a play with these settings too and they are good, I've pinned a few top folders where I store 3D cad files and gcodes etc, very hand to have them one click away in file explorer.

Interestingly when I try to go a little outside the box and pin "My Computer" to my start menu, it changes to "FIle Explorer" and gives me the frequently used etc view.

Still, a very welcome improvement thanks.

[VicParticipant @vic]

This is interesting and may explain some of windows security issues over the years?

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101117072901AAajOVR

Edited By Vic on 03/01/2016 12:40:52

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

I think it’s worth remembering that when Win10 refers to ‘Apps’ it means anything that used to be called a program. So if you have a webcam, and assuming you have an app/program to use it for some reason, then you will need that permission enabled.

In general, apss/programs won’t sneakily fire up your webcam while you’re asleep to see what colour jammies you’re wearing. It’s the same basis for most other apps/programs/services.

This isn’t to say that some malicious force won’t try to use your webcam in order to see your jimjams, but those that would, would probably be able to change or bypass such settings anyway.

The settings are really easy to change, particularly for anyone who spends more time on a smartphone than an actual computer, which is the norm these days.

I guess that we might expect these things to be off by default, but I’m not so sure that would’ve been the case back in the earlier days of the internet if you purchased a pc with a webcam and appropriate software…

Edited By Steven Greenhough on 03/01/2016 12:58:34

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I'm fine with pooters but I don't trust those smartphones one iota

I use one for work, period. Absolutely nothing personal ever gets done on it and the phone gets reset to factory defaults every few months

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

If the bad Guys would see Me in My jammies that would teach them a lesson not soon forgot about. Several rounds of eye bleach might be required.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

My experience of Windows 10 has been fairly positive. I run Linux 90 % of the time but have my laptop set up to dual boot with Windows for those Windows programs that won't run in Wine on Linux.

After making a disk image of my entire setup I took the plunge and allowed MS to convert my Windows 7 pro to W 10 pro. Rather than selecting the recommended default installation I went for the advanced option and disabled most of the MS spying right from the start.

My first surprise was that the upgrade left my dual boot configuration alone, allowing me to choose between W 10 and Linux. Second surprise was that my desktop was almost unchanged and that nearly all programs ran as before. The one exception being an old version of Solidworks which failed at startup, being unable to initiallise VBA. That was fairly easy to fix by editing the registry.

The only other problem was after a recent big update when I went to log in it told me my password was incorrect and wouldn't let me in. It told me to go to my MS account on line to reset the password. I checked online, still having access with Linux, and found that my password was unchanged. Rebooted to W10 and my password worked OK again. I do find it a bit disturbing that MS have access to my computer's password.

I'll not be buying or renting any MS apps though and will stick with Firefox rather than Edge and open source LibreOffice, GIMP, etc..

Russell.

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