Windows 10 is an entirely new version of the veteran Windows operating system – a version that is make-or-break for Microsoft.
It was released on 29 July in seven versions, which we'll tell you a lot more about below, as well as give you our complete verdict on all aspects of the new OS.
Even though Windows 8.1 did improve things, there's no escaping that withWindows 8, Microsoft was hugely complacent, buoyed by the success ofWindows 7. It drastically misunderstood its users with a fundamentally changed user interface which didn't make any logical sense and was hard to learn. It failed us. It failed itself.
Thankfully 2015 Microsoft is pretty different to 2012 Microsoft. The key management of the corporation has changed. It has woken up to the fact that people can choose other operating systems. It's keen on making stuff for OS X, Linux, iOS and Android. As you'll hear, it's allowing apps from other platforms to be easily ported to Windows, too.
Microsoft believes the future of Windows is as a platform for all. Like Android, the strength of Windows is in the thousands of companies that develop for it (see the section about Universal apps for more on the relationship with developers) and use it in their products.
That's why Windows 10 is no longer just an operating system for 32 and 64-bit PCs. It will also run on the ARM platform for smaller tablets and smartphones. Windows 10 is going to run on phones – it's the new version of Windows Phone, but it's not that clear whether Microsoft will brand new Windows Phones as 'Windows 10' or not. If you know what Windows RT was, then don't worry, because it's nothing like that.
Universal apps will run not only on PCs, but on Windows 10 phones, Windows 10 for IoT devices and Xbox as well.
Like Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 before it, Windows 10 is part of the Windows NT family.
From the Windows 10 Preview to RTM
We were part of the Windows Insider program, which has given people early access to Windows 10 through various phases of its development. The latest version, which this article is based on, is known as build 10240, made available on 15 July. It is the RTM- or Release to Manufacturing - version. RTM will also be on Windows 10 PCs.
RTM doesn't have the usual 'Windows 10 Insider Preview' text on the desktop, and it has also been released to everybody in the Windows Insider program – even those who didn't want the latest updates (the 'slow' ring as opposed to the 'fast' ring).
Even now Windows 10 is eleased, the Windows Insider program will continue, and Microsoft will release Windows 10 updates to members of the program first.
While it's natural that Windows 10 will be considered as 'finished' by reviewers (us) and consumers, Microsoft doesn't subscribe to this point of view, and says it will carry on developing the OS with additional tweaks.
Upgrading to Windows 10
We know that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for the first year of release if you have Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or a Windows Phone 8.1 device. If you have Windows 8.1 (PC or phone) there should be no issue in installing Windows 10.
If you have Windows 7, you'll need to make sure you meet the system requirements – see below.
If you have a device with Windows XP or Windows Vista on it, you'll need to do a clean install – make sure you meet the System Requirements which are:
- 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
- Free hard disk space: 16 GB
- Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
- A Microsoft account and Internet access
Even though the free upgrade version of Windows 10 is only available for a year, Microsoft stressed that those updating during the promotional period will be able to use Windows 10 at no cost forever (or as the company puts it, for the "supported lifetime of the device"). When you upgrade, you'll be upgraded to the appropriate version – see 'Windows 10 versions' below.
If you're on a version of Windows that can be upgraded (7 or a version of 8) you might well have seen an icon appear on your desktop via Windows Update (providing your machine is up-to-date, of course). Clicking the icon launches a window that enables you to reserve your place in the queue to download the free upgrade.
You'll then get a notification when it's ready to install. This is presumably so Microsoft can drip down some elements early to your PC and avoid an old school iOS-style server meltdown when the new version is available.
If you have a pirated copy of Windows already, you will be able to "make it genuine" by getting hold of Windows 10 via the Windows Store. It's not completely clear whether this upgrade will still be free.
If you're unfortunate enough to have a Windows RT device, sorry, but you won't be able to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft sold you a dud.
You'll need to make sure you're upgrading to the right version – see the section on Windows 10 price below.
Upgrading will mean you'll lose a few things whatever version of Windows you're on, but none of them are of any consequence – these include desktop gadgets from Vista, Media Center and Windows 8 Metro. All very forgettable.
Windows 10 release date
The Windows 10 release date is July 29. The operating system will be available in 190 territories globally (111 languages), with existing Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users having one year (until July 29 2016) to upgrade free to the new version. After that they will presumably still be able to upgrade, but they'll have to purchase an upgrade version.
Microsoft has planned a phased approach to the launch. Windows 10 will be release for desktop and laptop devices first, and will then trickle down to phones, the Xbox One, Arduino machines and finally its own HoloLens.
- For a load of neat tips and tricks on Windows 10, buy: Windows 10 Beyond the Manual
Windows 10 versions
Windows 10 will be available in seven versions. These are IoT (Internet of Things, for devices like Raspberry Pi, Intel Galileo or Imagination's Creator Ci20), Mobile, Home, Enterprise and Professional. There's also a new Mobile Enterprise version (as Microsoft takes aim at BlackBerry's stomping ground), well as Education.
Windows 10 Mobile and Mobile Enterprise are predictably for small screens less than eight inches in size, so small tablets as well.
Windows 10 Mobile is a joy to use (we've got the Windows Insider version running on a Lumia 640). It doesn't have IE, but it does have Microsoft Edge. Mobile Enterprise is designed to be similar for IT admins to deploy as Windows 10 Enterprise (see below), but we haven't seen it in action.
Windows 10 Mobile, Mobile Enterprise and Windows 10 for Xbox (a new system update including Cortana) are among Windows 10 features and versions thathaven't hit the streets at the same time as the other verisons.
Windows 10 Home includes game streaming from Xbox One and other consumer features like Cortana, as well as Windows Hello for logging into your PC via a fingerprint scanner or your face.
Windows 10 Home and Pro are available free to some users – see more on that below.
The Pro and Enterprise versions come with security and management improvements. Windows 10 also has a completely new approach to licences (including the ability to sign in with Azure Active Directory accounts). Both can join a domain.
Windows 10 Pro also includes Hyper-V for virtualisation, BitLocker whole disk encryption, enterprise mode IE, Remote Desktop, a version of the Windows Store for your own business and assigned access (which locks a PC to running only one modern application, to use like a kiosk). Network admins can also schedule updates so they don't happen at important times.
Enterprise adds group policy Direct Access for connecting without a VPN, AppLocker for whitelisting apps and BranchCache for sharing downloads. Enterprise also has an option that doesn't get changes (apart from security updates for five years). For more on this, check out What Windows 10 means for the enterprise.
Windows 10 Education is designed for Universities and similar organisations. It's similar to Windows 10 Enterprise, but it can also be installed as an upgrade to Windows 10 Home. That means organisations can integrate students' own PCs with their own.
In comparison, there were only four versions of Windows 8.1 (five if you include Windows Phone 8) and one of them was the dead-as-a-dodo Windows RT.
Whatever version of Windows 10 you get, Microsoft will offer mainstream support for it until October 13, 2020 with Extended support until October 14, 2025 (so just security updates for the last five years).
Windows 10 price
It will be free to upgrade to Windows 10 for the first year after release. That doesn't mean you will have to pay after that if you've already upgraded, it just means that you need to upgrade your PC by Summer 2016.
Windows 10 Home and Pro will be available for free to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users that have appropriate licenses, so Windows 8.1 Pro users can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and so on.
For users who are not eligible for Microsoft's upgrade program – those who upgrade outside the first year free offer, those running a pirated version or those running a Windows operating system older than Windows 7 – Windows 10 Home will cost $119 (£78, AU$156) and Windows 10 Pro will cost $199 (£131, AU$262) per license.
There is an option for Windows 10 Home users who want to upgrade to Pro, but it isn't cheap – they will have to pay an additional $99 (£65, AU$130) for the Windows 10 Pro Pack.
But if you don't have the ability to get a free upgrade to Windows 10, then listen up: the cheapest, (legal) route to getting Windows 10 on your PC is via Windows 7. Yep, you should buy Windows 7 first. You will need to download truckloads (several GBs) of updates before you'll get offered the OS upgrade, but it can be done.
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