Computer Repair in Kalamazoo

Windows 10. It’s the topic of almost every computer related conversation these days. Mostly because it’s a FREE upgrade for most users. The general consensus it that it is better than Windows 8 & 8.1. It’s the future of Windows and the beginning of Windows as a service. I thought I’d share my view on it from a tablet user’s perspective.

I recently purchased a Microsoft Surface 3 tablet. It came with Windows 8.1 installed. It worked beautifully. The tablet interface for Windows 8.1 is intuitive and after the initial learning curve, fairly simple to use. On the 3rd day of using the Surface, it informed me that the upgrade for Windows 10 was available.  At first I was hesitant because 8.1 was working so well for me, and because it was still early in the Windows 10 release. I typically wait a while to adopt operating system upgrades to give time for origin company to identify and correct any glitches. This time though, I decided to take the plunge and downloaded the upgrade. The installation went surprisingly smooth. About 40 minutes and a couple of restarts later, my Surface was running Windows 10.

What I Like

My first impression was that it looked better than Windows 8.1. The layout looked cleaner and more streamlined. Basically Windows 10 has 2 interfaces: the Metro tile interface for tablets and touchscreens, and the desktop interface with a Start menu for…(wait for it)… desktops. Both interfaces are very functional. I spend most of my time in the Metro version, except for when I attach a keyboard. I have it set up to switch over to desktop mode automatically when it’s attached.

The biggest feature that jumped out at me was the new Start menu. The best way to describe it is a fusion between the Windows 7 Start menu and the Windows 8.1 Metro tiles. Even in desktop mode, I still have access to my Metro tiles, which are very easy to setup and customize. Speaking of tiles, one of the best features is that you can run regular Windows applications normally, or you can run apps from the Windows Store.

What I Don’t Like

The Windows Store. I have to compare it to the top two application stores – Apple & Google. Microsoft comes up short. The store is not intuitive and the selection is still woefully lacking. The selection will hopefully improve as more developers get on board the Windows 10 train. The store interface, in my opinion, needs a redesign. It’s clunky.

Wrap Up

It takes some getting used to, trying to find everything the first couple of times you use Windows 10. Accessing Control Panel is two “clicks” from the desktop. All of the functions you are used are there in Windows 10, you just find them slightly different.

After using Windows 10 for a couple of weeks, my overall opinion is that it is worth upgrading to. Especially if you have a tablet or touchscreen computer. Less so if you don’t. But even then it is a worthy upgrade from Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. Business users may also want to wait a while since applications are still catching up on their Windows 10 compatibility and not every computer is Windows 10 compatible yet.

Have you upgraded to Windows 10? What was your experience like? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!

Geek Easy Computers – Making Technology Easier

Adonis Pointer is a photographer, a collector of vintage razors, and a certified technology geek!   Adonis has been involved in computer technology since well, a LONG time! He has been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry from sales to repair to training to consulting. As the Social Media Manager he writes the majority of the posts on the Geek Easy Computers blog.