Now this could be fun; I’ve been asked to review Windows 10. What I know about how computers work, you could write on an SD card, but I’m not entirely non-savvy (as my SD card witticism conveys).
Briefly, an overview: Windows 10 is the newest operating system from Microsoft (I’m not sure what happened to Windows 9, maybe they lost it down the back of the sofa). Although only just released, mid- 2015, the nice folk at Microsoft let users of its Windows Insiders Programme download it and test it, before reporting back praise, criticism, tweaks and bugs. Now I wasn’t technically gifted enough to get involved in any Beta testing, so I’m seeing it anew.
I don’t want to know how it works, I just want it to work. Easily, effortlessly and – most importantly – it needs to be intuitive. Everything looks simple enough and I can quickly and easily navigate my way around the important stuff (photos, Facebook, Twitter, music) and use everything without too many questions or cries of “Don’t do THAT” from His Nibs.
After an easy couple of hours going back and forth, looking at the way that things are laid out, how they function and I’m genuinely impressed at the ease with which I can use this system. I’m not always the first to fully embrace the latest tech, just because it’s new; it has to work better, so that I’m already pretty enamoured is a good sign.
Here then is My Top Five about Windows 10:
1. Hallelujah – the Start menu is back!
I’m a keyboard and mouse kinda gal, it’s just how I roll, so the return of the start menu is a big deal for me. It’s just as it was on Windows 7, although you can also use a tiled appearance or customise it so it’s JUST like Windows 7. So far so good…
2. It adapts.
Google and Apple have been doing this for some time, but Windows 10 adapts brilliantly between tablets and laptops, is great on ‘phones and their Xbox and what’s more is that it’s fast across all these interfaces. I need fast!
3. Holographic goggles.
You know in films when there’s a 3D model appears out of thin air and then the star moves their hands around and interacts with the 3D thing? That. Microsoft’s HoloLens goggles will let you do that. I cannot begin to imagine how that may change the way we interact with computers and gaming.
4. Dropbox AND OneDrive
Dropbox and OneDrive mean you can access any file, anywhere, all the time. When you’re as absent-minded as I am and as likely to forget your children as your laptop, this ability is fantastic.
5. Cortana
Cortana can be found in Windows 10 on the taskbar (as a search pane) – which you can also trigger by saying ‘Hey Cortana’ (or ‘Hi Cortana’ if you’re not cool enough for a hey) – and when you start searching the Start menu. That gets you apps you have installed, documents you have access to, apps you could install from the Store, search results from the web and a range of other information – including from apps and services that integrate with Cortana.
You can set reminders for different times and places that appear on other Cortana devices and then get your Microsoft Band to remind you to buy a pint of milk.
If there’s one thing I like more than cheap, it’s FREE and Windows 10 will be free for those running the current version of Windows! Most of our great laptop range come with a free upgrade to Windows 10. With prices starting at under £200 (or £3.69 pw rent) having the latest technology needn’t cost a fortune!
