The 29th July sees a seismic shift in the Windows operating system. For the first time ever, Microsoft is launching a new operating system predominantly as a downloadable upgrade, that will install over Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. It's move away from Windows as a box to, as it has coined the phrase, "Windows as a service", will mean we'll be dealing with a very different product on our phones, tablets, laptops and PCs.
Of course, different is subjective - Windows 10 looks a lot like Windows 8.1, with a similar look and features, but a lot else bolted on such as a new web browser in Microsoft Edge, Cortana and finally an enhanced Start Menu, which at last makes a return having been absent since Windows 7. However, the continual update process as opposed to a periodic massive upgrade has seen mixed opinions. The OS is free to users of compatible operating systems who upgrade in the first year. It looks like it will continue to be free too so long as it's installed on the same device and there's no mention of a subscription model or any need to purchase additional items.
Is it any good?
In short, yes. The new Start Menu is excellent and makes the PC experience much easier - it's actually made the Start Menu better. The OS feels quicker, boots faster and looks nicer too. There's a good deal of customisation as well and if you weren't a fan of Windows 8's apps and tile-based start screen, you'll probably get along well with Windows 10. It's build-in apps such as Mail are far more PC and non-touch laptop friendly and less intrusive and personally, I haven't had any issues with the OS in the last few months that I've been using it.
When do PC users get it and how?
Windows 10 will be released on July 29th. Legitimate versions of Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8.1 can grab the upgrade for free from Windows Update. If your PC is up to date with the latest updates, specifically one called KB3035583, then you'll likely have seen a little Get Windows 10 application sitting in your taskbar. This allows you to reserve your copy and to download it, ready to be installed on launch day. If this hasn't appeared on your system then check you have all the latest updates installed and that your copy of Windows is genuine. However, using the application isn't essential - you'll still be able to get the update on launch day without it.
How do you install/reinstall?
The update will install over your previous version of Windows. However, some of you may want to perform a clean installation. Installing Windows 10 like this has also been a subject of controversy. Initially enthusiasts were left in the dark as to how they might reinstall their operating systems. Windows 10 essentially installs over the top of whatever OS you have on there (as long as it's a compatible one) and the first thing myself and a lot of others thought is that every time we needed to reinstall Windows, you'd need to install Windows 7 or Windows 8 first.
Thankfully, Microsoft eventually announced that it would indeed be possible to get hold of stand-alone copies to be able to just install Windows 10 without the need for and older OS being installed first. There even seems to be options within the OS itself to do something similar to this by using new Refresh and Reset features. There's no longer a need to reinstall the entire operating system if things go wrong - you can restore from a backup or just reset Windows these features rebuild the operating system in place using runtime system files. This will also save a lot of time and hard disk space.
However, if you plan to install a fresh copy on launch day you'll need to update your system to Windows 10 first in order to both register your free upgrade (this is set in stone and recorded online once you've upgraded so you can reinstall till heart's content after this) and get the ability to install a fresh copy without any other version laying dormant underneath wasting hard disk space. So, come launch day, install the update, then you either have the option of leaving your system as it is, or proceeding with whatever Microsoft has in plan for advanced users to install afresh - a downloadable ISO or built-in backup and restore features. There should be no need to enter a product key either - everything is recorded online and the OS will automatically activate once you've installed it.
Windows updates and Windows as a service
There are also some big questions still to be answered as my colleague Gordon Kelly pointed out here. The lack of a defined lifecycle duration for Windows 10 could be explained away by the fact that Windows 10 may not actually be a product that can be defined as having a lifecycle.
It's being termed as a service, rather than a boxed product that receives a updates for a few years and then it dies. In short, there won't be a Windows 11, or Windows 12 or any other full versions released - Windows will morph into a continually-updated piece of software.
For this reason, the fact it seems that Windows 10 updates will be mandatory and you'll be forced to install them (as opposed to previous versions of Windows where you could choose not to install specific ones) is logical. You can't run service-orientated software if everyone's using different versions and keeping your PC up to date is, for the most part, essential in the fight against stability and security issues.
There are drawbacks here of course. Some updates have borked the operating system - admittedly these have been very few and far between, so we can only hope that as well proactively forcing the updates upon us, Microsoft will be equally proactive in removing them if there are issues.
How long will it be free for?
You can upgrade for free within the first year, but there are big questions over Microsoft's future plans for its continually-evolving OS. The company needs to make money somehow but five days from launch, questions are still floating around as to what happens further down the line. As others have pointed out, this is due in part to the fact that Microsoft has infuriated journalists like myself by not providing concrete statements about hugely important issues such as this. Most of the information we're taking as gospel has come from obscure blog and Twitter posts. That might be the way Kickstarter companies operate, but it's not what Microsoft should be doing on the eve of one of its biggest launches in history.
Thankfully, the picture does look relatively rosy. Windows 10 will remain free for the lifetime of your device. So, for a tablet or laptop, that's likely to be till dies. For PC users, things are a little more complicated if you start including upgrades in the equation. Small upgrades - a new power supply, graphics card or hard disk, should allow you to continue without needing to re-activate. A new hard disk will obviously require a fresh install but that's it. However, if you replace the motherboard then things get flagged up by the OS as it sees things as a new device that requires a new license.
However, Microsoft would be crazy to force PC enthusiasts to have to buy a new licence every time they upgrade their PCs - after all, these are the people that build their own machines and recommend their products to less tech-savvy friends and family too. So what will almost certainly continue to happen is the need to call Microsoft's activation hotline - something I've done dozens of times for my continually-upgraded PCs since the launch of Windows XP.
Upgrading your PC? You should be able to reinstall Windows 10 further down the line, but you might... [+]
Here, if you're just installing on essentially the same PC, just with a new motherboard, then you'll likely be handed an activation code and you can be on your way. Windows 10 seems to be more flexible in other areas of licensing, not to mention being free for Windows 7 and 8.1 users so I see no reason that this would change.
Gamble or genius?
A gamble? Actually, in monetary terms no. Windows has actually been getting cheaper for years and the Windows 7 launch proved one hugely important thing. If you make Windows cheap enough, people will upgrade by the million, as happened thanks to Windows 7's super-cheap pre-order pricing. It proved to be one of the industry's fastest-ever adopted software. From there, Microsoft looks to make money in other areas - Office for example. The key thing is to get people using Windows and to have up-to-date versions. Windows 10 is free, for the most part, and updates are automatically installed. If Windows 10 doesn't set new records, I'll be very surprised.
Will you be upgrading to Windows 10 next week? Have you tried the new OS? Feel free to comment below or drop me a line on Twitter @antonyleather
