July 29 2015 marks the official launch of Windows 10, the new operating system promised by Microsoft. The stakes are high because the previous version, Windows 8, left the users divided with its new and radical redesign of the start interface. As Microsoft fails to take an important share of the Smartphone market, despite its clean and very stable operating systems, desktop computer, laptops, and tablets are a huge playground to make up for the lost ground.
Can my Old PC Run Windows 10?
With Windows 10 just around the corner, many computer users face the same burning question: Is my hardware strong enough to cope with the new operating system? The official minimum system requirements don’t seem a threat to the large majority of PCs, but I bet no one wants to spoil the experience of Windows 10 by using poor hardware. You probably know the recipe, the more the better, but do note that from a certain price you will not witness additional performance improvements, at least if you use regular programs. Buying a SSD (if don’t own one) might be your smartest move in preparation for the new Windows 10.
Edge Web Browser replaces Internet Explorer:
Windows 10 comes with many changes and improvements from its previous versions, besides keeping the main core of functions we are all used to. Microsoft finally decided to dump poor old Internet Explorer, the grandfather of all internet browsers, and introduce Edge Web Browser. Amongst the highlights of Edge we can count its reading view function, which allows the user to focus on the content by changing the looks of the page to a cleaner layout. Edge takes interactivity to a new level by allowing the user to take notes and add markings directly on the webpage, in order to be shared.
Back up data before upgrade:
Every transition from one operating system to another should be looked upon with extreme care. It is mandatory that you back-up your important data and luckily there are many options at your disposal. High speed internet connections have made cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive the new trend in terms of cross-platform accessibility and you can use them with confidence to make temporary back-ups of some of your data. Windows itself has a tool to help you with your initiative and it’s called creating a system image.
Windows 10 New Features:
The Start Button and the menu it launches have always been hot topics in recent Windows versions. From this point of view, Microsoft takes a few steps back and creates a compromise between the classic start menu of older OS and the new one introduced with Windows 8. The Internet is prepared to host fierce clashes between the adepts of the two “religions”, but the average user has only to gain from what it seems to be a more balanced solution.
The new Windows 10 welcomes a familiar voice for Windows Phone users. Cortana will be integrated in the already existing search service bringing voice commands and a better cohesion between searching online and offline. The Taskbar receives a facelift in order to accommodate Cortana and offers direct access to switching between active windows (the Alt+Tab some of us known).
For user tackling multiple projects at once, Windows 10 introduces a brand new way of arranging open windows, beyond the space restrictions of your desktop. Multiple virtual desktops can be interchanged the same way you switch between active programs or between different instances of the same program.
Windows 10 takes some interesting features from Microsoft’s experience with smartphones. For example, new users of Windows 10 will find the notification center anchored on the right side of the screen, offering useful information about running apps and allowing instant change of settings.
Last but probably most important, the launch of Windows 10 will mark a decisive step towards unifying the worlds of PC, tablets, and smartphones. The new Windows Store will host under the same roof both traditional desktop programs, as well as modern Windows Apps, some of which will be using the same code, despite platform differences. With Windows 10 being offered for free, there is no reason to clinch to the past.
Related Information:
20 smart new and improved features in Windows 10 – techradar.com
Windows 10 Features – Microsoft – microsoft.com