Once upon a time people stood in long lines and freaked out geekily over the release of computer operating systems, such as Windows 95. (That came out in 1995. It was a simpler era.)
But times change, and our computing no longer just happens on clunky desktop computers. Computer operating system releases aren’t giant blockbuster events. Still, that’s not stopping Microsoft from making a media blitz over Windows 10, which was released recently. Windows 10 is the successor to Windows 8.1. Windows 8 in general was a bit of a debacle, a confusingly muddled upgrade focused on touchscreens and tablets that left many traditional mouse-and-keyboard users scratching their heads. Windows 10 is expected to fix some of the design problems that Windows 8 introduced.
How much is this going to cost me?
If you are a person who already owns a copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8 Home or Pro Editions, you most likely can download Windows 10 as a free upgrade. Don’t already own a copy or using an older version such as Windows XP? You can still get it for $120 for Windows 10 Home or $199 for Windows 10 Pro. Computers running Windows XP can’t be directly upgraded to Windows 10.
What’s the catch?
When Windows 10’s free upgrade option was announced, it was implied that the offer would only last a year, after which Windows 10 users would have to pay to keep using the OS. Microsoft has clarified that this is not true. Once you own Windows 10, it’s yours to keep and will continue updating. Microsoft will still do Service Pack upgrades periodically, but Windows 10 is built to be incrementally updated with new features and security patches.
This may be the end of the road for Windows versions; Microsoft says there are no plans for a Windows 11.
Sounds great, where do I get it?
You’ll want to go to microsoft.com/windows10 when you’re ready to grab a copy. You may need to burn the software to a DVD disc or USB drive to install. If you’re not eligible for the free upgrade, you can buy a download code, disc or USB-drive version of Windows 10 Home or Pro via Microsoft or through retailers.
It works on computers, tablets and PC/tablet hybrids, but the Windows 10 version that works with Windows Phone devices won’t be out till later this year.
System requirements
Microsoft has a comically lengthy web page full of caveats, warnings and just-in-case scenarios about computer and tablet specifications required for Windows 10. The basics are that you’ll need a computer or tablet with a 1 gigahertz or faster processor, 1 gigabyte or RAM and 16 gigabytes of hard drive space for the 32-bit version or twice the RAM and hard drive space for the 64-bit version.
You’ll probably want the 64-bit version unless you have much older hardware or are planning to run ancient software on your Windows 10 machine. You’ll also need a graphics card and monitor capable of displaying at least 800 x 600 resolution. You probably have that if you bought your computer sometime in the 2000s.
The size of the Windows 10 download is about 3 gigabytes.
What’s new and different
If you’re still interested and qualify for the upgrade, you’ll want to know what you’re actually getting with Windows 10. The biggest improvement for most users will be the interface, the most maligned part of Windows 8, which has been revamped. The Start Menu is now prominently where it used to be in Windows 7 and brings up a mix of old and new with basic info and frequently used menu items mixed with the Windows-8 style big, live-updating colorful tiles. You can make the tile area as big or as small as you like.
Cortana is what Microsoft is dubbing a personal assistant, not unlike Apple’s Siri. It’s a search bar that can also answer questions by voice. Cortana will remember your preferences and past queries across different Windows 10 devices, using your login information as her guide, and even across mobile devices such as Android phones.
Cortana also works with Microsoft Edge, the company’s new, more lightweight web browser that takes the place of Internet Explorer. The Xbox One game console will also have tight integration with Windows 10, allowing for video game streaming and, eventually, keyboard-and-mouse support for Xbox One games.
Microsoft says Windows 10 has improved security, new under-the-hood improvements for gaming and improvements for laptop battery life and an overall faster feel.
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