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Windows 10 Release Date: July 29th

Ammalgam writes with news that Windows 10 will be released worldwide on July 29th, 2015. It'll be immediately available for PCs and tablets — their announcement doesn't mention smartphones. The upgrade will be free (within one year of launch) for users running legitimate copies of Windows 7 and 8.1. Another reader notes that users of those two operating systems are now being prompted to upgrade by a message in their notification area (system tray).

53 of 374 comments (clear)

  1. I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag icon by Kryai · · Score: 5, Informative

    To make it easy on everyone else: On windows 7 uninstall update - KB3035583 http://microsoft-news.com/how-... You literally have to remove a window update to get rid of it - I love how the update when you install it gave you no indication what it actually was going to do. I seriously hate how updates work with windows. I look forward to the hundreds of stories on how no one wants to move off windows 7, and how windows 7 is still present in huge numbers in the year 2025. I don't understand why Microsoft doesn't realize that I don't want my desktop to look and operate like my phone.

  2. Free Upgrade by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But how much does the downgrade cost?

  3. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by DigiShaman · · Score: 2

    Yeah, I need a GPO to block this from Win7 computers where users are local Admins. Yeah yeah, they shouldn't be, but some apps they use require elevated privilege.

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  4. What after one year? by Aethedor · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The upgrade will be free for one year after the release. But what after that year? What will it cost? Can I download the upgrade and use it later (after one year) and than still use it for free?

    --
    It doesn't have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.
    1. Re:What after one year? by hyperar · · Score: 2, Informative

      I really can't believe there's still people that need this to be explained. You get one year to update to Windows 10 for free if you have Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, after that year, it will no longer be free.

    2. Re:What after one year? by quetwo · · Score: 2

      As already stated in the comments a few times, it will be free "forever" after you upgrade, since you already had a license. You still keep downgrade rights to the version you upgraded from. New PCs, if you wait longer than a year, and rebuilds where you don't have a license anymore, etc. will have to pay for a full license when it is out.

    3. Re:What after one year? by Aethedor · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I know that once I upgrade, I will always be able to use it. But what I meant was: can I download the upgrade and obtain a license now and use it later?

      --
      It doesn't have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.
    4. Re:What after one year? by Aethedor · · Score: 2

      I know, that was not the question. But how much will it cost?

      --
      It doesn't have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.
    5. Re:What after one year? by SScorpio · · Score: 2

      Because that isn't the upgrade version. That's a new license and someone building a new machine from parts they bought on NewEgg still needs to buy a valid Windows license.

    6. Re:What after one year? by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

      is it still valid for Microsoft to ask 100$+ for their OS?

      Define "valid."

  5. Windows Media Center by Tokolosh · · Score: 3

    Does it have WMC? I use this computer as a home theater system.

    "Some apps sold separately; vary by market."

    --
    Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
    1. Re:Windows Media Center by Tokolosh · · Score: 4, Informative

      To answer my own question:

      "Feature deprecation section

      If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center, or Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center and you install Windows 10, Windows Media Center will be removed.
      Watching DVDs requires separate playback software
      Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be removed as part of installing Windows 10.
      Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.
      Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts Games that come pre-installed on Windows 7 will be removed as part of installing the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft has released our version of Solitaire and Minesweeper called the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper.”
      If you have a USB floppy drive, you will need to download the latest driver from Windows Update or from the manufacturer's website.
      If you have Windows Live Essentials installed on your system, the OneDrive application is removed and replaced with the inbox version of OneDrive."

      --
      Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
    2. Re:Windows Media Center by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Media Centre is gone, it sucked anyway. I suggest XMBC as a replacement.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Windows Media Center by CanEHdian · · Score: 2

      Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.

      So Windows 10 only gives you the "install ALL updates automatically" option. Wow. Great. What an improvement! Especially with Microsoft's flawless update history.

      --
      When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
    4. Re:Windows Media Center by Ed+Avis · · Score: 2

      Can't you just copy in the minesweeper.exe file from an older Windows version and run it? Who knows, if you do an upgrade from 7 to 10 it most likely will be still there.

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
  6. It's an "alternate release", so I'll bite by msobkow · · Score: 2

    It's an "alternate" release, so I'll bite and install Windows 10. Historically, pretty much every second release of Windows was worth the effort of installing, with the "in between" release being a total screw up that never got deployed anywhere except for being pre-installed on devices.

    Do you know of anyone who voluntarily ran Windows 8? Or paid for it as an upgrade?

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  7. Re:Subscription or no? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    https://www.yahoo.com/tech/microsoft-clarifies-who-gets-free-windows-10-114730456889.html

    After a year? Still free

    Woodman clarified for me that if you upgrade your PC to Windows 10 with the free offer, you won’t be socked with a payment demand after some arbitrary period. Windows 10 isn’t “freemium.” It won’t convert from a free upgrade to a paid or subscription-supported operating system. He told me, clearly, “Once you’re on Windows 10, you’re on Windows 10, and there will be no additional charge.”

  8. Re:Hmmm ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My daughter (13) has been my test subject for the windows 10 release so far and she's been initially satisfied with the OS, but unsatisfied with the performance. Based on her use, I'm surprised that they are releasing it at this time. it's been buggy, crash prone, and generally lackluster in performance. Now, it may be that the preview candidates are missing some key optimization features, and I realize that most of her drivers aren't optimized. From a User Interface, if you are used to windows 8.1 you'll probably appreciate this more. they've uncovered or removed some of the veneers that made it so difficult to navigate.

    I realize as an AC on /. I'm probably going to be flagged for Troll, but other than the performance issues (which I'd hope they fix) I find it to be like the windows 7 answer to vista for windows 8. That said, I'm probably going to wait a few months to install/upgrade it because after all.. software doesn't work out of the box anymore.

  9. Free.. by koan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I dunno, I like to be in control of the situation and this freebie sounds sketchy, do we get to keep the upgrade for offline install?
    My history of windows use has always reinforced the idea of "clean install" over upgrade, not sure if that's still true but I imagine it is still the better route.

    The price of the Win10 pro is absurd, $250, or $149 for OEM if you can handle your own support *snicker*

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
    1. Re:Free.. by gstoddart · · Score: 2

      My history of windows use has always reinforced the idea of "clean install" over upgrade

      Agree on this one ... there have been lots of "you can buy this upgrade for your current" which haven't always worked, and then you end up without proper install media for the version you're running.

      I won't run a version of Windows for which I don't own the install media for. Because it basically leaves you at the mercy of hoping nothing ever goes wrong.

      And that, in my experience, is a dumb idea with any software.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  10. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by thegarbz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't understand why Microsoft doesn't realize that I don't want my desktop to look and operate like my phone.

    So you'll be a fan of Windows 10 then. Oh what you weren't paying attention to the development cycle? The bit where the desktop mode will now be default, the metro menu is gone, the few metro apps that ship with the OS will work within a desktop window?

    What is it you're complaining about again? Why not reinstall your "nag icon" and give it a go before you complain that no one understands you.

  11. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by jandersen · · Score: 2

    Heh, yeah, yet another reason why I don't like Windows: the automatic upgrades that always seem to turn up when they are inconvenient and require a reboot. I mean, when I go home, I don't want to leave my PC running, so I have to stay while it does - what, exactly? So, I only start Windows in a VM and I just pull the (virtual) cable.

    Apart from that, it is not uncommon to deliberately avoid upgrading, certainly in the UNIX world. Like for example if your business consists in developing software; as vendor you guarantee that your product has been tested on a certain version of the OS and possibly with certain patches. Automatic upgrades are a liability in that situation.

  12. Re:Should be 9 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    It would have been 9 if it hadn't of been for lazy-assed programmers checking for Windows versions by comparing "9*" for 95, 98, 98SE.

  13. Re:Looking forward to it by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Informative

    With Classic Shell you can add the start button back to Windows 8.1. I highly recommend it.

    With some tweaking, you can turn a Windows 8.1 desktop into something which pretty much looks like the classic Windows desktop, and ignore the mobile eye candy and app-crap entirely.

    After which, Windows 8.1 becomes a fairly decent platform.

    I think what Microsoft fails to realize is the things they think are cool and innovative are useful for some people, but utterly fail for people who need a traditional desktop.

    I don't use a single feature on my desktop Windows 8.1 machine which Microsoft had configured as the GUI by default -- but once I got rid of their "innovative" crap, the OS itself is pretty nice.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  14. Re:Subscription or no? by Merk42 · · Score: 2

    Yeah it couldn't be that Microsoft is doing this to increase Windows 10 adoption in the first year since IT departments don't upgrade within that time and for the most part consumers only upgrade their version of Windows when they get a new computer (in which case they would be 'paying' for the copy).
    No that all makes too much sense, it must be something much more nefarious.

  15. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by hairyfeet · · Score: 4, Informative

    FUD, not a single source working for MSFT has said a damned thing about a subscription model, THAT bit of FUD was started by a gossip site "El Reg" IIRC that is known for pulling "facts" out of their ass.

    The ONLY thing that has been said is they won't have the old service packs anymore, instead you'll have a point release, like 8 to 8.1. This makes it easier for regular folks to know WTF is going on as its easier to know that X.1 is the current version as all the sites treat it as a separate OS, while nobody talks about "Win 7 SP1" they simply call it Win 7.

    But just because some dude at MSFT said "Win 10 is the only version we are working on ATM" the sites jumped to this "last version of Windows EVAR" subscription crap when in reality land the prices have already been leaked and its no different than every other release, you'll have retail and OEM, Home and Pro, its business as usual. I'm sure in a year and a half you'll see retail 10.1, maybe even 10.2, and then you'll see the hypetrain for Windows 11, probably hosted by Spinal Tap, coming to a tech site near you.

    --
    ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  16. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by rvw · · Score: 2

    FUD, not a single source working for MSFT has said a damned thing about a subscription model, THAT bit of FUD was started by a gossip site "El Reg" IIRC that is known for pulling "facts" out of their ass.

    The ONLY thing that has been said is they won't have the old service packs anymore, instead you'll have a point release, like 8 to 8.1. This makes it easier for regular folks to know WTF is going on as its easier to know that X.1 is the current version as all the sites treat it as a separate OS, while nobody talks about "Win 7 SP1" they simply call it Win 7.

    10.1, 10.2, ... - I get the impression that they have their naming scheme copied from somewhere else... The use of "10" signifies the X in OS X, the X refering to UNIX and BSD. I wonder how Microsoft is going to market this...

  17. I ask again, ... does anyone know. by AbRASiON · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How does it all work?
    If I install Windows 10 on my personal desktop, with valid key.

    Then trash the machine, re-install from a brand new original Windows 10 media DVD. Does the Windows 7 key work for Windows 10?
    Even if another user signs in?

    Is the Windows 7 key tied to my "Windows account" (they seem to be pushing accounts / logins now.... my Windows 10 test machine I literally login with my Microsoft live account) or what was once called live...

    I own at least 3 machines with genuine Windows 7 keys but I administer / work on / help with at least 30. I do NOT want to have 30 unique Windows 10 "accounts" with MS.

    So is it literally a flag in the DB "this key is now Windows 10 and Windows 7"?

  18. Re:Subscription or no? by mwvdlee · · Score: 2

    It could very well be that Microsoft has decided to give something away without expecting anything in return.

    Given their track record, it seems somewhat unlikely.

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  19. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by ITBluntZ · · Score: 2

    It appears that domain joined computers are flagged, and the update will not prompt for the upgrade/update notification. This means, you don't have to worry about uninstalling it, as long as everything is joined. Anything not joined, I assume will be a short list of users to contact (preferably none)

  20. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    After you uninstall KB3021917, KB3035583 and KB3022345, you also need to disable two tasks in Task Scheduler.

    There are two tasks under TaskScheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience, "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" and "ProgramDataUpdater", that will continue to contact telemetry servers even if telemetry is disabled. These tasks run and phone home even if CEIP is opted-out of. Reproduce (on Win7 Pro) by:

    1) Opt out of CEIP.
    2) Remove patches 3021917, 3035583, and 3022345.
    3) Set up your IDS to block/report rundll32.exe overnight, and observe logs.
    4) Wait a day or two. You will see (failed, if you've blocked rundll32.exe from talking to the interwebs) DNS lookups to settings.data.microsoft.com and telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com in both the IDS and in the Event Log.

    The two scheduled tasks will continue phone home even if the above mentioned patches are uninstalled. You must manually disable the tasks "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" and "ProgramDataUpdater" in order to stop the phoning-home behavior.

  21. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by funwithBSD · · Score: 4, Funny

    Windows X: We finally moved to UNIX like everyone else.

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
  22. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by Kryai · · Score: 2

    Why is the onus on me to be FORCED to try it? Why can't I at least say no thanks I'll look at it another time. If I want to update I'll do so, at this time I have no wish to spend any time migrating to a new operating system where I have to migrate and fix everything I'm doing on my system where I don't even have confidence everything I do now will in fact migrate. The update nag to windows 10 does not let you say no! It remains forever until you uninstall it. Windows 10 may be god's gift to man, but if I want to chill in ignorance than let me do so. Why are you so arrogant that you know what's better for me? I can handle that fine, thanks. Maybe I'll love windows 10 but if I don't want it that's also my choice - and that's what you don't seem to understand.

  23. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by Kryai · · Score: 4, Interesting

    These "folks" - Yeah the first OS i've used was in fact win95 - sorry but I'm late generation it seems. The complaint is that I don't want to change my OS if I don't want to, and that should be my choice - plain and simple. You spin your own web and live in the world you can neatly categorize. You say its different, yet don't even realize what different means. Different can mean hundreds of hours reconfiguring and migrating applications. Different means hundreds or thousands of dollars in migration costs. How naive are you to think you know what's best for everyone else?

  24. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

    Yeah, I need a GPO to block this from Win7 computers where users are local Admins. Yeah yeah, they shouldn't be, but some apps they use require elevated privilege.

    Most users who need to be admins are software engineers who are the least likely to update the OS. They need admin rights to install and sometimes run dev tool esoterica, the kind of tools that are the first to break in a new OS.

    This neglects high liability areas like embedded medical or vehicles or military, where tools must be re-qualified on each new major OS release.

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  25. Windows 8.2? by binarybum · · Score: 2

    I still don't really get what 10 is bringing to the table. It seems like such a minor upgrade - skipping two version numbers is such a farce. The video on that page that highlights 10's new features is such a laugh. It flashes to the same start screen like 8 times with a mouse icon just about to click on a microsoft word icon (brace yourselves!). I can tell from the flashy music that this windows 10 experience must be intense, but saw no objective evidence that it does anything new whatsoever.
        I actually want to see microsoft do well - I think the Surface is an incredible piece of hardware, and it would be great to see the OS and the app store catch up, but 10 just looks like a skin package for win8.

    --
    ôó
    1. Re:Windows 8.2? by Ravaldy · · Score: 2

      skipping two version numbers is such a farce

      Back in the days of Windows 9x some installation packages used the long OS name to detect what version was running. So looking for Windows 9* would return true with Windows 9 which would cause applications to think they are running Windows 9x. That's bad practices but MS prides itself on being as backward compatible friendly as possible. There's also the whole marketing side of things. There's really no harm in skipping the version. I just hope they stick to the numbering method from now on.

      but saw no objective evidence that it does anything new whatsoever

      That video does nothing for techies like us. You need to get in the dev forums to get the good stuff.

      List of things I can remember:
      - Windows 10 makes better use of the H/W. I didn't have time to find a list for you but it does include improvements in the SSD and GPU department
      - Major gaming experience changes (DX12, Xbox game streaming...)
      - Built-in sandbox capabilities (this is from memory so I'm not sure how the integration works)
      - Cortana
      - Re-design of the interface based on user feedback
      - Architecture more compatible with all devices to help developer share apps/libraries across devices (this was already true but it further improved)
      - Light weight. Reduced memory usage and less CPU hungry OS
      - IE for legacy shit and Spartan for a smooth browsing experience without the legacy garbage trailing (This was MS's way to remaining true to their old customers with requirements for feature now considered obsolete such as ActiveX). Gives MS an opportunity to compete on an equal level to Chrome and Firefox
      - The installer has been updated to deal better with new H/W. If you installed Windows 7 on newer machines you sometimes found it to take twice as long as old computer with half the processing power. This would usually happen with SSD drives if you didn't use the manufacturer's drivers.

      So there will be incentive to move forward but it's not a rush by any means (Obviously MS will disagree with that).

  26. Re:Subscription or no? by Kjella · · Score: 2

    What's in it for Microsoft, when the upgrades are free? They've had six years to make improvements that users might pay for and they're just going to hand them over for free. Why? They're not making profit on the hardware the way Apple does, selling software is their core business. Part of getting a new machine is also getting the latest OS, if you already have Win10 on your 2.8 GHz i7-860 w/DDR3 and 16x PCIe 2.0 and add a new graphics card and some more RAM you have a pretty solid platform to play with. It's not like they massively improve each year anymore.

    I think it's about control. Users have repeatedly refused to get on boards Microsoft's failtrains like ME, Vista and Win8 staying on the last good version for years. I think it's everybody on the Win10 train and when they pull another stunt there's nowhere to get off, if you want to stay supported you'll be upgrading to the latest 10.x release whether you want to or not. Unlike the OS service packs are only supported for a short while and in this new model it's not even clear if consumers will get that or if it's just one update stream of security patches and "upgrades" all rolled into one.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  27. "You'll experience problems with your display" by Ark42 · · Score: 2

    Click the menu icon in the top left of the upgrade reservation thing, then pick Check your PC. On my VERY new Sony VAIO Flip 15, which came with Windows 8, I get the message "These devices aren't fully compatible with Windows 10" -> Intel(R) HD Graphics Family -> You'll experience problems with your display.

    So what does this mean? If I let the upgrade happen on July 29, my screen goes black after that? How can such a new video "card" be unsupported? (It's the built-in display on the Core i7-4500U this thing has). Is it because I also have the Nvidia GeForce GT 735M on here, with that GPU-switching technology (Optimus?) that so many new laptops have now?

  28. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by PRMan · · Score: 2

    Well, then obviously you haven't seen Windows 10. It doesn't make your desktop "look and operate like your phone".

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
  29. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by macs4all · · Score: 2

    Heh, yeah, yet another reason why I don't like Windows: the automatic upgrades that always seem to turn up when they are inconvenient and require a reboot. I mean, when I go home, I don't want to leave my PC running, so I have to stay while it does - what, exactly? So, I only start Windows in a VM and I just pull the (virtual) cable.

    Yeah, I HATE that, too! I shuttle my work laptop back and forth from home every day, and it is MOST inconvenient to have that Update notice come up when I am trying to shutdown and go home!

    I think MS still thinks that everyone still has a desktop computer, and that it's no problem to just "leave it on" and go home.

    So instead, I get to wait while it does a System Restore Point (the majority of the time it takes), then do the install and Reboot (goodbye 30-45 minutes), or "suicide" my laptop by holding the power button, then, the next time I Startup, suffer the bitching and moaning about "Windows was not shut down properly", and then the "Windows needs to Restart" (which pops up when it pleases, and simply HAPPENS if you aren't there to DEFER it, then ANOTHER Reboot (which results in ANOTHER 1/2 hour of virus-scanning), right in the middle of the workday.

    OTOH, my OS X laptop does all the downloading of the update in the background, then pops up a Notification to say "Restart to apply the Updates". When *I* deign to Restart, it may spend an additional 30 seconds or so in the grey-screen bootup phase (I assume "applying" the Update) before the Desktop appears (and, unlike Windows, it is "my turn" on OS X after about 10 seconds once the Desktop appears) ... and THAT'S IT.

  30. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 2

    The complaint is that I don't want to change my OS if I don't want to, and that should be my choice - plain and simple.

    It is your choice... plain and simple...

    However, if you wish to remain connected to the Internet, at some point you're going to have to upgrade if you have any sense.

    No amount of "safe surfing" is going to make up for the fact that XP is EOL and 7 will be EOL in 2020.

    So don't upgrade, keep using whatever you're using, but be mindful of the consequences.

    In my experience, most people overrate their own abilities and skills and underrate the threat. I've cleaned too many infected PCs to be ignorant of the threat.

  31. How many PCs before WSUS? by tepples · · Score: 2

    Do your clients not update from a local WSUS server?

    Our business currently does not. How many Windows PCs would a small business normally be expected to have in operation before purchasing a Windows Server on which to run WSUS?

    1. Re:How many PCs before WSUS? by acoustix · · Score: 2

      Our business currently does not. How many Windows PCs would a small business normally be expected to have in operation before purchasing a Windows Server on which to run WSUS?

      Small companies don't need to run it on a separate server. It can be running on virtually any other server. It doesn't use a lot of resources, especially in small networks. It's basically free at that point.

      Mine is dedicated, but I also have a Windows Server Datacenter license that lets me run unlimited VM.

      --
      "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
  32. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 2

    So instead, I get to wait while it does a System Restore Point (the majority of the time it takes), then do the install and Reboot (goodbye 30-45 minutes), or "suicide" my laptop by holding the power button, then, the next time I Startup, suffer the bitching and moaning about "Windows was not shut down properly", and then the "Windows needs to Restart" (which pops up when it pleases, and simply HAPPENS if you aren't there to DEFER it, then ANOTHER Reboot (which results in ANOTHER 1/2 hour of virus-scanning), right in the middle of the workday.

    Or you could just change Windows Update settings so it doesn't do that any more, ever again.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  33. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by tehlinux · · Score: 2

    >The whole reason they want people on Windows 10 is to get them under an OS platform that's not fragmented

    FTFY

    --
    Most linux users don't know this, but the man pages were named after Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris fsck'ing hates noobs!
  34. Re:Should be 9 by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

    From Wilipedia: "It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0... During development, Windows 2000 was known as Windows NT 5.0"

    By that logic, Windows 10 is, in fact, Windows 9. So we're good.

  35. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by TheDarkener · · Score: 2

    Most users who need to be admins are software engineers

    Or want to configure a new printer.

    Or disable/enable a wireless adapter.

    Or defrag their hard disk.

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  36. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by StikyPad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The start menu still uses tile-like buttons, and the windows are "Metro" style. I don't particularly care for the look. The "flat" looks with 16 colors are a step backwards, trendy or not, and I include Apple with this. It looks like some sort of accessibility mode has been enabled for people with poor eyesight.

    I've been in favor of every Windows upgrade (aside from ME) since WFW 3.1.

    95 gave us a native TCP/IP stack and DirectX. XP looked a little too "Playskool," but the NT kernel tradeoff was so worth it.

    Vista was a nice visual upgrade and provided fully-baked 64-bit support. The driver issues were largely overblown and non-issues after a few months anyway. The sidebar was useful for displaying hardware usage. My biggest critique was the price and SKU explosion; the introduction of crippleware at the OS level. Market segmentation might be a good business practice, but insulting knowledgeable customers in the process generally is not. Meanwhile, "Ultimate Extras" proved to be a code name for language packs that were useless to many, many people. Still, these were not criticisms of the core OS itself, just the business practices surrounding it.

    Win7 refined the Vista UI and added stability, booted significantly faster, search indexing was improved, and revised UAC (which I had previously disabled) made the feature more acceptable.

    Meanwhile I get nothing in Windows 10 other than an interface I don't care for. If XP had been nothing more than a re-skinned Windows 95 with all the same features, I wouldn't have upgraded then either. I'll stick with 7 until they EOL it or introduce a compelling reason to upgrade. I suspect that they've run out of compelling features to add. It would require a sea change in core hardware that we're unlikely to see in the near future -- 128 bit processors, or quantum computing. The feature set of OSes seems to be mature at this point, much like the core controls of vehicles. At this point it's just change for the sake of change, which is a waste of resources.

  37. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by Zalbik · · Score: 2

    Interesting how MS's astroturfers now have to stage a defense against FUD. It was not so long ago that they were the ones propagating FUD galore.

    Or there are those of us who don't give a flying fig who is spreading the FUD...we disagree with anyone spreading FUD regardless of the source.

    Not everyone is on a particular side of the Microsoft / Linux holy war.

    You can't excuse bad behavior by pointing to other people's bad behavior. Most of us learned in kindergarten that "But Johnny was doing it too!" is not a valid excuse.

  38. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by sound+vision · · Score: 2

    Linux: We finally moved to Systemd like Microsoft.

  39. Re:I've already uninstalled the windows 10 nag ico by jonwil · · Score: 2

    And if you happen to live in Australia or any of 100+ other countries, you wont even get Cortana.

  40. Whoah! Did you see this? by strikethree · · Score: 2

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us...

    I quote:

    Device Guard requires:

            UEFI Secure Boot with 3rd party UEFI CA removed from the UEFI database

    Note the part that I bolded.

    No more dual booting. The next step in the "destroy all others" is being taken. You will not be able to dual boot, even with the distros that tried to play along with the TPM shenanigans.

    If you want control over your computing environment, it is paramount that you not upgrade to Windows 10. "Right to Read" will mostly likely come to pass, but the longer we delay it, the more chances we have to prevent it.

    --
    "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen