Slashdot Mirror
Windows 10 Launches
An anonymous reader writes: Today Microsoft officially released Windows 10 in 190 countries as a free upgrade for anyone with Windows 7 or later. Major features include Continuum (which brings back the start menu and lets you switch between a keyboard/mouse UI and a touch UI without forcing you into one or the other), the Cortana digital assistant, the Edge browser, virtual desktops, DirectX 12 support, universal apps, an Xbox app, and security improvements. Reviews of the operating system generally consider it an improvement over Windows 8.1, despite launch-day bugs. Peter Bright writes, "Windows 8 felt unfinished, but it was an unfinished thought. ... Windows 10 feels unfinished, but in a different way. The concept of the operating system is a great deal better than its predecessor. It's better in fact than all of its predecessors. ... For all my gripes, it's the right idea, and it's implemented in more or less the right way. But I think it's also buggier than Windows 8.1, 8, 7, or Vista were on their respective launch days." Tom Warren draws similar conclusions: "During my testing on a variety of hardware, I've run into a lot of bugs and issues — even with the version that will be released to consumers on launch day. ... Everything about Windows 10 feels like a new approach for Microsoft, and I'm confident these early bugs and issues will be addressed fairly quickly."
First post from a Windows 10 mach..sd..foasfd89&$#(&*$(@#%*Y$H NO CARRIER
root@allevil:~#
Microsoft has seriously dropped the ball with Windows 10. I LIKED METRO! Why did they get rid of my metro? When I was growing up I watched Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and they didn't use a start menu, they used metro. Microsoft continues to alienate their users.
No, the only way to save Windows is to port systemd to it. On Linux, systemd brought a new era of stability and always-on availability to servers globally. Before systemd, I didn't even like Linux. I can say it kind of sucked, I tried to run Aliens: Colonial Marines on my Ubuntu netbook and I couldn't get the setup.exe to open. What kind of shitty os can't run an EXE? DOS can run an EXE!
Also the lack of an update manager for NVIDIA really screwed me over. Apparantly, it's all updated by the package manager (I read this on stack overflow) but I want my NVIDIA Experience app! It tells me when the latest game ready driver is available so I get max FPS.
Anyway, Linux SJWs can keep their bullshit, except for systemd which I like. I think systemd would make Windows a more secure and robust OS. I bet you could write an antivirus that uses systemd, that would be really cool!
I was reading about this new systemd - MongoDB cloud I want to use on our webserver (I am the project manager for a web app. I get to decide what we use and I always make good choices). We currently have this MS SQL 2014 database on Dropbox or something, I want to change that to leverage systemd.
We upgraded to VS 2015 but resharper crashes a lot, so we're considering sticking with 2012. I think we can make this work with systemd. This one dude uses a Mac and he says systemd is bad, but he uses a Mac so I don't care. I tried to run MyCleanPC on a Mac once and it didn't work, so I stopped using Mac.
We hired this new old chick (she's a grandma or something) I might fire soon. She wants to use F# for new development, saying it's a more modern language than Visual Basic. If she keeps her zealotry up I'll have no choice but to fire her (If you're reading this Linda, you know who you are). She's also one of those Slashdot SJWs so I hate her by default anyway. I just need a good reason or the government might come after me.
systemd is the future. The Linux SJWs just haven't seen the light yet. I can see the stack in my head: Windows -> systemd -> MongoDB -> Sharepoint -> ActiveX plugin on client site. I've made my career out of making these choices. I fired a guy last week who said ActiveX should not be used in new development, but I disagree. ActiveX keeps those Linux SJWs from using my site.
I saved us a ton of money by recommending we use Windows 8 (not 8.1 because our hardware doesn't support it) for the web server instead of Windows Server 2012. I don't think there's a stability difference, and I don't want to have to spend that much.
Another thing! I have this EXE I run that automatically sets up telnet on my machine so I can remote in from anywhere. It's how I work from home. I tried running it on my Ubuntu netbook and it didn't work. So how am I supposed to enable telnet on Linux? I don't know that it's even possible! Linux SJWs won't admit these shortcomings.
Anyway, I want you guys to know that Windows 10 needs native systemd so we can web scale our cloud apps.
Now the UEFI BIOS of the OEM machines can be locked using the M$ keys. What do you think of this new feature? OEM laptop=mobile phone?
Am I allowed to say this on /.?
W10 is so far not too awful.
W8 introduced File History and a far improved Task Manager, the former alone was enough to get me to put in on my home PC. I'll admit I had to install Classic Shell to remain sane, but I don't think I was alone in not enjoying the Metro interface.
With W10 there remain those goodies, virtual desktops (finally, hurrah!) and best of all a non-offensive UI. Yes, it's different to W7 and still a little messy for my liking, but then things do change, and we do cope. I'm not going to move my home PC to W10 for a while, but I'm not totally discounting it either...
Oh arse
If you're too impatient to wait for Windows update to tell you your rolling wave install is ready for installation, you can download the media immediately.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-u...
You're a bunch of idiots, but I love you. Thanks for taking that early install bug bullet for me. I'll wait a couple of weeks minimum before I do any installs.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
So, you're saying that going from Windows 7 to, say, Windows 2000 is not a downgrade, but just a lateral change?
Or going from IE6 to IE11 isn't an upgrade, but just a change?
You really don't see how going from an older version with fewer features to a newer version with more features ins't an upgrade? Or maybe you're just being pedantic about the definition of "upgrade"?
I have a copy of Windows 7 that I sometimes run in a virtualbox. I bought Windows 7, now Microsoft is going to take that away from me and give me Windows10? Can I get my money back? I don't want Windows10, it's not what I bought.
no, I don't have a sig
Did they restore Windows Media Center in the home edition???
No media center as you know it in 10.
...before I even consider switching from 7. For crying out loud, I just switched from xp. I'd like to get actual work done.
Well, W10 is certainly far better (so far) than W8 (UI, virtual deksops etc). If you're not sure, try it out in a VM or - heavens - read the articles linked to above.
W8 had many flaws, but there were definite advantages to it over W7 (I've mentioned them elsewhere - File History, an improved Task manager - but there are plenty more).
Overall, W10 is certainly a massive upgrade from W7, the same way W7 was a massive upgrade from XP.
Professional advice time:
* Make sure you have the information you need (not just the information that suits your viewpoint).
* Be prepared to reevaluate based on new information.
* Don't try to redefine words to help push your point of view, it just looks daft. If in doubt about the correct meaning, check a dictionary.
Oh arse
I've been using Windows 10 for quite a while. The thing that's going to really change on the "enterprisey" side of things is the need to buy the Enterprise version so you can get the Long Term Stable servicing branch, and thus you'll be forced into volume licensing rather than OEM licensing. If you don't, you run the risk of Microsoft introducing a new change in the Current Branch for Business that breaks your applications, with a ticking clock counting down to the time you're forced to accept it. Unlike phones, PCs in businesses typically run applications that, for whatever reason, can't easily be upgraded. I've worked in end user computing for years, and it happens everywhere, in large and small businesses. Entire departments live and die by Excel macros and Access databases. Web applications that are too expensive to upgrade have to keep working. And on and on...
I think the biggest thing that Microsoft needs to get right is stability. Rolling out new features all the time sounds like a really great idea, more Agile, etc. etc. The problem is that to do this with an operating system, those feature changes need to be solid and not break existing functionality. If they got rid of all their QA staff, I hope they're not relying on Windows Insiders to test key functionality. Insiders are generally not running the legacy junk applications that businesses need to keep supported and alive. Insiders are running their general Office workstations, maybe some web browsing, but usually not legacy applications.
One of the things from the past that was nice about a definitive "RTM" line in the sand was that the code was declared feature complete, and most showstopper bugs were squashed before the OS was allowed to be released. Back in the day, it was because you were pressing a million DVDs and your customers couldn't easily download patches, so it had to work. Now, the "ship it, we'll just rush out a patch later" mentality is dominant everywhere. The other nice thing was that when Version X came out, features didn't change until X.1 was ready. With this continuous upgrade cycle, I can see some problems. Maybe this is part of Microsoft's long term strategy -- just kill desktop applications and make everyone run VDI in Azure.
The implications of which no review has mentioned or discussed in detail. With antitrust cases long behind them, and a lower market share in a more mobile world, Microsoft would be pretty sure they can get away with it. It is non trivial for a normal user to change default browsers, all Chrome can do is dump you on the correct settings screen. Then you've to scroll down, click on one of those buttons that doesn't look like a button. And there's a big friendly 'Reset to Microsoft Defaults' link at the bottom. You need a Microsoft account, or at least it is non trivial to install Windows without getting one. OneDrive pops up right away.
The most egregious is the 'express settings' option when you install. The 'custom settings' option is hidden in small text in blue on a blue background in another link that doesn't look like a link thing. The 'express settings' are scary, sending your voice, contact details, location, advertising ID, browsing history etc. to Microsoft and others.
Sure, the average slashdot user can get around it in a few minutes. The average user, not so much - they'll click Next.
So.. You see a /. article about a subject that doesn't affect you, follow the article link, hit the post button, and then respond to someone (which kinda implies you're watching the thread).
Okay, this doesn't affect you. Right. Of course. Mm-hm.
Sad little boy.
Not to defend an AC; but, if Slashdot commenters restricted themselves to only issues which affect them, this would be one lonely forum.
From what I saw somewhere else, you can give this command to get your existing Windows 7 or 8 key:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Then you enter that key when installing from the ISO.
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