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Windows 10, From a Linux User's Perspective
Phoronix features today a review of Windows 10 that's a little different from most you might read, because it's specifically from the point of view of an admin who uses both Windows and Linux daily, rather than concentrating only on the UI of Windows qua Windows. Reviewer Eric Griffith finds some annoyances (giant start menu even when edited to contain fewer items, complicated process if you want a truly clean install), but also some good things, like improved responsiveness ("feels much more responsive than even my Gnome and KDE installations under Fedora") and an appropriately straightforward implementation of virtual workspaces.
Overall? Windows 10 is largely an evolutionary upgrade over Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, rather than a revolutionary one. Honestly I think the only reason it will be declared as 'so good' is because Windows 8/8.1 were so bad. Sure, Microsoft has made some good changes under the surface-- the animations feel crisper, its relatively light on resources, battery life is good. There is nothing -wrong- with Windows 10 aside from the Privacy Policy.
If you're on Windows Vista, or Windows 8/8.1, then sure, upgrade. The system is refreshing to use, it's perfectly fine and definitely an upgrade. If you're on Windows 7 though? I'm not so sure. ...
Overall, there's really nothing to see here. It's not terrible, it's not even 'bad, it's just... okay. A quiet little upgrade.
"Honestly I think the only reason it will be declared as 'so good' is because Windows 8/8.1 were so bad."
So everything else was not honest?
So instead of
start->rightclick computer->properties->advanced system settings->advanced->environment variables
it is
right click start->system->advanced system settings->advanced->environment variables
The search seems to be very shitty this time. The find was ok and ok in win7 and win8. Now it tends to find things out on the internet. So I have had to go digging around for settings that 'just showed up' in win7.
Also I have 2 wireless networks. It just randomly decided to change preferred the list on install. They removed the nice GUI they had in 7 and made it so you can ONLY do it from command line. Which will end up being something I have to look up from time to time. Because I will only do it once a year or so.
Also your point is valid. Where the F did they put the settings THIS time.
In some ways it is shorter/easier. In others worse.
I turned all the telemetry on. Sure they are 'spying' on me. But maybe they will take the hint about the things I am changing. If we all do it...
A real Linux user's review: do you honestly think I'm going to install Windows on my computer?
Because that's intuitive.
Settings, even "advanced system settings" should be in the control-panel.
It's like Windows is following the Gnome crowd. "Let's hide configurations, because letting the user adjust the workspace to his work is confusing!"
*spit*
--
BMO
Brilliant. Someone hand me a thesaurus and I'll find plenty of reasons why a search bar for finding your bearings in an unfamiliar environment is incredibly fucking stupid. You have to wonder who the genius at Microsoft is that thought this was such a wonderful idea. Joe User who hasn't ever heard of System Restore will not be able to find it when he searches for "fix my computer," but he'll certainly find the "I am from Microsoft and your computer is virus infected!" people promptly thanks to Bing(TM).
*Windows 8* was a significant upgrade over Windows 7 - and Windows 10 more so. However, if you only care about start menus and icons, then, no, there's nothing to see here.
I don't recall, however, Windows 7 having native NIC teaming built in, including on dissimilar connection types (i.e. natively team wifi and NIC). I don't recall Windows 7 having a very powerful Hypervisor built in, natively. I don't recall Windows 7 having SMB3. I don't recall Windows 7 having native support for software defined storage and software defined networks. I don't recall Windows 7 supported RFS. The list goes on, and on.
But no, clearly Windows 10 is a very small upgrade over Windows 7.... if the only thing you ever look at is the f*cking start menu. I thought this was supposed to be a tech site? Where people discussed the real technology in things - not just how shiny they are? Did I wind up a Daring Fireball, by mistake??
Control/command-x/c/v for cut/copy/paste are discoverable and consistent: if you got to the edit menu of any application (visible by the default on non-braindead UIs and the starting point for finding any command), then you will see the icons next to it telling you what the shortcut is. Now that it's discovered, it's consistent everywhere. Except in terminals if you're using control instead of command, because terminals need control-c for interrupt and so break the good UI, but on a Mac it's the same in every single application including the terminal.
In contrast, most of the Windows-key-plus-modifier combinations can only be discovered by reading the documentation. There's nothing that a user is encouraged by the UI to click on that tells them about what these modifiers are (though I vaguely remember that Windows 98 had a 'show desktop' icon in the start bar that told you about windows-d in the tooltip).
Intuitive implies that you are meant to use your psychic powers or some innate knowledge to find how the UI works. Good UIs do not work that way, they make it easy for people to learn and then they allow the user to apply the knowledge everywhere. If someone complains about a UI not being intuitive, then it's a good hint that they don't know anything about HCI.
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"my USB headset doesn't work properly,"
Who the fuck wastes a USB port on a headset? You never head of headphone and mic jacks?