The best version of Windows. The best version of Windows What is better than Windows 8 or 10

Before you choose which system to use, Windows 8 or 10, you need to know how they differ. Let's look at the differences that everyone can encounter, and not at the system subtleties that are important only to developers.

Comparison criteria

When choosing the system on which you will work in the near future, do not forget to pay attention to the following points:

• appearance, design. It is worth considering that the color scheme can be customized and the interface can be personalized using system settings and third-party programs;
• performance. Different versions of the system will solve the same problems on the same computers in different times: some OS will take more time, some less;
• device support. Some modern devices only work with the latest version of Windows, and older ones don't always work with it. Although Windows 10 solves the latter problem with the help of compatibility mode;
• presence of functions. Microsoft's support for Windows 8 has officially ended, so new technologies and services invented by the company are not being added to the old operating system.

By comparing the two versions according to the criteria described above, you can understand which version is right for you. Feedback from people who have tested both Windows will also help you make the right decision.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements are a list of the “weakest” components that make up the computer, the presence of which is necessary to install the system. If your graphics card, processor, or any other component doesn't meet the minimum requirements, you won't be able to upgrade to the new Windows. The only way out is to replace it with a modern and more productive analogue.

The minimum requirements for Windows 8 and 10 are the same. Although the latest version of the system has acquired a wider range of functions, good optimization made it possible not to increase the minimum performance level:

• 1 GHz processor;
• RAM - 1 GB or 2 GB for 32 and 64-bit systems, respectively;
• HDD or SSD disk with 16 GB or 20 GB of free memory for 32 and 64-bit systems, respectively;
• The video card must support DirectX version 9 or higher.

Design comparison

Windows 8 is very different from other versions as it has an innovative tile design. There is no traditional desktop; access to applications is provided through rectangular tiles. The user has the right to drag them, change colors and dimensions.

Windows 8 has a tiled design

Since the appearance of the G8 caused a lot of disapproval, Windows 10 returned the usual design: a desktop with shortcuts and the Start menu. The only difference is that now the system search bar is in a separate tab. The interface is similar to the presentation of Windows 7, but slightly modernized: unnecessary elements have been removed, system settings are organized and intuitive, window frames are flat and rectangular.

In Windows 10, the desktop and Start menu, familiar to Windows 7 users, have returned

Which design is better and more convenient is up to you to decide. It is recommended to watch several videos comparing the appearance of one and the other system in order to understand how it looks in reality, in motion, and not in pictures.

Performance

You can find many tests on the Internet, their meaning is as follows: the same components are taken, the same versions of several systems are installed, and the same tasks are performed on them. As a result, the time it took for each version to cope with them is compared.

Speed ​​of system processes

The graphs presented below clearly illustrate how quickly Windows 7, 8 and 10 cope with the work. From them we can conclude: in most cases, the “ten” wins.

Photo gallery: comparison of speeds of system processes Windows 7, 8, 10

Comparison via programs

To compare performance, there are also special programs that specifically load systems with various tasks, and then produce results for all points. According to the findings of these programs, Windows 10 wins in most cases.

Photo gallery: comparison of Windows 7, 8 and 10 performance using programs

Comparison in applications

Another way to determine the winner is to analyze the speed of the most popular applications: Excel, Mozilla browser, Adobe Photoshop, etc. According to the results of these tests, the tenth version of Windows is not always the first, but it is not far behind.

Photo gallery: Windows 7, 8 and 10 app performance comparison

Video: Windows 7, 8 and 10 gaming performance comparison

Differences in Features

Some functions of Windows 8 moved to the tenth version, others remained only in it, and others appeared only in the “ten”. The list below will help you understand what this or that Windows can do.

Virtual tables

Built-in support for virtual desktops appeared only with the release of Windows 10. In previous versions of the operating system, it was possible to work with multiple tables only after installing third-party programs.

By creating as many desktops as you like, you can divide the programs you use between them. For example, a browser and notepad will be open on one table, a photo and video editor on the second, and some kind of game on the third. In other words, the need for multiple desks may arise for people who work on many applications simultaneously, or for those who share their computer with other people and want to give them a separate desktop.

You can create multiple desktops in Windows 10

Video: How to use virtual desktops in Windows 10

Charms Bar

Charms Bar is a Start or Start menu that varies greatly across the Windows in question. In the “eight”, by pressing the key with the Windows logo (a square divided into four squares), the user brings up a whole set of tiles, providing access to applications and news. The menu opens in full screen and can be scrolled wide. The list of tiles located in the menu is initially proposed by the system itself, but can be changed by the user in the future.

Charms Bar occupies the entire screen and consists of tiles

In Windows 10, the Start menu has taken on a more familiar appearance, although with a slight difference - the search bar, which helps you search for applications by name, has been moved to a separate window. By default, Charms Bar opens in a small tab that takes up about 1/6 of the screen and contains a list of all the programs in the computer's memory, as well as advertising and news tiles. The appearance, number of folders and blocks can be configured manually.

In Windows 10, the Start menu is smaller and looks similar to the Start menu in Windows 7

At the same time, Windows 10 has a full-screen mode, the activation of which will lead to the menu starting to open in the entire monitor.

Sync with OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud service that allows you to store copies of many computer elements. To use it you will need a Microsoft account. You can send your photos, videos, some types of files, and even system backups to this cloud, with the help of which broken Windows can be restored in the future. The technology is supported in both Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Personal data can be stored on OneDrive so that if your computer breaks down, it can be easily retrieved

Video: how to use One Drive

Standard browser

Like all previous systems, Windows 8 uses the standard Internet Explorer browser. Although it has been improved for a long time, it still lags far behind all popular browsers in terms of performance and the number of supported technologies. Of course, IE is capable of performing standard functions, such as viewing news and videos, but most users are in a hurry to replace it for many reasons.

Windows 8 uses the outdated Internet Explorer browser

Windows 10 has introduced a replacement for the unsuccessfully updated Internet Explorer - Microsoft Edge. This browser is faster, more beautiful and simpler. Modern design and support for many modern technologies make it competitive. It may still be worse than most free analogues, but it is already more pleasant to use.

Windows 10 features an updated and competitive Edge browser

Voice assistant

The voice assistant, named Cortana, appeared in the desktop version only in Windows 10. It is present in the mobile version of Windows 8 Mobile, but it was not in the computer version at this stage of Windows.

Using the assistant, you can open applications by voice, request data, perform some actions, for example, minimize or switch tabs, search for information on the Internet, etc. But you will need a microphone through which Cortana can hear you.

Windows 10 has Cortana, a voice assistant that lets you do simple things using just your voice

At the moment, the assistant is not available in the Russian edition of Windows, so you will have to select a language supported by Cortana during system installation or after that by going to its settings. A complete list of languages ​​that the assistant can interact with can be found on the official Microsoft website.

Xbox Games

At one of the conferences, Microsoft announced that all games released exclusively for Xbox One will become available on Windows 10. That is, a user with an Xbox Live account will be able to purchase a game released for the game console and play it on their computer. The games are not compatible with Windows 8.

On Xbox Live you can buy games from the console and play them on your computer

Disk information

Windows 10 has a built-in service that provides detailed information about how HDD or SSD disk space is used. It shows how many megabytes each program uses, how much space certain files occupy. Of course, you can install additional programs on Windows 8 to get the same information, but in the latest version of the system, just go to the computer settings.

Windows 10 can provide detailed information about the disk and programs that are using up space on it

Smart Split Screen

In Windows 8, there are the first signs that Microsoft is working on a feature that lets you split your screen instead of manually dragging windows around and formatting their sizes. It was possible to divide the monitor into two halves: one is allocated for the desktop and everything that happens on it, and the second is for windows with system settings and parameters. Convenient, but not entirely practical.

The screen in Windows 8 can be divided into two parts

Windows 10 has a full implementation of this feature. By dragging a window to the left or right side of the monitor and releasing it, you will create a screen that is divided into two parts. The dragged application will go into one part, and the application you select from the list of running ones will open in the other part. After this, using the arrows, you can divide the monitor into 3 or 4 blocks with different programs.

In Windows 10, the screen can be divided into 2, 3 and 4 parts

Increased security

In Windows 10, there are more ways to set a password for an account. Thanks to Windows Hello technology, you can set the following identification methods: standard password entry, fingerprint recognition, pattern recognition, facial recognition. Of course, to analyze a fingerprint, you need a special touchpad, and to scan your face, you need a camera with support for Full HD and an infrared sensor.

You can set face or fingerprint identification to log in to Windows 10

Windows 8, like one of its predecessors, makes it easier for Windows 7 users to switch to Windows 10. It, like Vista, is one of the most unsuccessful projects from Microsoft. Despite this, users who were lucky enough to work in the “Eight” quickly adapt to the new tiled interface of the “Ten”. It was thanks to the unsuccessful Windows 8 that developers were able to smoothly transfer the user audience from the classic desktop interface for two decades, where a mouse and keyboard are used as input and control devices, to its mobile version - a tiled one, where the computer is controlled via a touch panel or display.

Today we’ll look at how the G8 is inferior to Windows 10, and we’ll study the main differences between operating systems so that every beginner can choose the optimal OS for themselves.

Negative user reviews

In this indicator, the G8 is inferior only to Vista:

• lack of a Start menu;
• a qualitatively new interface concept, extremely inconvenient for desktop devices;
• lack of drivers for many devices compatible with Windows 8;
• inability to disable Metro or change it to Aero;
• incompatibility with a huge number of programs, especially outdated ones, the development and support of which has been discontinued;
• there is no way to fine-tune the interface;
• on older devices with weak graphics systems, if it works, it’s very bad;
• a completely different interface concept, which is why users had to spend a lot of time relearning and changing habits.

The list of flaws in Windows 8 is far from complete, and there is no point in continuing it: users rated the new interface negatively (especially due to the lack of Start), which, to a large extent, also applies to Windows 10.

New browser

Unlike all other Microsoft operating systems, Windows 10 is distinguished by the presence of an integrated Edge browser, which replaced the slow IE. Edge is a new word in surfing the global network. It combines a minimalistic interface and functionality necessary for quickly opening pages and supporting a huge range of Internet technologies (Flash, JavaScript). The G8 is equipped with another version of the impractical Internet Explorer, which only the lazy use.

Notification Center

The Action Center in Windows 10 has made its way to computers, and here it performs almost all the same functions as on mobile devices. Thanks to the new feature, users have access to a list of so-called “hot actions” (activating and disabling WiFi/Bluetooth), switching the interface to tablet mode, and quickly creating notes in OneNote. Notifications about important events (incoming mail, availability of updates, virus detection, device connection) also pop up here and shortcut keys for connecting to new devices are displayed.

In the settings, you can specify which applications are allowed to display pop-up information windows, and which ones are blocked. Here you can also set the types of system alerts that Windows 10 is allowed to display.

Phone Manager program

Thanks to a new tool that's finally arrived in Windows 10, users can connect their mobile devices to their computer, share data between devices, and sync them. In addition to being tailored to work with Windows Phone devices, the utility supports many third-party portable devices. Even a smartphone running Android and iOS can be configured in a few clicks. Before synchronization, you can select the types of data that should be excluded from the process.

Tablet mode

The developers of Windows 10 have added to the new OS the function of adapting interface elements to the size and type of display used. This way, additional options for touch control of the device are enabled on the tablet, and in most applications designed for a tiled interface, the font size and the width of the ribbon panel with tools are increased.

It is turned on in the system parameters and contains several additional options.

Window

When working with a considerable number of applications, especially on large displays, the user faces the question of conveniently placing several windows on one screen. Unlike Windows 7, where you can only place two windows side by side, the “ten” supports expanding any application to ½ or ¼ of the display size.

In Windows 8, using the Modern UI mode was quite difficult due to problems with closing windows that opened in full screen mode.

Moreover, interface elements are placed in one of the corners, without overlapping other maximized windows. Using a combination of the “Win” key and the keyboard cursor block, windows can be minimized, expanded, and moved.

Virtual tables

Microsoft has finally intercepted the experience of the creators of MacOS and Linux and introduced support for multiple virtual desktops only in Windows 10. There is no answer to the question: “why wasn’t this in Windows 8?”

The “Task View” button located on the taskbar will display an interface where you can manage virtual tables: change, delete them, or add them. When one of the tables is closed, all its active applications are moved to the neighboring one.

Unfortunately, there is no function for dragging desktops to change their order. But to switch between them, to create and close tables, there are hotkey combinations.

Now you can create your own interfaces for work, games, entertainment and navigation on the Internet.

The most joyful event for Windows users with the release of the “ten” was the return of the full-fledged “Start” menu, which was removed from Windows 8. But now the new menu will combine classic shortcuts, both in the “seven”, and some elements new Windows 8 interface.

“Start” is divided into two functional areas, where on the left are links to pinned or frequently used applications, settings and shutdown buttons, and on the right are tiles of active programs and shortcuts for calling programs integrated into the “top ten”.

The search built into the menu works on your local computer and on the Internet.

Powerful command line

Unlike Windows 8, the computer OS has added functionality, which cannot but please system administrators and experienced users.

Improvements to the highlight function are one of the important changes to the command line. Now you can select its contents in fragments (as in a regular notepad), rather than copying all the contents or tedious lines one by one.

The text in the window wraps when you resize it, which was not the case in Windows 8. The need to scroll to view the contents of the command line has disappeared.

Additionally, it is worth noting the presence of new key combinations for working with CMD and the appearance of a function for adjusting its transparency in the range from 30 to 100%.

Other Features

Subtle, but still differences in operating systems that should be taken into account if you want to switch to Windows 8 or “top ten”:

• availability of a disk analyzer and support for Xbox One in Windows 10;
• Windows Hello in the “ten” provides the opportunity to protect your device using biosensors (for example, a fingerprint scanner);
• The Recycle Bin is now displayed in Start without cluttering up your desktop space;
• Windows 8, unlike its brother, did not collect almost all possible information about the user (passwords for websites and WiFi, chat history in instant messengers, email messages) for sending it to Microsoft servers;
• Windows 10 practically does not give the user the opportunity to refuse updates or select updates to install, installing all available updates.

In conclusion, we can say that Windows 8 was only an intermediate link between the classic represented by the “seven” and the innovation in the world of window OS users, therefore, if you are not afraid of forced installations and unknown updates, feel free to choose the “ten”.

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One of the marketing promises Windows 10— even faster work (the corresponding slogan sounds like “Designed for speed”). Compared to Win 8.1, the system should turn on faster, wake up from sleep mode, etc. But is this really so? Let's check!

Test device and input data

A top-end multimedia laptop was taken for testing - ASUS UX-501. Configuration: Intel Core i7 (overclocked to 3.6 GHz), 16 GB of RAM, GeForce 960M GTX video card and 128 GB SSD. This is one of the most interesting devices of 2015.

A clean installation of both versions of Windows and software (drivers, test programs) was performed. The test was carried out in a room with a temperature of 23 degrees, the “Optimal” energy consumption mode was selected, all tasks using the Rundll32.exe command, advapi32.dll, ProcessIdleTasks were working, all Microsoft-suggested updates were installed, and all Windows-suggested optimization functions were enabled. All tests were performed three times, and the arithmetic mean was entered into the tables.

Testing

1. Loading time

The Windows® Performance Toolkit was used - a set of tools that manufacturers of Windows devices and programs resort to its services when they want to test the runtime and speed of their products on average computers. The result of version 8.1 is on the left, “tens” is on the right, the unit of measurement is seconds:

The difference cannot be called big, but it is clear that Microsoft still decided to spend time and improve an already excellent indicator - Windows 10 is 0.7 seconds faster than its predecessor. On a top-end device like the UX-501, the owner of the device will not notice much difference, but on a regular laptop or PC, the difference can become much more noticeable.

Winner: Windows 10

2. Launch Internet Explorer

While working on a computer, we constantly open and close applications. A long time to load a program important for work is not just annoying (and nerves, as you know, are not made of steel), but also interferes with work or surfing the Internet.

The Windows Assessment Toolkit is used for measurements. Unit of measurement is milliseconds:

Again, not everyone will notice the improvement in the indicator from 0.9 seconds to 0.45 seconds - but such an indicator warms the soul in any case, Microsoft showed concern for the user here too.

Winner: Windows 10

3. Typing, web browsing and video chat

To carry out these tests, the PCMark 8 benchmark tool was used. It simulates real-life scenarios: surfing the Internet, working in Office 2013, Adobe Creative Suite and other programs that are usually used at home and in the office for work. The exact time to complete a task is measured, down to milliseconds:

The differences are minimal - only 1%. True, it’s still in favor of Windows 10.

Winner: Windows 10

4. Productivity in Word, Powerpoint and Excel

PCMark measures the speed of work in basic office applications - for example, the processing time of a large table in Excel:

But here the increase is much more obvious: office workers involved in computing, it seems, really should upgrade to “ten”.

Winner: Windows 10

5.Grand Theft Auto V

God be with him, with the office - let's play! The best game of 2015, GTA V, passes the test; its own built-in benchmark is responsible for measuring FPS (frames per second).

The first “defeat” of the new OS from Microsoft. But it’s worth remembering that the “ten” supports DirectX 12, which makes games up to 50% faster than before. The only thing left to do is to finally wait for such games.

Winner: Windows 8.1

6. Adobe Creative Suite

Good performance is needed not only by gamers and nervous housewives, but also by IT professionals. Case in point: Adobe Creative Suite:

And again, the victory is more than convincing, as much as 17% - for Windows 10. Microsoft has worked on the use of resources and drivers, so for every self-respecting IT specialist, “ten” is not a luxury, but an urgent necessity.

Winner: Windows 10

7. Battery life (office)

Microsoft promises that Windows 10 will be more gentle on the weak batteries of Windows laptops. PCMark 8 runs performance tests until the battery is completely discharged:

In all three tests conducted, Windows 10 ran 9 minutes longer. To be honest, I would like more, but thanks for that.

Winner: Windows 10

8. Battery life (games)

When we get stuck into something very interesting, not only time flies by very quickly, but also the battery charge. Unfortunately, even with the current driver from NVIDIA, when playing GTA V, the operating time in the “ten” was reduced; all tests show a decent “minus” of 13 percent:

Winner: Windows 8.1

9. Battery life (movies)

When watching a 1080p video clip through Windows Media Player on Windows 8.1, the laptop turned off after 2 hours and 25 minutes. In Windows 10, this figure was much better - 3 hours, or +25%. Apparently, the “ten” takes a more rational approach to this usage scenario - background activity is reduced to a minimum, only the video player works “seriously”:

Winner: Windows 10.

The final score is 2:7, not in favor of Windows 8.1.

Verdict

Windows 10, even at the very beginning of its life cycle, is already faster than Windows 8.1. But miracles don’t happen: in the winning use cases for the “top ten,” the increase in speed is most often minimal; significant progress was achieved only in terms of watching videos. Let’s also not forget that the tests were carried out on a “clean” version of the system; Windows with a large number of installed games, programs and drivers will begin to work much slower over time.

How (is it faster or slower) does Windows 10 work for you, dear readers? Share your opinion in the comments!

Microsoft Company improves And optimizes each its own product. Each new version of the Windows operating system has a number of benefits or shortcomings before the previous product, but each time a new OS is different its shell and the presence of new options.

It is impossible to say which version of the operating system is better: each software is different decent performance and versatility. Most people like the old builds of Windows with a comfortable and established design, but they do not have a Microsoft support program, unlike the new ones, which are improving every day based on user feedback.

Comparison of Windows 7 and 10: what is the difference

Despite the peak of popularity of Windows 10, many users remain loyal to Seven. Windows 7 has:

• habitual design and convenient location of all options,
• recovery center and stable performance,
• light software filling that does not load the processor.

Most users prefer the seventh OS, but if the “seven” is significantly ahead of the eight in functionality and performance, then Windows 10 is serious competitor, winning in many respects. In addition to fast performance and ease of use, Windows 10, unlike Windows 7, has:

• light system backup and recovery center,
• constant upgrade and shell optimization,
• work with the latest drivers and application support,
• support DirectX 12 and Microsoft Edge.

Despite the wide popularity of Windows 7, the OS is outdated an option that is gradually losing its former multifunctionality and quality of work. If the user appreciates convenience layout of the functionality of the "seven" and the old design, then Windows 7 will be an excellent choice. This OS will do for people of the third age or the old school - for those for whom ease of use is more important productivity.

Windows 7 or 8: version features

These operating systems are very similar in appearance, but Windows 7 has more potential and the best performance, as well as a comfortable and familiar design. According to statistics, users do not have a choice between versions 7 and 8; many return to the “seven” after testing Windows 8.

Windows 8 did not become a breakthrough in the computer industry like 7 or 10. This operating system has inconvenient desktop, start menu, and item layout. G8 was initially aimed at running mobile devices and you shouldn’t expect any special performance in games or general performance from this OS. The OS is designed to work on touch gadgets, as well as increased energy efficiency, and on stationary PCs it may not be as comfortable as its counterparts in the seventh or tenth version.

Which is better – Windows 8 or 10

Windows 10 is multifunctional: It will be convenient to use the OS both on a desktop PC and on mobile platforms. By choosing the tenth version, you get wide-profile and a stable operating system with a wide range of features and additional configurations. Windows 10 is the most in demand an operating system that gets better every day. "Ten" allows:

• use new Microsoft Edge browser,
• work with several virtual tables,
• use option analysis disk space,
• use notification center,
• launch games for Xbox One.

Microsoft Company invests more resources to support and optimize version 10, which is the most popular and popular version after the gradually dying “seven”. The eighth version is designed to work mobile platforms Windows based and has a number of shortcomings in the interface: it is difficult to get used to the OS and master the basic functions, which is significant distinguishes"eight" from 10 and 7 versions.

So what to choose

In order to receive best performance and the ability to use all available configurations, recommended Perform a clean installation of the operating system. Installing Windows through updates significantly impairs performance computer and may cause some drivers or applications to malfunction.

It is believed that each subsequent version of Windows is better than the previous one: in new versions is improving and the software is rotated and the performance of the operating system is improved. However, ordinary users for whom a slight increase in power will not give much benefits, choose an OS based on their own comfort in using the software. Choosing an operating system is a matter of habit and largely depends on the nature of the user.

Windows 10 has been rolling out for almost a month. The guys from Microsoft made a good marketing platform, but even it does not answer questions regarding the advisability of switching to a new version of the OS. In fact, there is nothing surprising in this case. One has only to remember what the situation was at that time with the release of the same “seven” or 8.1.

The release of each new version was always accompanied by doubts from potential customers. After all, they are not aware of what to expect when upgrading to a new version of the software. What is equally important, at the moment there is no complete stable version of the tenth generation, based on which any conclusions can be drawn. However, according to experts, the differences in the beta version and the final release will be minimal. Accordingly, it is advisable to start conducting this kind of checks right now - we are unlikely to be able to see a noticeable difference in the future.

System Performance

To check the performance indicators, an HP Specter x360 laptop was used as a “guinea pig”. It contains LPDDR3 memory with 8 GB, identical SSD with a capacity of 128 GB, Intel Core i5-5200U “brains”, as well as identical BIOS. To carry out the tests, the PCMark 8 Creative Conventional benchmark was used, the task of which is to simulate everyday tasks - such as video files, browsing, games and group chats via video conferencing.

According to the results obtained, the advantage of the tenth generation is at a minimum. Approximately the same difference can be seen in other testing programs.

As for gaming applications, without support for DirectX 12, the difference is more obvious, but not so great as to indicate a qualitatively different behavior.

Testing did not affect the file system, the duration of offline operation, and so on. In fact, the conclusion suggests itself: even though both systems have very good performance parameters for our time, it showed only a slight difference in performance before 8.1. This, in turn, can be classified as a disadvantage, because it is unacceptable for a modern operating system. And this is taking into account the fact that Microsoft representatives claimed that Windows 10 will have significant differences.

In front of you is a graph that shows the time in seconds required to fully load the operating system when exiting sleep mode. The graph is designed in a rather unconventional way: the lower the value in each field, the better. Interestingly, the results of this test revealed the following: the “ten” cannot even overtake the 7th generation. This raises a number of questions for developers, who claim that it will be possible to get started even faster, and this despite the increased load on the processor during startup. Windows 7 loses almost one second to Windows 8.1, which is quite logical. But for the top ten to be two seconds behind 8.1 is unacceptable.

Although, on the other hand, it is not worth drawing exact conclusions. Even due to different behavior on different devices with fundamentally different hardware installed.

In terms of file archiving speed, Windows 10 is also inferior to previous generations. Even though the difference is insignificant, a number of uncomfortable issues for Microsoft engineers cannot be ruled out in the future.

Interface differences

Perhaps one of the most exciting news is the introduction of the traditional Start menu. This suggests that the developers really understood their mistakes made in the eighth generation, deciding to listen to the opinions of their customers. After analyzing user opinions, we can come to the conclusion that using a touch-based interface is a fundamentally absurd idea.

However, a complete “back to past” should not be expected. The company decided not to abandon the successful solutions implemented in Windows 8. For example, the engineers decided to leave “live tiles”. The color of the start menu, as before, will adapt to the color scheme of your desktop.

The redesigned Start menu allows you to call up the traditional list of programs, but its size can now be changed at your own discretion. “Live tiles” from the eighth version are also present here. You can scroll through it without opening all applications, as was the case in the previous version. The user is also not forced to use such a command as placing applications in the start menu from the official Windows Store. If this action is not taken, the icons will appear in the basic list along with other programs installed on the computer.

Charms Bar is no longer there

Both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 came with the Charms Bar. Buyers of licensed versions have long said that this is a completely useless program that takes up additional RAM. In version 10, it is used exclusively on touchscreen laptops and tablets. You will not find this panel in all other devices.

When the developers decided to fully bring back the desktop, the guys at Microsoft thought of a number of innovative solutions that would make it possible to improve the traditional user interface. And one of them can probably become the most effective and useful. We are talking about the possibility of creating multiple desktops. It is noteworthy that this function has existed in OS X and Linux for a long time.

Using this approach in the user interface, the computer owner has the ability to create several desktops at once. Their organization is at the discretion of the user. In order to add a new desktop, the user must use a special menu. You need to right-click to move application icons, which is a rather inconvenient solution. If you have a running application, you can close it using Task Switcher mode. The program can be closed regardless of which desktop is being used at the time of this operation.

conclusions

Yes, indeed, in the new Windows 10, the developers tried to implement as many innovations as possible. But such a decision had to be made at too high a cost. It was necessary to sacrifice productivity, which, in principle, was done. In practice, we have a very small difference in performance compared to 8.1. In addition, the launch time raises questions, which, as can be seen from the tests, is inferior even to the 7th generation.

If you want to try something new, we recommend waiting for the full version of Windows 10, and if stability is your priority, it is better to use version 8.1.