Do you need Windows 10? Skype Preview: To the point

Windows 10 - NEW SCANDAL?
What exactly does Windows 10 steal from the user?

The release of Windows 10 has already made more noise than all previous releases from Microsoft combined. And the reason is quite clear - the new operating system contains unprecedented means of user control.

Some experts are confident that a new era in IT is coming, when the free user will disappear as a class. Each person will be assigned an inventory number, and a dossier will be compiled for each person based on data from his personal correspondence, movements, SMS, etc.

Although the overall picture is already clear, the results of the first attempts to conduct a more or less analysis were published only the other day. Researchers armed themselves with network monitors, debugging tools and other professional tools and looked inside Windows 10 to understand what exactly Windows 10 is stealing from the user’s computer.

So, preliminary data of the analysis. Microsoft takes from your computer:

1. All printed text. It doesn't matter what application you use. Keystrokes are intercepted at the operating system level, the data is collected in packets and sent once every 30 minutes to the following servers:

Footprintpredict.com

reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com

For example, a user writes a letter using the Gmail service running in Chrome or Firefox. But the text of the letter will still be intercepted at a low OS level and sent to Microsoft servers. For what? In order for this service to work. Formal explanation from Microsoft: needed to improve the performance of the predictive input system (faster text typing).

2. Geolocation data. And names of Wi-Fi networks nearby. They accumulate and are transmitted every 30 minutes. Allows you to track the user’s physical movements with an accuracy of several meters. Microsoft's explanation: The data is needed for the Bing search engine to provide more relevant answers. What does this mean for the user: Microsoft knows your home address (why it is needed, see point 5). If you have a Windows 10 mobile device, Microsoft knows every place you go.

3. Record from a microphone. The microphone in Windows 10 is always on (see the article “Windows 10 secretly turns on the microphone.” At first, it was suggested that this was necessary for the Cortana service (voice assistant), but a little later it became known that disabling Cortana does not solve the problem. User voice recordings may accumulate, some of them are sent to Microsoft servers. Computer security experts warn that if you use encrypted communications (for example, use SIP telephony with traffic encryption), such unauthorized recording of sounds from a microphone may compromise your security Using a reliable VoIP channel at the same time as Windows 10 is a completely pointless exercise - it's better to go outside and shout.

4. Telemetry. A fantastic feature in its potential unsafety, which is not even hidden by the developer company. Telemetry is the transmission of data to Microsoft about the state of your computer and your activity. Literally everything is collected: which programs are installed, which are running, the amount of occupied memory, application logs, fragments of RAM, and so on. Considering that anything can be in RAM - from data for official use to credit card numbers - such transfer to other people's servers is a potential vulnerability. Although Microsoft claims that the data is securely encrypted, who can guarantee that the encryption will not be secretly cracked by attackers? After all, everyone knows that Microsoft has always had big security problems. More precisely, with a persistent inability to provide this security.

Telemetry data is transmitted to the following servers:

telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com

Telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net

oca.telemetry.microsoft.com

Oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net

Sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com

Sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net

5. Fight against piracy. Windows 10 looks at the names of user files and checks them against a constantly updated list of pirated new products. If matches are found, user directory listings are sent to Microsoft. In fact, the computer denounces its own owner.

Data on anti-piracy activity of Windows 10 has been known for a long time. But it was assumed that the emphasis would be on combating counterfeit games. It is now becoming clear that the main goal is to deprive users of the ability to download pirated copies of American films and TV series from torrents.

It should be especially noted that comparing data on the presence of unlicensed video on a user’s computer with collected geolocation data opens up an excellent opportunity for the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) to sue some American housewife for another couple of million dollars. Russian users, it seems, have nothing to fear yet: the system only worked when American films were detected.

6. Portrait for memory. Some users have noticed that after the first activation of Windows 10, the webcam turns on for a short period. Research confirms this - 35 MB of data is transferred to Microsoft immediately after activating and turning on the built-in camera. Presumably, the data is tied to the user's Microsoft account.

I1.services.social.microsoft.com

I1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net

Hello, dear readers! In today’s article I would like to review the latest innovation from Microsoft, or more precisely, we will talk about the Windows 10 operating system.

Today, many users are asking the question: Is it worth switching to Windows 10? What can we expect from this Windows 10 operating system? If you believe the management of Microsoft companies, Windows 10 is an improved system that includes quite a lot of useful applications and functions. I invite you to find out in today’s article whether it’s worth switching to Windows 10 or not.

So, many of you have already noticed that a new icon with an intriguing name has appeared in the lower right corner (for users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1) - “Get Windows 10”. Some users have been following the new version since its announcement, while others only found out yesterday that Microsoft had released Windows 10.

The company offers owners of a licensed system to get the “top ten” for free - this is a tempting offer, but before switching to a new OS, it’s worth analyzing it and finding out the advantages and disadvantages of the transition.

After reading this material, you will learn the following points:

— system requirements for Windows 10;

— new applications and benefits;

— shortcomings and losses;

— methods of obtaining;

— final analysis.

Let's learn about system requirements for Windows 10

If your computer meets the parameters for Windows 8.1, then the tenth version will work correctly - this information is provided by the developers on the official page. But to be sure whether Windows 10 will work or not, you can familiarize yourself with the more detailed requirements:

— 16 GB of free hard disk space;

— Video card: device with WDDM driver supporting DirectX 9;

— Display with a resolution of 1024×600;

— 2 GB RAM for 64-bit, 1 GB for 32-bit;

— Processor: at least 1 GHz.

Another mandatory item is having a Microsoft account. If the computer parameters are lower, this does not mean that the new system will not work, but you cannot expect smooth and fast operation from it.

By the way, if you decide to update, I can offer you clear instructions that I prepared for you the other day:

In general, these figures given above may be incomprehensible to some users - Microsoft has taken care of this too. In addition to the description, in the “Get Windows 10” application there is also a built-in assistant whose task is to test the computer for compatibility for the new system. Also, after analysis, it will report problematic programs and devices that may not work correctly or not start at all on Windows 10.

I suggest you consider a number of advantages and new opportunities.

The new operating system is already available, so you can find out its advantages and disadvantages. Looking ahead, we can safely say that Windows 10 has met all expectations. The “ten” has many more advantages. I would say there are practically no downsides, but there are losses - applications and some useful functions that remained in Windows 7/8. But let's talk about everything in order. Below are 7 reasons why you should upgrade to version ten.

Reason 1 and 2: security and new browser

Finally, Internet Explorer ended its existence, and with it the opinion that Microsoft was incapable of releasing a quality browser. Microsoft Edge has destroyed these stereotypes, with its high speed and useful features. And Edge has every chance to become one of the most popular browsers, because the current leader Google Chrome is starting to bore users because of its gluttony.

As for security, the manufacturer claims that the “ten” is the most secure system. Microsoft is giving users the opportunity to create a personal Fort Knox that will work alongside Windows Hello, Defender and SmartScreen. Protection will be provided through updates, which users do not like so much. But it is worth noting that they can be disabled in Windows 10 as well.

Reason 3 and 4: good interface and Multi-Doing

Windows 10 received the best interface features from versions 7 and 8:

— presence of a “start” button;

— "Live Tile" from Windows 8;

— successful minimalism;

— Convenient work with personalization.

Judging by the interface, the developers realized their main mistakes and made the interface simpler and more welcoming for users, regardless of their knowledge.

Working with windows, shortcuts, folders and desktops has become much more convenient thanks to Multi-Doing. This affected applications such as Snap Assist, Action Center and Task View. According to Microsoft, these innovations are one of the main reasons for the transition. In fact, their importance is overestimated.

Reason 5 and 6: Unified System and Windows Store

From a smartphone to an Xbox game console, everything will work on Windows 10. The company made attempts to connect devices with each other, but it was only possible to implement the idea on the “ten”. If your collection contains devices running on the Windows platform, then it’s definitely worth switching. Full synchronization will be available when the operating system is optimized for devices other than the computer.

The Windows Store has the same advantages - here you can purchase and download content for any device that is linked to a Microsoft account. For example, on your computer you can find and purchase the necessary applications for your smartphone. The design of the store has changed for the better and is now easier to use.

The most important reason for gamers: DirectX 12

The new generation of software will soon be publicly available. But at the latest presentations, Microsoft representatives said that DirectX 12 will be available only for Windows 10. Therefore, if games are not in last place, then switching to “top ten” is definitely worth it.

DirectX 12 will be available for both personal computers and the Xbox game console. It is not yet known when games running on the new generation platform will appear. But gamers will sooner or later have to say goodbye to Windows 7 or 8, and it’s better to do it now while you can get the tenth version for free.

Useful features that were not included in Windows 10

Microsoft has already announced that owners of external USB drives will have to download drivers themselves, without which the devices will not work in Windows 10. Also, Tens users will lose a number of applications and functions that are useful for some.

Desktop widgets and classic games in the new Winows 10

Many users fell in love with desktop widgets from Windows 7 - weather, calculator, clock, CPU load, etc. If you wish, you can buy or download third-party widgets for free.

Microsoft decided that widgets are not needed for the new version. In addition, the classic Hearts, Klondike and Minesweeper will disappear from Windows 10. To replace it, Microsoft is offering free downloads of new versions of Microsoft Minesweeper and Microsoft Solitaire.

Disabling updates

If a user receives a home version of Windows 10, he will not be able to disable automatic updates - this feature is only available to owners of the Enterprise and Professional versions. Of course, sooner or later there will be a way to turn off updates, which sometimes interfere with your work and appear at inopportune moments.

Media Center and DVD support

Windows Media Center was not the most popular service in previous generations of the system, so they decided to remove it. Now there are more convenient and faster programs for viewing videos and photos.

The company believes that the DVD industry is already a thing of the past, so the “ten” does not have standard software for playing DVDs with video. And if a laptop or PC is used to watch movies, then it is worth getting an application from third-party developers.

Useful information about the update

The transition can be made using the “Get Windows 10” application or a downloadable utility that is available on the company’s official website.

If the “Get Windows 10” icon does not appear in the lower right corner (near the clock), then you should check whether automatic updates and Internet connection are enabled.

There are also some features that are useful to know before starting the update:

1. You can update only within 12 months after the final release of the tenth version;

2. When upgrading to Windows 10 from the seventh or eighth OS, the user will receive all updates in full.

3. Owners of computers with Vista or XP will also be able to switch to the new operating system if the computer's characteristics allow it, but they will need a full installation, not an update.

However, I think you may still have doubts about the question: Is it worth switching to Windows 10?

You may ask me: Are there times when you don't need to upgrade to Windows 10?

I answer you: Yes, there are such moments. Let's put it this way, when the hardware is too outdated to work with a new operating system - this applies not only to the processor or RAM, but also to the monitor. An interactive assistant will help you find out about incompatibility, which will appear after launching “Get Windows 10” in the lower right corner.

Another additional reason not to upgrade to Windows 10 is your lack of skills when working with the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 interface itself. Because if you are an ordinary novice user who is still on versions of Windows XP or Windows 7, then you will need some time to understand the principle of operation of both the operating system itself as a whole and its individual applications, a prime example is the Metro application Windows 8.

In this case, I would advise you to first install the Windows 8 operating system on a virtual machine in order to practice and gain experience on it, and then if you decide to upgrade to Windows 10, do it confidently and fearlessly. I even wrote a separate article, read it:

Concluding today’s article, it’s time to sum it up – Is it worth switching to Windows 10?

As you have already noticed, there are a lot of advantages, there are practically no disadvantages, only the loss of some applications that were popular among a small circle of users. Below are the main advantages, thanks to which we can say that the updated version of Windows 10 contains a number of advantages compared to previous versions of operating systems.

1. convenient and stylish interface;

2 . synchronization between devices;

3. friendly interactive assistant;

4. new and optimized Edge browser.

5. DirectX 12;

For a complete review of Windows 10, I suggest you watch the video below:

This is where I conclude, if there is anything to add, I will be glad to hear from you in the comments. If you still decide to switch to Windows 10? then my article below will help you with this:

Dear users, if after reading this article you have any questions or would like to add something regarding the subject of this article or the entire Internet resource as a whole, then you can use the comment form. Also ask your questions, suggestions, wishes..

So, for today, that’s actually all I wanted to tell you about in today’s episode. I can only hope that you found interesting and useful information in this article. Well, I, in turn, am waiting for your questions, wishes or suggestions regarding this article or the entire site as a whole

Microsoft has made sure that the question of how to install Windows 10 causes as little difficulty as possible among users. Moreover, the developers even made this process absolutely free, even for those who do not have a key. On this page we will introduce you to all installation methods, and also tell you where to get the distribution.

All methods can be divided into two large groups - installation from scratch or migration from the previous generation of the operating system. There are 3 approaches for these operations:

• Through the Update Center;
• Using the command line;
• Or using special tools;

First of all, you need to choose a path. The first two are available if you are currently running Windows 7 or 8 of any generation. In this case, if you have not disabled regular and scheduled updates, you have probably already seen a similar picture:

Until the updates are installed, you will not see this message. Next, you need to click on the message that the system has loaded the new OS and is ready for installation. And you will find yourself in a window like this:

After clicking on the “Continue” button, you will find yourself in the update center, where you only have to click one “Get Started” button.

After this, the PC will update itself. Moreover, all processes occur automatically and in the background. You don't need to do anything extra. When 10 is installed, the computer will prompt you to reboot, which can be done not immediately, but delayed a little. The next time you boot you will have a new OS. If you don't like it, you can roll back to your previous version. If everything is fine, then it is advisable to delete the Windows.old folder, because it takes up a lot of space.

Installing 10 via the command line

This method is also for those who are already running one of the latest versions of the OS. It happens that the method described above is not suitable. The first thing you should definitely do is turn on “Automatic Updates”. Without this step, everything described below will not help you solve the problem. Moreover, the settings should look like this:

Check, if everything is so, then use the WIN+R key combination to call up the executive environment and enter cmd, and then the command - wuauclt.exe/updatenow + press Enter.

After this, the download will begin. You can check this in the update center, where you will see the beginning of this process.

As in the first case, here the download will also be in the background, you just need to wait for it to complete and then follow the instructions on the screen, reboot and get the updated OS.

2 options above are only for those who already have another OS installed. If you bought a new device or want to upgrade to 10 from scratch, then you need instructions on how to install Windows 10 for free from scratch. The easiest option is to buy installation media. It is sold on a flash drive, but is quite expensive, so you can make it yourself, which will save you several thousand rubles. To do this you will need:

• Another computer that is already working;
• Utility;

We launch the software on the computer, and in the first window select “Create installation media for another computer.”

You can either immediately create media or download an ISO image of the system and mount it later in any way convenient for you.

A USB device is the simplest method that does not require additional actions later. Therefore, let's dwell on it. Please note that the media itself must already be in the slot on your PC. The capacity of the flash drive is at least 4 GB. You can select the flash drive itself at the next stage, if you suddenly have several connected.

After this, you can forget about this utility for a while and go about your business. Again, it will download the necessary files in the background and mount the image itself. The time for this process depends on the speed of your Internet as well as the speed of your computer.

As a rule, this will take from 20 to 90 minutes. The process of creating an installation flash drive is shown in more detail in the video:

Installation process from scratch

Everything described above was preparation. Next, the installation itself begins. Before doing this, make sure that there is no information you need left on your hard drive. Windows 10 definitely requires formatted media. If the information is there, but you don’t need it, then it’s okay, during the installation process you can format the drive and continue the process as if it were empty.

The first step is to change the boot order of your devices. To do this, go to the BIOS section BOOT. You can get into the Bios when you restart your computer by pressing the DEL or F2 button. You must connect the USB flash drive and assign it to boot first. Save changes and reboot. In this case, the PC will start working with the installer, and you will see the following window:

If at the time of creating the bootable media you selected Russian and the Single Language option, then at this stage you will no longer be able to change the settings. We click on the next button and find ourselves on a new screen where there is only one button - “INSTALL”. Below there is a separate item -, but it is not interesting to us. Click on installation.

At this stage, the OS will already ask you for the key. For some, it will be automatically detected, since it is built into the BIOS. If it is not defined, then enter it manually. For those who do not have a key, you can click on the “Skip” button and return to the activation issue later.

A “License Agreement” will appear in front of you. Read it, check the box next to the phrase that you accept the rules and click the “Next” button.

The last steps separate you from starting the installation. On the newly opened window you need to select the “Custom” item.

In this case, you can choose the hard drive on which the OS will be installed. If the disk stores information, it will have to be formatted. All this can be done within one window, it is shown below.

For those who have several partitions, let us clarify that the OS requires at least 50 GB. Even taking into account that it itself only takes up 4 GB on a flash drive, after unpacking it will require more space, including for normal operation. And you should not touch, delete, merge or carry out any other actions with other partitions, especially small ones - 100-500 MB. They are technical and are required for the correct operation of the entire PC.

After these steps, Windows 10 will begin to install. This will take time, but the process can be monitored by a progressive number of percentages.

When it's all over, a series of questions awaits you. The first question will be about the license. You can skip it again. Those who have already entered the code for this question will no longer see it.

In the next step, you can configure the operating parameters. Even if you don't want to deal with them, we recommend not using the standard ones. The OS collects important information that does not need to be shared. All this can be disabled at this stage.

Then proceed to create an account. Determine who owns the PC - you or the system administrator. The latter is found only in organizations, which is why the answer “I” is the most common.

For lovers of everything new and the most modern, this question does not arise at all. For the rest - our note. We will discuss whether it is worth installing Windows 10. The transition to a new version of the operating system can be forced, or justified by pure curiosity. The forced transition to a new version is due to the capabilities that the new OS offers and which are missing in previous versions.

Previously, we will explain this transition very simply: for example, if one version of MS-DOS allows you to use 640 KB of memory, and another gives access to a whole megabyte (think about it!) of RAM, then you would probably choose the second one. If Windows expands this memory almost unlimitedly, and provides unprecedented services, you will almost certainly choose Windows. Not always, but almost. Those who did not need this service resisted this transition for a long time and continued to use console applications even in the new OS.

The transition from Win98 to WinXP was no longer so obvious, despite the assurances and persuasion of Microsoft and the obvious differences in the design of the systems, the user for quite a long time did not receive anything that he did not already have. In addition, XP required more powerful hardware. The transition from XP to 7 was even slower. From the 7th to the 8th version - at a snail's pace.

Today we have Windows 10 in front of us in all its glory, with all its “Cartans” and attractive interfaces.

Is it worth upgrading to Windows 10? Before downloading and installing a new system, let's weigh the pros and cons.

Who makes sense to try?

If you have a fairly powerful computer or laptop (that is, one that meets Windows 10 system requirements) and, in addition, has a licensed “seven” or “eight” installed, then you need to at least try. In the end, you don’t lose anything: you install it and watch it for a month; if you get tired, you uninstall it from your computer or laptop. There is a special option that allows you to automatically roll back to the previous version of the system. In this case, you will not lose any data or programs. Everything will remain as it was. There is one “but”: until the end of July the system could be downloaded for free, after that – sorry. To get around this limitation, you can go to the Microsoft page for people with disabilities and download the system from there for free.

All this especially concerns users of Windows 8.1 - there are enough holes and glitches in this system to consider upgrading to a new version. The G8's focus on tablet computer users is especially annoying. For owners of ordinary computers and laptops, this OS presented so many surprises related to the display of information on the screen that it is better to immediately “jump” to “top ten” without hesitation.

Users of version 7 will be greeted by the familiar Start menu. The remaining principles of interaction with the interface will also seem familiar to them. The system eliminates many radical innovations that did not find support among consumers and which Microsoft found the courage to abandon for the sake of user convenience. The new system can be used for testing purposes for one year.

You should like the developers' new approaches to protecting your personal data; this subsystem has become more thoughtful and has acquired interesting and powerful capabilities. In a word, download it, install it on your laptop or computer, and then tell us what came out of it - we need to know that too. Reviews from most users of the new operating system vary in content, but most of them are positive.

Who else can't avoid meeting someone?

There is one group of users who need to install Windows 10 on their laptop or computer as soon as possible - these are gamers. You need to install it because only the new platform contains some libraries, without which you simply cannot play the most modern games. We are talking about DirectX 12th version. Computers and laptops of professional players are usually the most powerful, so we, owners of ordinary laptops, will modestly keep silent about the compatibility of the operating system with their equipment.

It is also necessary for those who are engaged in serious work, especially for users who work with multi-window applications or with a large number of windows of different applications. What's the matter, you ask? Where does such categorical confidence come from? Why can’t we live on our “sevens” and “our” XP? This, the most conservative category of users, will receive a whole hail of gifts:

• Several desktops at once, just like in Linux. Now you don't have to worry about constantly rearranging your workspace.
• The touchpad controls are the same as in OS X - that is, with gestures.
• Sticking windows and many other “goodies”.

What else is needed to completely convince you? “Parental control” option, the ability to connect to a wireless monitor? Or transfer video from a game console to a computer or laptop? The new system did not turn out to be a clone of the old one - it really contains a lot of unexpected possibilities.

Take, for example, the same “Cortana” - a female artificial intelligence that, perhaps, does not cook scrambled eggs. By the way, why didn’t they release the same one for ladies, only in male form? Let Microsoft answer this. In short, decide for yourself: to bet or not to bet. Whether you need it or not. The computer and laptop are, after all, yours, not ours.

Who makes sense to take their time?

Installing Windows 10 is clearly not worth it for those who have old equipment - a computer or laptop purchased five or more years ago. It is also not worth installing for those whose system falls short in at least one parameter. Requirements for the system on which you can install Ten can be found on the Microsoft website. There you can also find a lot of other, equally useful information.

If you are not a sufficiently experienced user, then you may have problems updating to a new OS: you will ruin your existing installation, but you will never get a new one. To avoid problems of this kind, it is better to first become a little more experienced in installation issues, for example, read the instructions and practice. However, there is always the opportunity to turn to an experienced practitioner. Remember one thing: do not put “ten” on old and shabby laptops!

Another serious reason not to install Windows 10 is that it is still a “raw” OS. Whatever they say, no one has ever succeeded in bringing such a grandiose undertaking to fruition in such a short time. The following problems have been noticed:

• Start menu not working or stuck.
• Store settings unavailable.
• Problems with the functioning of the application store.

This is something that occurs en masse on systems pre-installed by the seller - that is, when you buy equipment with the tenth version already pre-installed. There are also more exotic problems. Many not the most stupid people try to first familiarize themselves with the system in absentia, and only then run it on their computer.

There are some Windows 10 options that the user is unlikely to like, and may well make him decide not to install the system. For example, the system clearly and openly spies on its owner. That is, he brazenly and without asking collects all kinds of information about him, from his addresses and passwords to bank card numbers.

To get rid of this surveillance you need to reconfigure quite a lot of different options. This procedure is described quite well on the Internet, but who knows if there is something else hidden under the hood?

Some believe that the OS has become less manageable. What used to be configured in a couple of “clicks” today requires either complex and obscure manipulations, or even “dances with diamonds,” including editing the registry and working with the command line.

They complain that it is difficult to disable and remove the antivirus built into the system, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. However, the “majority” remains unconvinced: there are more pros than cons. Think for yourself - decide for yourself.

Installing a new operating system on a computer is a kind of “spring cleaning” that allows you to remove everything outdated, superfluous and unnecessary and install everything again.

Let's start answering the question with a brief overview of the main advantages of the new system:

• Bringing back the Start menu, which was replaced by a tiled interface in Windows 8.1. As they say, everything new is well forgotten old :).

  This is what Start looks like

• New browser - instead of Internet Explorer, which has lost all popularity, the Microsoft Edge browser is preinstalled in the system.

  Edge browser view

  
  

• The appearance of a built-in client for working with OneDrive cloud storage.

  

• Modified video player with default support for all popular formats, including MKV and FLAC.

  Built-in media players

  
  

• More convenient window switching. When you hit the active window on the right edge of the screen, thumbnails of all open windows are shown on the left. Now managing open windows has become really convenient.

  

• Virtual desktops. Windows (before the release of the “ten”) was the only popular operating system that did not yet have them.

  

• Command line. Copying and pasting text using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V works. Finally made a nicer font. The text now adjusts to the window size.

  

• Notification Center. All notifications and quick settings are collected in a panel that appears on the right (similar to the curtain in Android).

  

• Increased number of supported gestures for touch screens.
• Metro applications downloaded from the store can now run in windowed mode. In Windows 8.1 they only worked in full screen.
• Built into the Xbox app is the ability to record screen video while playing games.

As you can see, the new Windows 10 has received many really necessary innovations that were missing in previous versions of the system. Users benefit from not only a new interface, but also a new Internet browser, Edge, a built-in application store, and the Kortana voice assistant. The system developers promised that they would make the same applications for the system compatible with both desktop computers and mobile gadgets.

Minuses

Where are the disadvantages of the new system? It can’t be that everything is so good, you ask. Yes, it can't. Let's look at the disadvantages of the new system.

Windows 10 spies on users. After the release of Windows 10, there was a flurry of messages across the network that the new system was spying on users. Unfortunately, this turned out to be true. The system collects all your passwords, browsing history and sends it all to Microsoft. Information about files on the disk, installed programs, even sound from the microphone and photos from the webcam is also sent. Thus, using Windows 10 with standard settings, you will find yourself “under the hood”.

At the moment, the system sends encrypted data to its servers, even if this is prohibited in the privacy settings.

It slows down. Windows 10 sometimes doesn't immediately respond to user input. It's very annoying in places. For example, when you right-click on the desktop, the context menu sometimes appears only after 4-5 seconds. Minor defects will be corrected over time.

Disk drives. Owners of computers with floppy disk drives, commonly called “floppy disks”, with a capacity of 1.44 MB. which have served PC users faithfully for many decades, there was no place for drivers in Windows 10. Drivers for this drive will have to be downloaded separately. If someone still uses them, of course.

Media Center. Also be prepared for the fact that when updating OSes such as Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, Windows 8 and 8.1 Pro, the Media Center will disappear on Windows 10.

Built-in games. Also, in the tenth version of Windows you will not find such games as “Hearts”, “Siliter”, and “Mineweeper”, in their place new, modern analogues will appear. OneDive has also been removed from the Windows 10 package.

DirectX 12. Games on Windows 10

Along with Windows 10, DirectX 12 was released, a component that allows applications to interact with the video card.

Compared to DirectX version 11, the performance of graphics adapters in some (rare) games will increase by 40%, while the system requirements will remain the same.

What does this give to the average user in the future? Stunning graphics in new games on old hardware. The capabilities of video cards have long surpassed the limits set by DirectX 11, and now this problem has been resolved. However, DirectX 12 is only guaranteed to work correctly on Windows 10, so if you want to fully enjoy the graphics of modern games, it will be difficult to do so without upgrading to a new system. However, it is worth noting that for such a strong performance increase, games must initially be developed for DX12. This means that, alas, there will not be such an increase in already released games. And in fairness, it is worth noting that for most users, Direct X 12 will be the decisive argument allowing them to decide in favor of switching to Windows 10.

Is it worth installing Windows 10?

Each new version of Windows immediately after release contains a bunch of errors - developers and testers simply physically cannot check all aspects of the system. Therefore, active bug fixes and changes have been ongoing for a long time to increase stability and security. The volume of updates released often exceeds the weight of the original system, so it is better not to rush into the transition just yet. But in the future, you definitely need to upgrade to Windows 10 - even in the test version it was clear that this is a stable working system, which over time will become as legendary as XP or Windows 7. From the point of view of practicality, it would be wiser to wait and not end up on the list of those users who have to deal with incorrect operation and identify errors in the system.

When you upgrade your operating system to Windows 10, your computer may not retain data such as personal settings, contacts, and bookmarks. Therefore, before you move on to updating the system, take the time to save your important data on cloud storage or external storage media.

Also, the developers of the new system do not give a 100% guarantee that after the update, your computer will also be able to work well with all devices that are connected to it. For full operation of a scanner or printer, new drivers may be needed, and if the device itself is a relatively old model, then there is no guarantee that the necessary driver will ever be developed. Therefore, before switching to a new OS, you need to devote enough time to resolving the issue of driver compatibility, otherwise you may be faced with the need to purchase new peripheral devices (especially important for offices).

Now we can say that installing Windows 10 is worth it. Most of the errors made at the start have been eliminated and stability has been improved. Also, the new system works well on old hardware; according to subjective estimates, it works faster than Windows 7 and 8. But if you have a very old computer with a small amount of RAM and a weak processor, it is still better to install Windows XP