Trusted Reviews
Windows 10
By Edward Chester
Link to Article
http://www.trustedreviews.com/windows-10-review
Summary
Review Price to be confirmed
Windows 10: A complete guide
Windows 10 isn't far away. In this piece we give you a complete guide of everything you need to know ahead of Windows 10's launch,
including the Windows 10 release date and upgrade information.
including the Windows 10 release date and upgrade information.
Following that are our first impressions of Windows 10 so far based on the Windows10 preview builds.
Windows 10 Release Date: When can I get Windows 10?
The official Windows 10 release date is Wednesday, 29th July. That's the first day that people who have reserved Windows 10 will be able to
download it and update their system.
download it and update their system.
Recent updates from Microsoft, however, reveal that only Windows Insider members – people who have downloaded and used the Windows 10 preview –
will get to download Windows 10 on the 29th. Everyone else will have to wait as Microsoft is staggering the release to ensure it all goes smoothly.
will get to download Windows 10 on the 29th. Everyone else will have to wait as Microsoft is staggering the release to ensure it all goes smoothly.
So, if you want Windows 10 on day one then you'll need to sign-up and install the preview beforehand.
Read How to install the Windows 10 Technical Preview to find out how.
Read How to install the Windows 10 Technical Preview to find out how.
Windows 10 Price: Will I have to pay for Windows 10?
Microsoft is offering Windows 10 as a free upgrade, but not to everyone. The short version is that Windows 7 and Windows 8 users can get Windows for free, but beyond that things get more complicated.
Read Windows 10 Free Upgrade: Will you have to pay for it? for more detail on who has to pay and how much.
Read Windows 10 Free Upgrade: Will you have to pay for it? for more detail on who has to pay and how much.
First Impressions: Windows 10 Technical Preview
Windows 10 is shaping up to be the upgrade that many users were hoping for from Windows 8. Not only does it more cleverly integrate the new touchscreen-centric features with the traditional desktop ones, but it also brings a whole host of new features.
Joining the virtual desktops and improved command line that we first got to try back in October 2014, Microsoft has now revealed the final release of Windows 10 will include the search and personal assistant Cortana (that was first introduced on Windows Phone),
a new web browser called Spartan, a tablet mode, a new notifications centre and a powerful Xbox app that includes Xbox game streaming and built in game recording.
a new web browser called Spartan, a tablet mode, a new notifications centre and a powerful Xbox app that includes Xbox game streaming and built in game recording.
Although the final Windows 10 release date is still some way away, you can install the Windows 10 Technical Preview to try out many of the new features. In the latest release is Cortana, an improved Start Menu, a basic version of the Xbox app and the notifications centre.
So we fired it up and dove in for our second look at how Windows 10 is shaping up.
Windows 10 Preview: The Start Menu Returns
The most obvious thing about Windows 10 is that, yes, the Start Menu is back, and it’s just as welcome as you might expect. The full-screen Start Screen of Windows 8 was a UI design fail of epic proportions and being able to go back to the familiar pop-up menu is so much more efficient.
Of course, it isn’t just that the Start Menu is back. It has also changed. Now the Live Tiles of the Start Screen are embedded within the Start Menu, providing yet another area for shortcuts (along with the taskbar, normal menu items and desktop) to opening your apps.
Those Tiles that are actually Live will also show previews of app information, such as a message notification or the day’s weather.
Those Tiles that are actually Live will also show previews of app information, such as a message notification or the day’s weather.
It's good to have you back
New to this latest release of Windows 10 is that the Start Screen can be made to go full screen. Now this may sound just as bonkers as the Start Screen, but crucially it still functions like the Start Menu so you can still see the task bar, your favourite apps, the power button, search box, etc.
Live Tiles make a bit more sense in this mode, too. Tacked onto the normal size Start Menu they felt a bit token, but in fullscreen mode you can really stretch them out to take full advantage of them being Live.
In fact, we'd like to see the option to make them even bigger so you can fill the screen with detailed useful information like weather and news.
In fact, we'd like to see the option to make them even bigger so you can fill the screen with detailed useful information like weather and news.
You can also just resize the Start Menu to get a similar affect without completely filling the screen.
Also improved in this latest version is that the search bar is now on the taskbar rather than the Start Menu. This makes it more immediately accessible and means you don't have the doubling up of search features like on the previous release.
There are a few things we're still not so keen on, though. You still can't access the Control Panel by default and the power options are at the top of the menu, tucked away between the Live Tiles and user profile button.
In fact, it's even worse in fullscreen mode as the power button goes all the way to the top right of the screen!
In fact, it's even worse in fullscreen mode as the power button goes all the way to the top right of the screen!
Windows 10 Technical Preview: New Icons
Although a minor point in the grand scheme of things, one of the most visually obvious changes to the latest build of Windows 10 is that Microsoft has started bringing the look of the desktop interface more in line with the touchscreen bits.
This older version of Windows 10 Technical Preview used old style icons
Mainly this is down to many of the core icons having been updated to the new flattened style, plus the start menu uses little coloured squares round existing icons to make them fit in better. It definitely feels more like a finished product.
Windows 10 Technical Preview: Cortana
One of the biggest new additions to Windows 10 is Cortana, which is a glorified voice search and personal assistant. First launched on Windows Phone as a rival to Siri and Google Voice, it provides context aware search and will provide alerts based on things like upcoming world events,
appointments in your calendar and what’s happening to the traffic nearby.
appointments in your calendar and what’s happening to the traffic nearby.
It also has quite a powerful casual language recognition system that works great if you’re using voice control. So the user can, for instance, say ‘what’s on TV tonight?’ or ‘am I free on Wednesday?’
and Cortana will respond based on what it knows about you.
and Cortana will respond based on what it knows about you.
Microsoft is also keen to point out that users can easily tailor exactly what Cortana does and doesn’t track, so those of you of the more paranoid persuasion can stop it snooping on certain activities or turn it off altogether.
It really does work surprisingly well, though as ever with these sorts of services, the emphasis on voice control does perhaps miss the point that most people still don’t want to talk to their hardware – certainly not at work or out and about, at least.
If you find you can’t access Cortana on the Windows 10 Technical Preview because it’s not available in your region you can simply change your language and location to the US to try it out.
Windows 10 Preview: Virtual Desktops
If the Start Menu didn't already, it’s the inclusion of virtual desktops that really marks out how directly Microsoft is trying to please the desktop power users with Windows 10. It isn't as slick as the virtual desktop integration in Mac OS, but it's a really useful addition.
New desktops can be added by either pressing Windows Tab or clicking the new Task View button. These bring up a new live app-switching interface below which is the option to add new desktops.
Once you’ve added a new desktop you can, from the same interface, move apps between them and rearrange them. Apps that are open in other desktops are underlined in the taskbar where if you click them
it’ll switch to that desktop, which can actually be a little annoying if you just want to open another instance of that app and don’t know the keyboard shortcut.
it’ll switch to that desktop, which can actually be a little annoying if you just want to open another instance of that app and don’t know the keyboard shortcut.
SEE ALSO: Windows 10 Features: What's new?
It’s a neat enough implementation that will certainly suffice for those power users that simply need virtual desktops. However, it doesn’t reinvent them in a way that makes them immediately useful for the rest of us.
Again, comparing to Apple’s implementation, in Mac OS apps automatically open to a new virtual desktop when made fullscreen, returning to a normal desktop when windowed. You can also swipe between desktops using the multi-finger gestures available on its trackpads.
The result is an interface that revolutionises the way you work. Here, though, it’s a lot of clicking to get the same result.
The result is an interface that revolutionises the way you work. Here, though, it’s a lot of clicking to get the same result.
Microsoft’s app management improvements aren’t limited to virtual desktops, though, as it has also tweaked how Snap works. Previously you could snap apps to fill one half of the screen and that was it.
Now, though, you can snap four apps and when you snap an app it will show suggested other apps to fill the left over space.
Now, though, you can snap four apps and when you snap an app it will show suggested other apps to fill the left over space.
The new Snap interface can snap to four corners and suggests alternative windows to fill the rest of the space.
Like virtual desktops, Snap is most useful for laptops, where the smaller screens make having multiple windows open at one time less practical. This is still true even with the new four-way snapping as most apps just don’t end up in a usable shape when snapped into the shape
they would when taking up a quarter of the screen.
they would when taking up a quarter of the screen.
We wonder whether a customisable snap interface would actually work best – there are still up to four spaces (one for each corner for the snap gesture) but each corner/side will snap apps to a pre-defined shape.
Or maybe a 'quicksnap' tool that snaps a set layout of apps to the front of the screen
– great for quickly switching between a document you’re working on and a layout of apps that includes your music player, web browser and IM, for instance. Anyway, we digress.
Or maybe a 'quicksnap' tool that snaps a set layout of apps to the front of the screen
– great for quickly switching between a document you’re working on and a layout of apps that includes your music player, web browser and IM, for instance. Anyway, we digress.
Windows 10 Preview: Notifications
A centralised place where all notifications and alerts can appear has long been a feature missing from Windows and sure enough Windows 10 has finally added it in.
It's a simple enough implementation. An icon in the bottom right of the task bar opens the notification centre and it just slides up to fill a portion of the right side of the screen.
In it are all the notifications for all your apps, from new email alerts through to Windows Update prompts and security flags.
In it are all the notifications for all your apps, from new email alerts through to Windows Update prompts and security flags.
It's simple but just very, very useful and the implementation is tidy and logical. Well done Microsoft.
Ok, we do have one small complaint, which is that we'd like to see it also integrate all the other stuff that sits in the system tray,
like volume control, network settings, etc. It would be good to have the notifications area essentially be a one stop shop for all those little bits, rather like on phones.
like volume control, network settings, etc. It would be good to have the notifications area essentially be a one stop shop for all those little bits, rather like on phones.
Windows 10 Preview: Xbox App
One of the more surprising additions to Windows 10 is a new Xbox app. Right now it lets you see your Xbox stats and chat to Xbox friends, but it will eventually allow PC gamers and Xbox gamers to play together,
for users to stream Xbox games to their PC and for constant recording of PC gaming sessions.
for users to stream Xbox games to their PC and for constant recording of PC gaming sessions.
Sadly none of this stuff actually works yet. As such all you can do for the moment is browse around your Xbox info. You can't even change your avatar, so limited is it in functionality.
But it's definitely one of the key features to look out for in future releases and of course when the full release finally arrives.
But it's definitely one of the key features to look out for in future releases and of course when the full release finally arrives.
Windows 10 Preview: Microsoft Edge (Project Spartan)
One of the more suprising additions to Windows 10 is a brand new web browser that we going under the name of Project Spartan but has now officially been named Microsoft Edge.
Rather than update Internet Exporer Microsoft has chosen to keep that browser as it is so that software tools and websites built with it in mind can still function. Microsoft Edge will then take over day to day web browsing duties.
Rather than update Internet Exporer Microsoft has chosen to keep that browser as it is so that software tools and websites built with it in mind can still function. Microsoft Edge will then take over day to day web browsing duties.
As well as a brand new rendering engine - the key feature that requires the use of a new browser - Microsoft Edge will include a load of built in extras. These include a Reading Mode that will reformat the page for easy reading, i
ntegrated Cortana support for helping out with extra info as you browse the web and there's also a screengrab tool that will allow you to write on and annotate a picture before sharing it.
ntegrated Cortana support for helping out with extra info as you browse the web and there's also a screengrab tool that will allow you to write on and annotate a picture before sharing it.
Check out of full Microsoft Edge first impressions to learn more.
Windows 10 Preview: Charms
Alhough the existing Charms menu – the one you swipe in from the right – of Windows 8 remains, for keyboard and mouse users there’s a new way to access some its features.
You can still press the Windows C shortcut to bring up the Charms menu but most apps also now have a Charms buttons in their top left. Tap this and it brings up the standard set of options,
with App Commands, Search, Share, Play, Print, Project, Settings and Fullscreen available.
with App Commands, Search, Share, Play, Print, Project, Settings and Fullscreen available.
It’s not really a feature set we’ve yet found useful, but it’s good to see Microsoft backwards engineering some of the apparently well-liked features introduced with the Windows 8 modern UI and making them easy to use for non-touch users too.
The existing Charms menu itself is also set to be changed before the final release of Windows 10, but for now it remains the same.
The command line can now use copy and paste
Windows 10 Preview: Command Prompt
Another really, really obvious nod towards ingratiating power users is that Microsoft has finally updated the Command Shell, at least a little bit.
Now users can use the familiar keyboard shortcuts of the rest of the Windows interface, with Copy and Paste and Ctrl/Shift cursor based character selection now available.
The most obvious benefit of this is that you can copy and paste complicated command instructions from the web straight into the prompt, which you couldn’t do before. Sadly,
you still can’t delete a highlighted selection but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
you still can’t delete a highlighted selection but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
Windows 10 Preview: First Impressions for Touchscreen Users
The first release of Windows 10 had very little for touchscreen users, but the latest build gives much more of a hint as to how Windows 10 will provide an interface that
as seamlessly as possible switches between touchscreen and desktop use.
as seamlessly as possible switches between touchscreen and desktop use.
The new dedicated Tablet Mode makes it a one-touch switch to go from mouse and keyboard to touchscreen and back again, with the touch friendly Start Screen and desktop ready Start Menu alternating in line.
There are also several more steps that have been taken to make core features, such as the Settings menu, as easy to use as possible while remaining comprehensive.
Cortana is also clearly going to be most useful for phone, tablet and hybrid type devices, so it's great to see just how useful it could be.
There's still plenty of room for the final product to either not quite come together or to absolutely nail it, but signs so far are good.
Windows 10 Preview: First Impressions for mouse and keyboard users
It really can’t be overstated how important the reintroduction of the Start Menu is to the overall feel of using Windows. It’s efficient, it’s intuitive, it’s familiar, it’s what never needed to be changed, and thank god it’s back.
Likewise, the few little nods here and there towards better integrating the new Windows 8 touch-centric interface features -- plus, of course, virtual desktops -- are a nice addition.
On top of this, the latest release has done a lot to fix the many occasions where the touch and desktop interfaces crash into each other, with the touch elements being more accessible for desktop use and vice versa.
We're still not fans of apps such as the Windows Store that use this touch-centric side scrolling style but there's definite signs Microsoft will eventually get the balance right.
We're still not fans of apps such as the Windows Store that use this touch-centric side scrolling style but there's definite signs Microsoft will eventually get the balance right.
What's more, this new build actually has some proper new features that make it feel like something that's been worth the wait, unlike the first build which really just felt like Windows 7 with a different paint job and virtual desktops.
The Xbox app, Cortana, notifications, there's some real guts to this release and more importantly we like all the new features. We have high hopes Windows 10 will feel well worth the upgrade for desktop users.
The app store is a great way to safely access new apps, though we're no fans of the sideways scrolling interface!
Is it time to upgrade from Window 7 or earlier?
Perhaps the most important consideration for existing power desktop users is simply whether they will want to upgrade. Windows 7 still works very well thank you very much,
so should you splash the cash?
so should you splash the cash?
Well, of course one crucial factor is that Microsoft will be offering a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8 users, so you can try before you buy to a certain extent.
As for the features you're getting, our first impressions of the early Windows 10 builds weren't great, as there simply weren't enough new features to tip the balance.
But this latest release, along with the new features that we know are coming, all add up to an upgrade that is well worth considering.
But this latest release, along with the new features that we know are coming, all add up to an upgrade that is well worth considering.
In short, Windows 10 feels like a serious step forward.
There are still plenty of areas in the interface that completely don't match up such as the control panel and PC settings pages.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Microsoft has clearly listened to the loudest criticisms of Windows 8 and has come up with a few neat ideas of its own for Windows 10.
It's a great operating system to use for both desktop and touch interfaces and it has a raft of new features.
It's a great operating system to use for both desktop and touch interfaces and it has a raft of new features.
The addition of virtual desktops, Cortana, notifications, the Xbox app, plus the return of the Start Menu and a myriad of other smaller improvements combine
to make for an operating system that feels like a true upgrade to all before it.
to make for an operating system that feels like a true upgrade to all before it.
Want to try it? Read our guide How to Install Windows 10 Technical Preview
There's definitely still a few things to iron out, and some crucial new features to try, but we're feeling hopeful.
With the new subscription model and free upgrade for the first year, it's looking like there will be few reasons to complain when Windows 10 finally arrives.
