Tech Talk: Windows 10: Should I or Shouldn’t I, Part 1

By Brian Boston

If you are simply looking for an “out of the blue” recommendation on whether to upgrade to Windows 10 or not, I can save you some reading .

Upgrade….it’s free to do so at least until July 2016 and avoids the unpleasantness of being technically obsolete.

If that is an unsatisfactory answer, you are in the right place. We are going to lay out some details to help you with the question “Should I upgrade?” over the next three posts and possibly learn a few things in the process.

First a few questions:

Are you running a system that qualifies for the Windows 10 upgrade?

For the full upgrade (bringing over your apps and personal data), you need either Windows 7 (updated to Service Park 1) or Windows 8.1. Windows 8 needs its free upgrade to 8.1 first (and then some additional updates). Windows Vista and XP don’t qualify for the free upgrade though many systems running Vista might fit Windows 10’s system hardware requirements. 

Are You Using One of the Features in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 Removed During Installation? Though most people don’t’ use these features, they have their fans.

• Windows Media Center. This software allows the recording and playback of television programs as well displaying pictures and DVD and music playback. Microsoft will be making a DVD Playback app available free for a limited time to replace that functionality for systems that had Media Center (see this FAQ for details). Fortunately, there also other free alternatives for all Windows 10 systems like VLC Media Player that do an excellent job without all these restrictions.

• Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets – these gadgets started with Windows Vista but dropped after Window 7 was released due to security concerns.

• Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts – common to Windows 7 and earlier Windows versions, these games were separated in Windows 8 from the operating system. The new versions of Solitaire, Microsoft Solitaire Collection, and Microsoft Minesweeper are available in the Windows Store. Both programs in Windows 10 are ad-supported or you can pay a subscription to open up new features and remove the ads. Sorry, no Hearts, at least from Microsoft.

• Floppy Drive support. As floppy drives have replaced by USB flash drives, the responsibility for drivers that support these devices has shifted to the drive manufacturer. So, if you are using a USB Floppy drive, you will need to check Windows Update for drivers or go to the drive manufacturer to find them.

What is the downside if I don’t upgrade?

Where is no technical downside to staying with your current operating system in the short term. Both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will continue to function and work with your applications and services. Microsoft will continue to support security updates to Windows 7 into January, 2020 and Windows 8.1 will be supported the same way until January, 2023.

What will likely happen before those dates is that newer versions of the applications you use will eventually stop supporting these older OS versions. And, since Microsoft is switching to more incremental updates to Windows 10 over that same period, the operating system will continue to evolve further from the designs of Windows 7 or 8 without changing its own version. This means that your personal learning curve will only deepen with time and will become more challenging if you buy a new system.

How different will Windows 10 be for me?

If the answers to these questions haven’t deterred you from upgrading then your reasoning can shift from the strictly technical to more contextual and subjective. That falls more into “What’s changed…and will I like it” category. And the answer is:

It depends…

One of biggest dependencies is the version of Windows you happen to be running right now and your feelings about it. That will be our topic in Part 2 of Windows 10: Should I or Shouldn’t I

Till then…

Boston LegacyWorks, LLC offers talks and individual help on technology topics, troubleshooting and tutoring on PC usage, and services so you can manage and maintain your computer, your network of computers, or how they connect with the world. Contact us for information on how we can help you.