When you hear Windows™ 10, you probably think about the free upgrade that most people thought was a catch. Windows 10 is Microsoft’s® new operating system that has been released through all computers that run Windows 7, and 8, and some new computer models that have been released through December 2015. Microsoft claims that it builds on the Windows we have already seen in the past, “Windows 10 is designed to be compatible with the hardware, software, and peripherals you already own. And always-enabled updates help you stay current on features and security for the supported lifetime of your device.”

Windows™ 10 takes the ideas of Windows 7, including the Start Menu, and merges them with the sleek look of Windows 8. People griped about no start menu in Windows 8 with the replacement of the Tile Menu, which completely took you to another screen instead of bringing a small bar, like Windows 7 did. Windows 10 also added new features like Cortana, your personal assistant. You can compare Cortana to Siri, but she’s more focused to helping you search all of your computer and all of the internet. Windows 10 also added the addition of multiple desktops, allowing users to do something on one desktop, and do another task on a separate desktop. The new operating system also added a replacement to Explorer, known as Microsoft® Edge. It makes the browsing experience more productive to the user that needs features, like drawing directly onto a webpage to get the job done.     

However, the gripes about Windows™ 10 have been a falling point of the operating system. include upgrading your old system up to Windows 10 is a tedious task. The risk of all your files being deleted makes it a risky decision. Additionally, some of the apps that the public loved in Windows 7 are not supported in Windows 10, such as Windows Media Player. It still makes an appearance, but is not set to the default program, but instead the operating system favors other programs instead, and they don’t even work as well as the old programs. Overall, Windows 10 changed the computer system in ways that revolutionized the design of the computer, and how we used computers. Yet, it trashed features that was better than what they provided us with.

If you’re hesitant about upgrading, you could always stay on your Windows™ 7 or 8, or switch over to Mac, but you may have to cough a few dollars or two, instead of taking the free Windows 10 route.