Right then, here we go....... WOW!
First off all I'll start off by saying that many of my customers will have heard me in the past saying that "Windows 7 was basically vista with all the problems taken out, then rebranded as an entirely new operating system".
This is my first thought of Windows 10. During the entire install process I was convinced that I had downloaded a copy of Windows 8!
Those of you who love Windows 8 will DEFINITELY love Windows 10. To me, as it is at this beta phase, it's basically Windows 8 but laid out in a way which makes far more sense. There are a few lovely new little features too. For those who have tried and hated Windows 8, or those that have only come as far as Windows 7 - it's a much more straightforward jump from Windows 7 to Windows 10 even if you skip 8 out altogether!
This time the Start Menu is back.... and REALLY back. Not like the way they tried to return it to Windows 8.1. The new "Start Screen" that welcomed us to Windows 8 is now a part of the actual Start menu from the desktop. It no longer feels like 2 seperate operating systems running along-side eachother, but a great experience all coming from the main desktop (what we were used to in all Windows versions prior to Windows 8).
Those Windows 8 tiles and apps are all there to enjoy, but ajoined nicely into the Start menu on the desktop. The start menu is resizable with simple dragging and you can really get it looking the way you like.
There is also a new great "task view" feature, which as well as being a great way to switch between open windows also allows you to have multiple desktops on the go - so you could have a work-in-progress desktop and a personal desktop on the go at the same time
Window snapping is now also more adaptable then the previous 2 screen halves. You can have a word document snapped to the right with two smaller windows snapped at the left of the screen etc.
All in all, I'm more excited about this version of Windows than I have been for any other in some time. All of my previous programs are working fine with it after a clean install, and my printer (a Dell 1250c colour laser) was recognised automatically. The only down side to this is that the toner level monitoring program isn't working as I need to install that from the disc and it won't have any of it.... but I won't give up until I get it to work. Minor detail though as it still prints, and the printer itself tells me when to change a toner cartridge.
So... back to my initial point. Windows 7 (in my opinion) is Windows Vista with the problems sorted out. Windows 10 is now Windows 8 made to work how it really should have done straight out-of-the-box. They have claimed that they've skipped out "WIndows 9" as they wanted to emphasise the massive differences. I think that's a bit far fetched as to Windows 8 users it will all feel very similar - but the changes they've made ARE GOOD ONES! Personally, I think it should have been a service pack upgrade to Windows 8 - but nevertheless, Microsoft, keep up the good work and don't change this one TOO much before the final release... I love it just the way it is now.
