Windows 10 is Coming
A Guide to New Features, and Improvements on Windows 8
Windows 8 was a less-than-successful progression from Windows 7. Unfortunately, many of the improvements focused more on the design and interface than on performance and features.
Regrettably, a lot of users (especially those without touchscreen devices) found the new design and interface confusingly different from Windows 7 or Windows XP, making the transition a difficult one.
Fortunately, Windows 10 seems to have righted that wrong. The new interface is still reminiscent of Windows 8, but luckily it no longer includes the full “tiled” start menu, which frustrated so many users.
Another key feature is “Scheduled Windows Update Restarts.” How many times have you left your computer and come back to find that it’s in the process of restarting, undoubtedly while working on an important unsaved document? Now you can set a schedule for running computer updates without disrupting your essential work!
Windows 10 also helps you work more efficiently with its virtual desktop feature. Like a Mac or Linux machine you can now set up different “screens” on your computer.
If you’re working on a proposal you can put all the relevant materials in one distinct pane, separate from the research you’re doing for your upcoming vacation, or your current gaming session. This feature has been present on Mac devices for some time, but Microsoft has caught up and is taking note of the unique needs of business users.
Windows has even developed a device-specific interface depending on which product you are using and how. For example, if you have the Surface Pro 3 and you remove its keyboard base it will ask you if you’d like to switch to “tablet mode”, at which point all of your apps will be tablet optimized.
Windows 10, like Apple phones, now includes a virtual assistant named “Cortana” that can help you search for files, set reminders, and do a number of other routine tasks. As you use Cortana on your different devices it will get to know you and your habits. You have the ability to mess with these preferences, so nothing is set in stone.
Although this is just a glimpse at what Microsoft has in store for the release of Windows 10, it seems like a massive improvement on Windows 8, with more focus on actual functionality and less on design and interface. Although not all of these updates will be useful for all users it’s likely that they will allow most users to do their work (or play) more effectively.
