Windows 10 has been around for awhile now – almost two years to the day to be precise – and so has received a number of updates and upgrades aimed at improving the user experience. After the debacle that was Windows 8 
(if you somehow missed it – it was hated by many users, with a tile format that just about worked on a tablet but was far from intuitive for PC users), Microsoft really needed to get the next incarnation of their flagship programme spot on to salvage their reputation. With Windows 10, it seems they’ve just about managed to do it. Here we review what we’ve learned about Windows 10 over the last few years – what we like, and what we feel still needs attention in the next update.
Firstly, the pros…..
Windows 10 is faster than its predecessors
Windows 10 starts up more quickly than previous versions and runs at a much greater speed on both PC and mobile devices. The power management for mobile devices – a big problem in Windows 8 and early versions of Windows 10 – is also much improved.
We prefer the desktop layout
Windows 10 is similar to Windows 8 in that it presents us with a flat, minimalist theme. This layout makes better use of the screen space. Refining of the tile structure means it is also easier to find your way around – a big improvement on the confusion surrounding where to find things in Windows 8.
Some of the new Windows 10 tools are much better than previous versions
Windows 10 has kept some of the best bits of the stalwart Windows 7 desktop but also introduced some great new tools of its own. Here’s a quick rundown on what we like:
· Task View, which lets you view all open windows and spread them across multiple virtual desktops to reduce clutter.
· Action Centre, providing real-time notifications in a handy slide-out panel from the right-hand side of the desktop.
· File Explorer for browsing, managing and transferring files.
· File History, which offers an alternative way of backing up your photos, documents and other key files.
Hurray, the start-up menu is back!
Probably one of the most hated features of Windows 8 was the totally inexplicable removal of our beloved start up menu. It really was a case of you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone, and now after a couple of years of using Windows 10 we’re so glad it’s back. There’s is also been the addition of a handy Quick Access menu, which we’ve grown to love.
Searching for stuff is so much easier than in Windows 8
Windows 10 places its search tool in full view on the Taskbar. This works in a similar way to the search box on the old Start menu, but covers your entire PC and makes it easy to refine your search as well as extend it to the web.
Search also comes with Cortana, Microsoft’s new virtual assistant, which can monitor your daily schedule to provide timely and helpful advice, news and updates.
And now for the cons…
Sadly, while we’ve grown to love Windows 10, it’s not all good news, and Microsoft still needs to work on improving the following features:
Default privacy is still an issue
It’s been much reported but still Microsoft’s approach to user privacy is dubious. Windows 10 harvests and shares a significant amount of your data by default. Whilst you can disable these settings, there are quite a few steps to take in various areas of the system to ensure that your privacy is set at a level you are comfortable with. In the modern world of tech, it’s a little outrageous that we are having to hunt around the system to protect ourselves.
Loss of features we loved
Some of the features we previously loved about Windows have been removed in Windows 10 – such as the media centre, and, heaven forbid, Minesweeper and Solitaire. Whilst these features can be re-installed with free software, it’s a shame that some of our old favourites have bitten the dust.
Crashes and bugs are still not a thing of the past
Windows 10 does still crash, though far less frequently than previous versions. More worrying are the number of smaller but irritating bugs that the system has reportedly suffered, though many of these are being ironed out with new fixes and updates.
In conclusion
Windows 10 is a vast improvement on Windows 8. It’s not perfect, and there are lessons Microsoft still needs to learn from its repeated mistakes in implementing a new system. That said, it’s much easier to find your way around, and, unlike with Windows 8, Microsoft has resisted the urge to introduce any useless but flashy new features. Its reliability has also increased threefold over previous versions. In a nutshell, and even after a few years of use, we like it a whole lot more than Windows 8.
Des Nnorchiri
Des Nnochiri has a Master’s Degree (MEng) in Civil Engineering with Architecture, and spent several years at the Architectural Association, in London. He views technology with a designer’s eye, and is very keen on software and solutions which put a new wrinkle on established ideas and practices. He now writes for markITwrite across the full spectrum of corporate tech and design. In previous lives, he has served as a Web designer, and an IT consultant to The Learning Paper, a UK-based charity extending educational resources to underprivileged youngsters in West Africa. A film buff and crime fiction aficionado, Des moonlights as a novelist and screenwriter. His short thriller, “Trick” was filmed in 2011 by Shooting Incident Productions, who do location work on “Emmerdale”.