Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. Windows 10 has arrived, and Microsoft is still standing, so we must assume that the general launch of its new operating system has been a success. The specialized press threw itself upon Windows 10 with determination, and our own installations just came out of the oven. If you want a more solid idea before installing it on your system, keep reading.
October 26, 2012 is a date that will be burned into the halls of Redmond. Beyond the interface changes and some questionable technical decisions, Windows 8 was a victim of the repulsive internal politics at Microsoft. Its subsequent updates tried to put out the fire, but users had already crucified it. "Déjà vu, Windows Vista". The damage control was so extensive that the company decided to skip a version number. And so we arrive at Windows 10, or rather, Windows 10 arrives to us. Several of the ideas deployed in Windows 8 were not that bad, but they urgently required chisel and hammer. And at the same time, Windows 8 confirmed (in the worst way) that the desktop concept is not going anywhere as long as the operating system continues to bear the name Windows.
In other words, Windows 10 seeks to offer the best of both worlds, and if we go by what we have seen so far, the balance is very positive. Redmond's servers didn't explode, nor were there problems activating copies. The big problem for Microsoft in this case was none other than communication. Back and forth, vague reports, wrong spokespeople, imprecise statements, changes of mind… it was as if Microsoft wished to create a public relations catastrophe every week. Fortunately, all that is behind us. Do you want Windows 10 for free? Join the Insider program and take part in the "perpetual beta" with potentially unstable builds and updates. Do you use a legal copy (whether retail or OEM) of Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1? The access icon to Windows 10 at no cost should be in your system tray. If it doesn't appear (there are dozens of reasons for that), or you prefer more direct control through an ISO image, the official Media Creation Tool has what you need, except for patience (the download process can take a while).
If you manage to avoid the digital demons (more details later) and survive the installation process, your computer will greet you with a similar image to the one above. Where do we start? Well, the Start menu is there, although not necessarily in its classic version. All icons (animated or not) are optional, and the menu itself can be resized like a window. The first thing I did was test the new Edge browser… and I must admit it works quite well. It represents a significant quality leap compared to Internet Explorer. The dedicated switch for Adobe Flash Player is a very good idea, I really liked its overall appearance, and the promise of extension support in the future makes it even more interesting. For now, I don't think it will convince users to abandon other browsers, but if you have a few minutes to spare, exploring Edge is worthwhile. After years of cold war between Internet Explorer and the people, the new Edge could restore diplomatic relations.
If the debut of Windows 10 is not all roses, it's because of a single word: Privacy. Basically, users will have to spend between ten and twenty minutes exploring all the options for transmitting and sharing data that the operating system has, including the controversial Wi-Fi Sense, capable of sending the password of our WiFi network to registered contacts (Settings - Manage Wi-Fi - WiFi Sense - Turn everything off). Data synchronization will also be enabled by default if you use a Microsoft account to log into Windows 10, a detail that helps to appreciate creating a local account. Cortana is shaping up to be an extraordinary secretary on our desktop, but she doesn't work by magic, and she needs to collect a lot of information about us during a normal session. The encryption key is stored in OneDrive if BitLocker is enabled, and the new privacy policies that take effect on Saturday leave a lot to be desired. The vast majority of options can be turned off, but Microsoft will have to disarm this bomb before it explodes in its face.
To finish (for now), a bit of humor. Microsoft has made history on more than one occasion, and not always in the best way, but when a small opportunity for jokes arises, users show no mercy. What does Windows 10 offer us? Probably the purest meme material we have seen in years. Redmond has a bad reputation with error messages, and Windows blue screens have traveled the world, however… this is going to rewrite several books. To be continued.
