Any point in upgrading to 10 from 8.1?

Taleweaver · Oct 8, 2015

Yeah, yeah...I know. This is probably the zillionth thread about the subject. But the more I read articles, the more pumped I get to upgrade. But then afterwards, I always start wondering...why? What's the point?

I don't want to brag, but I'm sort of a power user. I'm used to using tools, tweaks, settings change and things like that. I'm using windows 8.1, but I hardly ever even notice anything of the metro interface (classic shell+a few boot tweaks), and for anything else...

Okay, let's try that again. This time from a historical perspective. Back in the days, there were clear advantages over upgrading. At least every other windows version. Windows 98 (and later SE) was a lot better than the 95 (which I had no PC for). Millenium showed that newer isn't better. XP set the standard for stability, and was as popular as it was with good causes (I still have it dual-booted on some laptop). Vista was sort of the beta for 7, but XP ran fine as it was.
Can't remember exactly why I upgraded to 7...probably things got corrupted or clogged too much after many years of just running programs on it.
8 was criticized for the metro look...and that was it. In the end, I upgraded to 8.1 (current) because wifi-drivers were just a bit better (perhaps I could've fixed it in 7, but meh...I had nothing to do, so...).

So here I am, reading all sorts of things about 10. And wondering why I should the fuck care. Take this random article with 14 advantages. Let's go over them, shall we?

1) return of the start menu. Yeeey, I guess? As mentioned, I use classic shell. I upgraded one of my spare PC's to 10, and after less than a half hour, I just reinstated classic shell again. It may be better than metro, but classic shell is just better to my tastes (I don't care that I can disable the apps...I don't want them in the first place. And I'm more of a desktop shortcut junky, so I won't be using it for that either).
2) it's FREE!!!!! Yeah, yeah...linux is free (sorry: FREE!!!!!!) as well. And since I'm pirating windows, it doesn't impress me. Rather the opposite: if MS can give the one thing that makes them money away for free...where's their revenue then? In other words: I'm reluctant to wait until all the MS-spyware is taken care of and carefully documented.
3) cortana! Nice if you have a microphone and speak English. I don't do either, and it's not in Dutch. Besides...keyboard junky.
4) microsoft edge! Unlike that one person living under a rock, I already have a decent internet browser
5) better password stuff! My PC doesn't have any of that (it's a desktop...not a laptop), so can't use it to begin with. Besides...this really needs critical mass (right now, all banks and online services have their own stuff rather than something unified), as well as MUCH better security. Let's just say I'm skeptical.
6) windows phones! that's NOT a reason to upgrade my DESKTOP pc
7) Windows 10 interface will adapt via Continuum...wtf does that even mean?
8) multiple desktops! Oh, my! Just like I always dreamed. I'll switch directly...to linux mint.
Seriously: I never used it in the first place
9) a unified app store. Okay, future potential. But again...don't care. I'm only considering windows for the applications that only run on it. I don't want to get deeper in their ecosystem by buying stuff I don't even want or need in the first place.
10) universal apps. The same as 9, but aside from the fact that things get easier for developers to port their work to everything easier, I'm fine with it.
11) flexible security ... ah, screw it. let's just say that 11-14 are convenient, but nothing that's missing.

So...I know I'm ranting (and being cynical), but it's more about publicity than anything else. Every magazine tauts the triumphant return of something even a half-assed computer user should've fixed themselves from pretty much day 1 (okay, okay...classicshell wasn't released on day 1, but you get the proverbial idea). Meanwhile, I look at things at face value and can't bring myself to care. I remind you that I upgraded from 7 to 8 because I couldn't be arsed to solve a driver issue (that was it. The sole reason. Everything...EVERYTHING else worked fine, like any OS should be doing). And the way it is, I can't see a damn difference between 7 and 8.1 either (again: classic mode and classicshell).

So what do you guys/girls think: is there any real benefit to upgrading? Was there anything that made you glad you upgraded? (no, an integrated pdf-printer doesn't count...I already have those by the dozen)

PityOnU · Oct 9, 2015

Taleweaver said:
Yeah, yeah...I know. This is probably the zillionth thread about the subject. But the more I read articles, the more pumped I get to upgrade. But then afterwards, I always start wondering...why? What's the point?

I don't want to brag, but I'm sort of a power user. I'm used to using tools, tweaks, settings change and things like that. I'm using windows 8.1, but I hardly ever even notice anything of the metro interface (classic shell+a few boot tweaks), and for anything else...

Okay, let's try that again. This time from a historical perspective. Back in the days, there were clear advantages over upgrading. At least every other windows version. Windows 98 (and later SE) was a lot better than the 95 (which I had no PC for). Millenium showed that newer isn't better. XP set the standard for stability, and was as popular as it was with good causes (I still have it dual-booted on some laptop). Vista was sort of the beta for 7, but XP ran fine as it was.
Can't remember exactly why I upgraded to 7...probably things got corrupted or clogged too much after many years of just running programs on it.
8 was criticized for the metro look...and that was it. In the end, I upgraded to 8.1 (current) because wifi-drivers were just a bit better (perhaps I could've fixed it in 7, but meh...I had nothing to do, so...).

So here I am, reading all sorts of things about 10. And wondering why I should the fuck care. Take this random article with 14 advantages. Let's go over them, shall we?

1) return of the start menu. Yeeey, I guess? As mentioned, I use classic shell. I upgraded one of my spare PC's to 10, and after less than a half hour, I just reinstated classic shell again. It may be better than metro, but classic shell is just better to my tastes (I don't care that I can disable the apps...I don't want them in the first place. And I'm more of a desktop shortcut junky, so I won't be using it for that either).
2) it's FREE!!!!! Yeah, yeah...linux is free (sorry: FREE!!!!!!) as well. And since I'm pirating windows, it doesn't impress me. Rather the opposite: if MS can give the one thing that makes them money away for free...where's their revenue then? In other words: I'm reluctant to wait until all the MS-spyware is taken care of and carefully documented.
3) cortana! Nice if you have a microphone and speak English. I don't do either, and it's not in Dutch. Besides...keyboard junky.
4) microsoft edge! Unlike that one person living under a rock, I already have a decent internet browser
5) better password stuff! My PC doesn't have any of that (it's a desktop...not a laptop), so can't use it to begin with. Besides...this really needs critical mass (right now, all banks and online services have their own stuff rather than something unified), as well as MUCH better security. Let's just say I'm skeptical.
6) windows phones! that's NOT a reason to upgrade my DESKTOP pc
7) Windows 10 interface will adapt via Continuum...wtf does that even mean?
8) multiple desktops! Oh, my! Just like I always dreamed. I'll switch directly...to linux mint.
Seriously: I never used it in the first place
9) a unified app store. Okay, future potential. But again...don't care. I'm only considering windows for the applications that only run on it. I don't want to get deeper in their ecosystem by buying stuff I don't even want or need in the first place.
10) universal apps. The same as 9, but aside from the fact that things get easier for developers to port their work to everything easier, I'm fine with it.
11) flexible security ... ah, screw it. let's just say that 11-14 are convenient, but nothing that's missing.

So...I know I'm ranting (and being cynical), but it's more about publicity than anything else. Every magazine tauts the triumphant return of something even a half-assed computer user should've fixed themselves from pretty much day 1 (okay, okay...classicshell wasn't released on day 1, but you get the proverbial idea). Meanwhile, I look at things at face value and can't bring myself to care. I remind you that I upgraded from 7 to 8 because I couldn't be arsed to solve a driver issue (that was it. The sole reason. Everything...EVERYTHING else worked fine, like any OS should be doing). And the way it is, I can't see a damn difference between 7 and 8.1 either (again: classic mode and classicshell).

So what do you guys/girls think: is there any real benefit to upgrading? Was there anything that made you glad you upgraded? (no, an integrated pdf-printer doesn't count...I already have those by the dozen)

Honestly, the hype for Windows 10 was just that: hype. There are not any significant advantages (i.e. under-the-hood technology improvements) to Windows 10 over Windows 8.1. The vast majority of changes are on the front-end (UI). There is DX12, but you probably won't see that in any widespread use for a few years here, and it's a completely arbitrary distinction anyway.

What it comes down to is that people dislike change, and Windows 8.1 was too much of a change. Microsoft has since backpedaled and removed anything remotely innovative, and Windows 10 is now hailed as a masterpiece.

loco365 · Oct 9, 2015

In my opinion, if a user is on 7, it's not worth the upgrade yet. However, because of all the features of 8 (Or that is, the lack thereof), I'd recommend the upgrade to 10 - it's what Windows 8 should have been, especially with the Start menu and the corner-snaps, as well as the enhanced apps (Mail and whatnot).

Taleweaver · Oct 9, 2015

@PityOnU : yeah...DX12 is pretty much a hardcore gamer only-thing. I can remember a controversy that one of the new directX'es was vista exclusive (which was new back then)...but I haven't seen much improvement since gaming on a newer rig (okay, aside from the obvious OTHER things, as it was a faster rig). I'm not saying it's useless...but by the time it gets used on a decent scale*, some new windows will be hyping up the NEXT graphical improvement thingy.

@Team Fail : sorry...I don't do fanboy service. Windows 8 is better than 7 if you take metro out of the equation (and with classic shell - a freaking freeware proggie). It may be personal preference but thus far I also like that classic start menu over the windows 10 start menu.
Corner snaps...I admit that when I dabble in XP nowadays, I find myself attempting to throw my window boxes to the side of the screen to 'snap' them, so I could get used to it. But the enhanced apps? I admit I don't exactly give them a fair chance (I just had to look...this 'mail' thing is apparently on my windows 8 as well...and I've used it for over a year

), but thus far, I always preferred freeware applications.

*which I probably won't even play, as I'm mostly playing indie stuff

jonthedit · Oct 9, 2015

Windows 10 Start Menu is trash.
Classic Shell wins hands down.

I switched to 10 because of how easy M$ made it. No hassle, all drivers migrated properly from 7, and got a genuine key from a pirated one.
After that, immediately killed all the services I do not use and then tracking/diagnostic ones.

Foxi4 · Oct 9, 2015

Windows 10 gives you a performance boost over 7/8/8.1, it has a smaller RAM footprint and it brings a modecum of a Start Menu back (because Microsoft apparently consists of easily-bullied children who kowtow to naysayers that don't even remember when they used the Start Menu last. From experience I can tell you that the last time I used the Start Menu was in Windows 98, and that's only because the Search Bar wasn't introduced into the menu yet). In addition to that you get the Game DVR option, which is handy if you need screen capping for something, which is handy. All in all, upgrade if you can - I'm certainly going to as soon as I get some external storage big enough to store all my ~~excess illegal ROM's and ISO's~~ important work-related documents.

Taleweaver · Oct 13, 2015

On a somewhat semi-unrelated note...that new wiiu emulator apparently only works on directX 12 (and thus windows 10 exclusive). It's hilarious, in a way: this project sways my opinion more than anything microsoft or tech sites can throw at me.

jonthedit · Oct 13, 2015

Taleweaver said:
On a somewhat semi-unrelated note...that new wiiu emulator apparently only works on directX 12 (and thus windows 10 exclusive). It's hilarious, in a way: this project sways my opinion more than anything microsoft or tech sites can throw at me.

Im surprised someone actually used DX12. Good on the developer!

Joe88 · Oct 13, 2015

I don't know why people think no one will use dx12, its not the same bs that happened between dx10 and dx11

Originality · Oct 13, 2015

Joe88 said:
I don't why people think no one will use dx12, its not the same bs that happened between dx10 and dx11

It's not that no one will use it, it's just the belief that adoption will be slow because it's been slow with dx10 and dx11.

Vipera · Oct 13, 2015

>Says he pirated Windows
>Doesn't want to upgrade to not do "fanservice"

Makes sense to me.

Windows 10 is the newer OS, therefore it's going to be supported a lot more. Is there any point to upgrade right away from 8.1? Unless you need DirectX 12, then no. It's an upgrade that you are going to have regardless though, because Microsoft already stated that 10 is going to be their last OS (therefore updating it instead of making more I guess?). If you are worried about spyware just install stuff like DoNotSpy10.

The_Meistro · Oct 13, 2015

Cause 8.1 SUCKS

Taleweaver · Oct 14, 2015

Joe88 said:
I don't know why people think no one will use dx12, its not the same bs that happened between dx10 and dx11

We'll have to see about that. I remember that one game (shadowrun) that was supposedly only vista-exclusive because it used "a more modern architecture" or something like that. Then it got cracked and playable on XP. And if I look at the directX 11 exclusives it's still not that much. And it's been YEARS since then.

Vipera said:
>Says he pirated Windows
>Doesn't want to upgrade to not do "fanservice"

Makes sense to me.

I brought up the piracy because it changes the perspective. If you pay for something, there's a psychological reason to tell yourself that it's worth it (it even goes as far that, to a degree, things sell better if their price is raised). As such, those who actually BOUGHT windows 8 will probably see it as a gift to them...something that proved that the money they spent on their earlier windows-version pays of more. Since I don't pay (and am crafty enough to obtain a free version even after that free-upgrade-for-a-year period), I don't have this pressure to 'upgrade before it's too late' or an 'I have to make it worth my money' thingies.

(besides...as an IT tech, I get the hassle with upgrades often enough. I'm currently upgrading 3 PC's from XP and vista to 7...it's obviously all legit on the job...but still a hassle).

Vipera said:
Windows 10 is the newer OS, therefore it's going to be supported a lot more. Is there any point to upgrade right away from 8.1? Unless you need DirectX 12, then no. It's an upgrade that you are going to have regardless though, because Microsoft already stated that 10 is going to be their last OS (therefore updating it instead of making more I guess?). If you are worried about spyware just install stuff like DoNotSpy10.

Yeah, I've heard about that 'last OS'-thing too. At best, it means they're going to wait a bit longer than usual (or even get rid of their stupid naming conventions).
I'll check into that donotspy10 program. Thanks for the mentioning.

Deleted User · Oct 24, 2015

If you want a mail app with syncing issues, limited personalization and constant notifications asking you to restart for updates (and no, it doesn't apply updates when you turn off your PC at the end of the day/start it up in the morning like previous OSes, you have to restart it or the notification will interrupt whatever you're doing again next time you boot it up) then go ahead

It's only worth it if you're on 7 and want apps and Microsoft account login but don't want to pay for 8.1. I doubt devs will ever use DX12 unless Windows 11 doesn't suck

Taleweaver · Oct 25, 2015

Erm...Meanwhile, I upgraded to ten. And this is the first time I actually managed to upgrade* to a new windows version rather than having to reformat the thing entirely. Everything works exactly as before, so I'm not complaining.

As for the mail app...sorry, @Snugglevixen : I used thunderbird and continue to use it. I haven't touched windows mail client since outlook express. I don't want to classify it as "see nr. 4" since I haven't ever even opened it, but I frankly couldn't care less even if it did work flawlessly.

*okay, okay...the second time. It worked on my backup PC as well...perhaps MS finally understood that GRUB isn't something they should mess with or throw errors "just because".

Any point in upgrading to 10 from 8.1?

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