The Windows 10 Review: The Old & New Face of Windows
by Brett Howse on August 25, 2015 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Operating Systems
- Microsoft
- Windows 10
More Desktop Changes
One of the goals of Windows 10 is to entice Windows 7 users to migrate to the new operating system. The additions we’ve seen already to the traditional mouse and keyboard interface have already been substantial, and should make most Windows 7 users comfortable. But they are not the only changes to the desktop. There is a little bit for everyone, both casual users and enthusiasts alike, so lets check out some more of the new features of Windows 10’s desktop.
Windows 8 changed up Windows Explorer, and brought in the ribbon menu. Office 2007 was the first Microsoft program to move from the file menu to the ribbon menu, and while it was controversial at the time, it is now very familiar. Moving Windows Explorer to a ribbon menu made it both easier to use with touch, as well as exposing settings and features that may have been tucked away in a submenu before. Windows 10 evolves this. Opening up Windows Explorer now greets you with a list of files you have recently accessed in the main pane. The thinking is that when you go to Explorer, you are likely looking for something you’ve used before. I won’t dispute the logic, but I prefer to see the computer view myself. Luckily it’s an easy option to change by clicking File->Change folder and search options. What I do like though is the Quick Access feature in Windows Explorer, which gives you – you guessed it – quick access to folders that are used a lot. The system will automatically add folders you go to frequently which is kind of great for discoverability, and you can add or remove any folder here. I have found it very useful, and since it is also built into the file picker for saving files, it makes it easy to get where I want to go when saving files.
Another nice feature to come to Windows Explorer is the Share contract. Windows 8 introduced contracts, which allow apps to communicate with one another over dedicated protocols, and adding it to Windows Explorer is a great way to expand them from the tablet style apps to the desktop. Share was likely the most useful contract, and I was always disappointed that the Windows 8 Charms did not offer any functionality on the desktop, so this is a great addition.
There are also small changes which improve Windows 10 over Windows 8. Things like having drop shadows back. Windows 8 went for a very flat UI, and it was clean looking but the lack of depth was not very useful with multiple windows open. Adding drop shadows back give the subtle definition around windows to make them stand out a bit more.
One of my favorite features that has come to Windows 10 is the ability to scroll an inactive window. Prior to Windows 10, and assuming you were not running a third party utility which enabled this, in order to scroll a window you had to first select it. Now, you can just move your mouse over any open window and use the scroll wheel to move whatever window you are over. You can do this on windows that are buried three or four deep – as long as you can see some of it you can scroll it. It is great when you are referencing a PDF or site, and writing at the same time, since you can continue to type while scrolling around in your reference document. For those that think this is insane, yes, you can turn it off.
Windows 8 seemed to signal that Microsoft was looking to a future past the desktop. There were some nice changes brought to the Windows 8 desktop but they were overshadowed by the changes brought in by the touch-first UI. With Windows 10, Microsoft is not only trying to bring back the focus on the desktop, they have added a lot of great features as well which should certainly entice users of both Windows 7 and 8.1 to want to switch.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
293 Comments
View All Comments
wavetrex - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
*Installs Windows 13* Oh look, nice, shiny ! DirectX 15... Awesome VR games ... HELL YEA !Next day, two guys with a Microsoft logo on their uniforms ring the door:
- Yes ?
- We're from Microsoft, we're here to install these cameras in your apartment as part of your yesterday Free Windows 13 package.
- Oh, ok.
Guys finish, all the nice cameras are in every room with a bright red dot on them; They leave.
- Eh... bye?
*Goes back to gaming*
Next day the doorbel, a woman and a man, with a Microsoft logo on their shoulder.
- Yes?
- We're from Microsoft, we're here to install here these microphones, movement sensors and the freshly new smell detectors, as part of your Free Windows 13 package.
- Errr... ok ? Are they needed ?
- Of course sir, it's standard procedure for Windows 13 !
- Well, carry on.
The people finish, there's all sorts of gadgets in every room, stuff glued to the wall, ceiling; They leave.
*Thinks: Well, they must be needed. Back to gaming!*
In the weekend, two hot nurses ring the door.
- Hee... loo ?
- Hi there, we're here to take a blood sample, urine sample, and do some tests on you, as part of your Free Windows 13 package.
- Seriously?
- Yes, everyone installing Windows 13 has to do it, standard procedure !
- Uh... well, if it's standard...
The girls take all the samples they need; Leave
*Damn, I didn't new about this stuff... I wonder what they do with it*
Next week, two big men ring the door.
*Afraid to open, I ask loudly: YES??
- Sir, you have to come with us. We're from Microsoft and we have decided that you need to be plugged into the Matrix as part of your Free Windows 13 package.
- Plug into... what ?
- OPEN THE DOOR or we'll open it for you.
*Faints*
----
Seriously, when do we draw the line?
prophet001 - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
We should have drawn it a long time ago.At the least we should draw it here.
BillyONeal - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
I think you need to pay attention to these: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/slippery-slope https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/strawmanExodite - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
To be fair Slippery Slope is only a fallacy if you can't make a compelling argument for why it should apply.Microsoft's track record should suffice I'd say.
Besides, a little hyperbole can help illustrating the point!
wavetrex - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
The story is obviously a joke...But still, if you would tell to someone in 1998 who installs Win 98 for the first time and enjoys his IE3/4 and Netscape websites that the operating system in 2015 will send pretty much everything to do to MS for analysis and "improving user experience" they would call you insane...
(and probably say something like: The government won't allow that !!)
Have you heard about the concept of the Boiling Frog ?
Oxford Guy - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Typical people would say insane. Others know that, since the purpose of law and government is to maintain elite privilege, the more connected people are, the more their privacy will be diminished.Information is power. People in power want to maintain their power and expand it. So, they will make a big deal of Hillary Clinton having "classified e-mail" but act as if the masses should not expect any privacy. So many IT sites have declared privacy dead and have long said only fools think e-mail is private and yet the government clearly thinks it deserves the right to have private e-mail.
boeush - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
That was amazing! You should be writing skits for SNL or the Comedy Channel. Seriously!Nibholm - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Nice lifestyle article with few lazy canned tests. I would expect tech site to have even small tests to see difference between wddm 1.x and 2, universal apps vs win32 and so on... Also why use only windows 8 as comparison base, 7 would be much more relevant.looncraz - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Windows 10 is an improvement over 8, sure, but it is still not as good as 7 for the desktop - but I think they can get there.Things they need:
NO flat aesthetics! It's like moving to Windows 1.0, not 10.0.
Simple application search in start menu - when I search, I don't get any of my apps - when I turned off web results, I didn't get any useful results!
There's no easy way to add the computer icon to the desktop (10 calls it "This PC," of course, for no reason).
The ability to select the types of updates to allow and to disable them easily.
---I can disable them entirely by setting the network connection to metered, or disabling the service, but neither are ideal options.
Things I like:
Multiple desktops (FINALLY!) Not only that, it is quite a nice implementation!
Yeah, that's about it. I spent quite some time trying to think of something I like better in 10... maybe DX12 will be a killer feature for it? Time will tell.
wavetrex - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
You are not alone...Feels like 1 step forward, and a mile run back... Win 10 looks worse than '95 . No joke :(