Windows 10 - free upgrade to those with PC using Windows 7 or 8

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Shades

I have never had an Android device that automatically updated. It auto downloads OTA updates, but never have I seen it automatically start the update without user input. Kindle Fire's might, but then that's Amazon's Android flavor. You can't generalize all of Android when it's just the flavor that Amazon puts out.

Nope, you're wrong -- Purple Lady has finally discovered the source of all those heinous auto-updates, and it is most emphatically Android and FireOS, no matter what anyone else says.

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The masses, however, should not be allowed to stay on outdated software.....ect ect.

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

There's a big difference between auto update with no choice and the update currently in my notification bar....Ect Ect.

You guys need to get a room.... Just sayin

[Salgueiros]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

You guys need to get a room.... Just sayin

Absolutely. It is getting beyond annoying. Did you two had an unfinished argument somewhere else?

[Josieb1]

To put us back on track I'd just like to say we have two windows 7 laptops, one 5 years old and one 4 years old. Neither will be upgraded to W10. Instead in about 12/18 months we will probably buy a single new laptop and share. I use my iPad and Fire HDX far more than a pc now, mine is mainly used to run itunes and Calibre.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

The Garmin comment was just another example of bad auto updates from a long time ago - auto updates have always had problems.

Garmin no longer does OTA updates. So you have to initiate the update using your computer.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

That is incorrect - you can in the Group Policy Editor enable or disable whether you get an auto boot or not after an AutoUpdate.

See my post #21 at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=257331 .

Using Group Policy Editor depends on what version Windows you use. Using just plain Windows 8.1 there is no GPE. You need Windows 8.1 Pro or above.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

To put us back on track I'd just like to say we have two windows 7 laptops, one 5 years old and one 4 years old. Neither will be upgraded to W10. Instead in about 12/18 months we will probably buy a single new laptop and share. I use my iPad and Fire HDX far more than a pc now, mine is mainly used to run itunes and Calibre.

Later this year I plan to get a good laptop that an i7 processor, at least 8GB ram, at least 1TB drive and a good dedicated graphics card with at least 2GB ram, 17.3" screen with full HD resolution. It doesn't make sense to skimp. All that happens is that you then need to replace sooner rather than later.

The point being, buy the best you can afford because it will last you much longer then the system you skimped on.

As for Windows 8.1, it runs rather well using Classic Start menu and it feels like Windows 7. There are some differences, but those don't matter in most daily use. And if you need help, just go go Google and you can find the answer.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

I finally bought a replacement for my decade-old Pentium 4 desktop. The new machine has 8.1. I've had it for only a couple hours and I hate it already. Since I want this to be my primary machine, I'm not going to mess with the 10 preview, but if 10 really is more 7-like, then it's probably not worth the trouble of downgrading either. I should just deal with it till 10 is realised. All 8.1 users will get it free, right?

Purely as a matter of interest, what do you dislike about Windows 8.1? I really like it myself.

Yes, 8.1 users will get the upgrade free.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Purely as a matter of interest, what do you dislike about Windows 8.1? I really like it myself.

Yes, 8.1 users will get the upgrade free.

Mostly the new "start button" and the new Win key behavior, and the Metro (or Modern, whatever) UI when not using a touch screen.

Other than that, they just seemed to make some rather annoying changes to the way some admin tasks are done. Changes that are, presumably to drive me toward the "new way things are done," with mobile devices and The Cloud.
'Cept I don't do things that way on my desktop.

However, I installed Classic Shell, and that has taken the vast majority of the stupid away, so I'm good with it now.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

Mostly the new "start button" and the new Win key behavior, and the Metro (or Modern, whatever) UI when not using a touch screen.

Other than that, they just seemed to make some rather annoying changes to the way some admin tasks are done. Changes that are, presumably to drive me toward the "new way things are done," with mobile devices and The Cloud.
'Cept I don't do things that way on my desktop.

However, I installed Classic Shell, and that has taken the vast majority of the stupid away, so I'm good with it now.

I certainly agree with you that the Metro interface works a lot better with a touch screen, which I have.

[Jack Torrance]

Found out I was stuck on an older build and the newer one (10041) is a little more interesting. Having a few issues with Mail and Cortana but I just managed to get it installed on my Machine.

[dickloraine]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The point being, buy the best you can afford because it will last you much longer then the system you skimped on.
.

That is not necessary right. Technology adavances so fast, that it is often best to just buy the mainstream. Say you pay 1500 for your advanced pc. I buy one for 500. In 3 years mine is a little bit outdated, but now Chances are good, if I then spend another 500 my new pc will then be better than your 1500 pc. And I can do that even again, matching your starting price.
Keep in mind, cpu power doubles every two years.

[robko]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I certainly agree with you that the Metro interface works a lot better with a touch screen, which I have.

I started with Win 8 on a touch tablet and I couldn't understand the hate for it (albeit it was just before/as 8.1 came out which helped ). I have it on a new laptop now and I don't mind it, but I think I would have had a hate for it at least initially if the 1st I used it was on a desktop or laptop. It was pretty easy to get on interacting with it on a touch interface, but even after having used it for a year on a tablet I found it a little confusing/unintuitive when I started using it on the laptop (know where to point the mouse to get to the charms menu for example). If I didn't have the tablet experience finding the right settings menus etc. would have driven me nuts!

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Using Group Policy Editor depends on what version Windows you use. Using just plain Windows 8.1 there is no GPE. You need Windows 8.1 Pro or above.

2 minutes on the internet will tell how to fix that (legally).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dickloraine

That is not necessary right. Technology adavances so fast, that it is often best to just buy the mainstream. Say you pay 1500 for your advanced pc. I buy one for 500. In 3 years mine is a little bit outdated, but now Chances are good, if I then spend another 500 my new pc will then be better than your 1500 pc. And I can do that even again, matching your starting price.
Keep in mind, cpu power doubles every two years.

Laptop prices are not quite as you think. The problem is that because the most common scree used is 15.6" at at poor resolution of 1366x768, only laptops with those screens will be cheap. And if you go 17.3", most are 1600x900. So a laptop with a 17.3" screen at 1920x1080 (full HD) is going to cost more than $500.

Then you have the hassle of having to start over. That means moving all your data, installing all of your programs, configuring the OS and the programs how you want them. Overall, it's a hassle you can avoid if you buy a really good laptop now that will last for longer than 3 years before no longer being good enough. a $500 laptop will maybe last 3 years if you are lucky. A 15.6" with 1366x768 resolution isn't even going to last 1 week here. if I'm going to bother to spend the money, I might as well get something I want be complaining about how lousy it is.