If their direct marketing approach is anything to go by, Microsoft is extremely eager to upgrade clients to their latest operating system. Over the past two weeks, Windows users have been confronted by a pop-up message on their computer screens, marketing Windows 10.

“What happened to Windows 9 you ask?” It would seem as if Microsoft decided to skip the next logical option, Windows 9, and go directly from version 8 to 10.

The company claims that it’s such a huge leap from Windows 8 tot 10, it wouldn’t make sense to stick to the usual numeric naming convention. Given that Windows 8 hasn’t been the most popular, nor the most successful operating system, Microsoft might want to distance them from it as much as possible.

Whatever the reason, Windows 10 was presented to the media in September last year, and will, according to Microsoft, be available to the public at the end of July.

The bigger news however, is that Microsoft will be offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 to all their clients using the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1.

Some staff, depending on the versions of Windows you have installed, might have received a notice from Microsoft asking if they’d like to upgrade. If you say “yes”, a copy is reserved for you and when it’s available another notification will be sent. You can then decide if and when you want to install it.

BUT, just because Microsoft sent you the message, it doesn’t mean your computer can necessarily handle the new operating system.

And, as with most new software, the first release tends to have some glitches and the occasional bug.

IT will first conduct a thorough software testing and will then notify users when it’s safe to install and use it. Please hang in there for a bit longer and keep an eye out for news on Twitter and in Bits & Bytes.

If Microsoft’s marketing material is anything to go by, the new version seems promising and possibly an improvement on Windows 8. (more information is available on Microsoft’s website.

Keep in mind that some of the new functionality isn’t available from the start. Windows Media Center and the previously installed software needed to watch DVDs are also some of the functions that ended up on the chopping board.

The biggest visible change will probably be Cortana, a personal assistant –  Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s less successful Siri. Microsoft Edge will also replace Internet Explorer as a web browser.

More answers regarding the upgrade to Windows 10, can also be found on the Guardian‘s website.

At the end of September Microsoft introduced their latest operating system, code named Threshold, to the world. It would also be known as Windows 10. Much to the surprise of Microsoft users, the company decided to go straight from Windows 8 to 10, skipping 9 altogether. Microsoft won’t divulge what the reasoning behind this move is, so we can only speculate.

Whatever the case, Windows 10 will be released in 2015 to the public. A technical preview has been released in the meantime and is available on Microsoft‘s website. However, if you download the OS, you’ll also become a member of Microsoft’s Insider Program, making you eligible for updates and new patch releases. The technical version is supposedly only intended for advanced users wanting to test the beta version. Microsoft recommends you don’t install this version on you main computer, but rather on a separate test PC.

But what makes Windows 10 different from Windows 8, or any previous Windows OS for that matter?

Windows 10 attempts to address the shortcomings of the Windows 8 interface. This is changed by improving the experience of people using non-touchscreen technology, for example laptops and desktop PCs. Using Windows 8 was problematic for users of these devices due to its focus on touch screen devices and limitations for mouse and keyboard users.

“the right experience on the right device at the right time.”

According to Microsoft’s Terry Myerson Windows 10 is the “most comprehensive platform ever,” providing a single, unified platform for desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and all-in-one devices.” Windows 10 will still be using touch screen technology, but will differentiate between different modes with Continuum mode. When users unplug a mouse or keyboard, they will be asked whether they want to activate the tablet mode.

A huge improvement is the return of the Start menu. Microsoft was severely criticised for omitting this function in Windows 8, making the OS even less user friendly. The new Start menu combines Windows 8’s Metro tiles and the pre-Metro menu. Tiles can now be moved, enlarged and adapted according to a user’s needs.

With the new menu it’s also easier to locate items, whether it’s an app, program or function. You merely type in the item in the text based field and results appear as you type.

Other additions include a smart voice assistant, Cortana. Windows phones already make use of Cortana and its proven to be very popular,

Multiple virtual desktops are also introduced in Windows 10. You can now create multiple work areas and easily move between them. An especially handy feature if you use a second monitor.

[SOURCES: www.wikipedia.org, http://www.digitaltrends.com, http://technology.iafrica.com]