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.

As jy `n Windows 7 of 8.1 gebruiker is, sou jy dalk gedurende die afgelope twee weke `n kennisgewing van Microsoft op jou skerm sien opspring het. Hierdie poging is deel van ‘n baie direkte bemarkingsveldtog vir hul nuutste produk, die Windows 10 bedryfstelsel.

“Wat het van Windows 9 geword?”, vra jy? Dit blyk of Microsoft besluit het om die volgende logiese benaming, Windows 9, heeltemal oor te slaan en direk van 8 na 10 te beweeg.

Die maatskappy voer aan dat Windows 10 so drasties verskil van 8 dat hulle nie bloot net numeries kon voortgaan nie.  Toevallig was Windows 8 ook onpopulêr en minder suksesvol by gebruikers.

Wat die rede ookal is, Windows 10 is in September verlede jaar aan die media bekendgestel en gaan, volgens Microsoft, einde Julie uitgerol word aan die publiek. Die nuus wat egter op almal se lippe is, is dat Microsoft Windows 10 gratis bied aan almal wat tans Windows 7 Service Pack 1 of Windows 8.1 gebruik.

Sommige personeel mag `n kennisgewing van Microsoft  ontvang het waarin daar gevra word of jy wil opgradeer. As jou antwoord “ja” was, word `n kopie vir jou gereserveer en sal jy sal laat weet word wanneer dit beskikbaar is. Jy kan dan kies óf en wanneer jy dit wil aflaai en installeer.

MAAR, net omdat Microsoft vir jou `n boodskap gestuur het, beteken dit nie dat jou rekenaar die nuutjie sal kan hanteer nie.

En, soos met enige nuwe sagteware, het die eerste weergawes nog skaafwerk nodig en kom daar hier en daar haakplekke voor. IT gaan eers Windows 10 deeglik toets en gebruikers in kennis stel wanneer dit veilig is om te gebruik.

Probeer maar eerder nog `n bietjie uithou en kyk uit vir kennisgewings op Twitter en in Bits & Bytes.

Te danke aan Microsoft se deeglike bemarking lyk Windows 10 egter belowend en moontlik `n verbetering op sy voorganger. (meer inligting is beskikbaar op Microsoft se webwerf). Sommige funksionaliteit is nie noodwendig al beskikbaar aan alle gebruikers nie en Windows Media Center, sowel as sagteware vir DVDs in die slag.

Die mees sigbare veranderinge is die byvoeging van Cortana, `n persoonlike assistent – moontlik Microsoft se antwoord op Apple se minder suksesvolle Siri en Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer se plaasvervanger.

Meer antwoorde oor die opgradering na Windows 10 word ook deur die Guardian beantwoord

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]

Einde September het Microsoft sy nuwe bedryfstelsel, met die kodenaam Threshold aangekondig. Threshold sou ook bekendstaan as Windows 10, nie as Windows 8 soos Microsoft-gebruikers sou verwag nie. Ten spyte van spekulasie wou Microsoft self nie uitbrei oor hul redes vir dié benaming nie.

Hoe dit ookal sy, Windows 10 sal eers in 2015 beskikbaar gestel word aan die publiek. `n Tegniese voorskou is wel vrygestel en beskikbaar op Microsoft se webwerf.  As jy dit aflaai, word jy outomaties lid van Microsoft se Insider Program, wat jou outomaties in kennis stel van enige veranderings en opdaterings. Die tegniese weergawe is slegs bedoel vir gevorderde gebruikers wat wil rondspeel en die beta-weergawe toets. Microsoft beveel aan dat jy dit nie as jou hoofbedryfstelsel gebruik nie, maar eerder op `n toetsrekenaar.

Maar wat maak Windows 10 anders as Windows 8, of selfs Windows 7?

Windows 10 poog om die tekortkominge van die koppelvlak wat met Windows 8 bekendgestel is aan te spreek. Dit word gedoen deur die gebruikersondervinding met toestelle wat nie raakskerm-tegnologie gebruik nie, byvoorbeeld skootrekenaars en tafelrekenaars, te verbeter. Windows 8 was problematies vir gebruikers van hierdie toestelle vanweë sy fokus op raakskerm-toestelle en beperking vir muis- en sleutelbordgebruikers

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

Volgens Terry Myerson van Microsoft is Windows 10 die mees omvangryke platform ooit en verskaf dit `n enkele, verenigde platform vir tafelrekenaars, skootrekenaars, tablette, slimfone en alles-in-een-toestelle. Windows 10 sal steeds raakskerm-tegnologie gebruik, maar onderskei dit met `n ander modus, Continuum mode. Wanneer gebruikers `n sleutelbord of muis ontkoppel, sal hulle gevra word of hulle die tablet-modus wil aktiveer.

`n Groot verbetering is die terugkeer van die Start menu, waarmee daar in Windows 8 weggedoen en Microsoft hewiglik oor gekritiseer is weens die gebrek aan gebruikersvriendelikheid. Die nuwe Start menu is `n kombinasie van Windows 8 se Metro teëls en die pre-Metro spyskaart. Teëls kan nou rondgeskuif, vergroot en aangepas word volgens `n gebruiker se behoefte. Die spyskaart pas outomaties aan by hierdie veranderings.

Die nuwe Start menu maak dit ook makliker om items op te spoor, of dit `n toepassing, program of funksie is. Jy tik bloot jou item in die teksgebaseerde veld. Resultate verskyn soos jy tik, ook internetresultate.

Ander toevoegings sluit `n slim stemassistent, Cortana, in. Cortana is reeds populêr by Windows foongebruikers.

Veelvuldige virtuele werkskerms is nog `n nuutjie vir Windows 10. Jy kan nou veelvuldige werkareas skep en maklik heen en weeg tussen hulle wissel. Veral handig as jy `n tweede monitor gebruik.

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