Windows 10 review

Windows 10 is an entirely new version of Microsoft's veteran Windows operating system (OS) – a version that is make-or-break for Redmond, Wash. commpany.

It was released on July 29, 2015 in seven versions, which I'll tell you much more about below, as well as give you techradar's final verdict on all aspects of the new OS. Note that there is a distinct Windows 10 Mobile review, which we've recently given a full grade.

Even though Windows 8.1 did improve things, there's no escaping that, with Windows 8, Microsoft was hugely complacent, riding on the success of Windows 7. It drastically misunderstood its users with a fundamentally different user interface that didn't make any logical sense and was hard to learn. It failed us. It failed itself.

Thankfully, 2016 Microsoft is pretty different from 2012 Microsoft. The key management of the corporation has shuffled. It has realized that people can choose other OSes. It's keen on creating software for Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android. As you'll see, it's allowing apps from other systems to be easily ported to Windows, too.

Latest news

Nearly seven months after release, Microsoft hasn't stopped upgrading the OS, nor has news surrounding the new OS stopped churning in early 2016.

Following the first big update for Windows 10 that landed in November, Microsoft touted over 200 million Windows 10 installs as of early January.

However, short after that milestone, Windows and Devices Group Corporate VP Yusuf Mehdi made a celebratory announcement that implies Microsoft may be gathering more data about its Windows 10 users than it's being upfront about.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's efforts to grow Windows 10's influence have only grown more strong-willed. First, the firm stated that Windows 10 will be the only Microsoft OS supported by the latest run of Intel CPUs and beyond, looking to reduce resources spent coding the OS to support old hardware.

Plus, Windows 10 recently became a "recommended download" for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, meaning that – for most users – the OS will have already tried to automatically install itself on your PC. That is, if your Windows Update settings allow for automatic installs.

That said, Microsoft is making obvious attempts to pull out some of the thorns in our sides. It's been recently discovered that Windows 10 is going down pretty well with PC gamers, accounting for 34.05% of the Steam (developer Valve's online gaming service) user base in January.

Short after that report, Redmond launched a website demonstrating the superior security of its latest OS for businesses in an effort to entice IT managers to consider upgrading. Then, several days ago, Microsoft issued a patch for the OS and released exhaustively transparent patch notes for the first time.

Plus, if you want to test out Windows 10 additions with minimal risk before everyone else gets them, there's a new Release Preview Ring for you within the Windows Insider Program. And now, Microsoft made it so much clearer which apps on its Windows Store are built for Windows 10.

Something about all of these recent events is telling that there's likely more good news from Microsoft where that came from.

Now, on with the review...

Windows is more than just an OS

Microsoft believes the future of Windows is as a platform for all. Like Android, the strength of Windows is in the thousands of companies that develop for it (see the section about Universal apps for more on the relationship with developers) and use it in their products.

That's why Windows 10 is no longer just an operating system for 32 and 64-bit PCs. It will also run on the ARM platform for smaller tablets and smartphones. Windows 10 is going to run on phones – it's the new version of Windows Phone, but it's not that clear whether Microsoft will brand new Windows Phones as 'Windows 10' or not. If you know what Windows RT was, then don't worry, because it's nothing like that.

Universal apps will run not only on PCs, but on Windows 10 phones, Windows 10 for IoT devices and Xbox as well.

Like Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 before it, Windows 10 is part of the Windows NT family.

From the Windows 10 Preview to RTM

We are part of the Windows Insider program, which gives people early access to Windows 10 updates through various phases of its development, even after release. The majority of this critique is based on build 10240, made available on July 15. It is the RTM – or Release to Manufacturing – version. RTM will also be on Windows 10 PCs you buy in-store or online.

RTM doesn't have the usual 'Windows 10 Insider Preview' text on the desktop, and it has also been released to everybody in the Windows Insider program – even those who didn't want the latest updates (the "slow" ring as opposed to the "fast" ring).

Even now Windows 10 is released, the Windows Insider program will continue, and Microsoft will release Windows 10 updates to members of the program first.

While it's natural that Windows 10 is considered as "finished" by reviewers (us) and consumers, Microsoft doesn't subscribe to this point of view, and says it will carry on developing the OS with additional tweaks.