Windows 10 - why don't I give it a go?

[otherego]

It installed quickly and painlessly. Presumably as a result of disconnecting from the internet before commencing installation, there was no nagging to use a Microsoft account.

An incredible number of privacy-related settings needed attention, and the default was invariably the least private setting. Still, it got itself installed.

Nice and quick despite just one gig of RAM.

Until it wasn't.

Apart from the privacy concerns, W10 seems to specialise in deciding for itself when it will launch tasks, even resource-heavy ones. It ran an antivirus scan - first I knew of this was its smug announcement that it had done so.

A pop-up demanded that I check my privacy settings (at least one of which now mysteriously favoured lower privacy) so that it could prepare for an update to the Creator Edition (or something like that.) The pop-up wouldn't go away until the user (me) had obediently done Microsoft's bidding.

It's cruising for a bruising...

The browsers were configured (as are all browsers, I suppose) for the least private settings - allowing third party cookies, location reporting and so on. Again - at least these could be configured prior to connecting to the internet.

It was hard to find Internet Explorer. They really want you to use Edge.

An extra half a gig of RAM seemed to ease the slow-down briefly, but not for long. System interrupts and something called Windows Module Installer Worker seemed to be the chief culprits. A bit of a search suggested a restart. I told it to restart.

About twenty minutes ago. It's hanging on, "Getting Windows ready. Don't turn off your computer."

Not just grammatically dodgy, but infuriating, and if it isn't done by bedtime, it's just getting turned off. Why on earth not prompt users on shut down/restart to either let it go ahead with whatever it's planning, or to defer this until a more convenient time, in the meantime shutting down normally?

The whole thing seems designed very much for Microsoft's convenience, and not that of the user. Of course, privacy concerns and the lack of control over such functions as updating remain a real worry, too.

Right at the moment, I see very little prospect of investing in an expensive licence and activating it, though.

How's everybody else getting on with Windows 10? Hopefully, SOMEBODY loves it.

[otherego]

Hi, CD. Supper time - I'll be back shortly!

In the meantime - perhaps it's time to consider freeing yourself from the yoke of capitalist imperialism proprietary software vendor lock-in.

More in due course (and - nah - sadly, I really ain't got wot it takes to be a revolutionary. *Sigh*)

[otherego]

... won't they be getting sooooooo much "data" that no-one will see it unless "someone" specifically looks for it from a particular user?

Trouble is, it's all there when some bright spark comes up with a way to "monetise" it which might not necessarily be to your or my advantage. It's a bit like the worries about governments and "snoopers charters" and the like. It's not necessarily the present government we have to worry about.

Now, Word is expensive.... I used a "Student" version but I believe it will only "work" on one computer. If I tried to install it on another computer using my existing Product Key I don't suppose it'd load? If it's a version that needs "activation," this might be a problem - although I suspect they might allow one or two reinstallations to cover operating system changes and so on.

Technically, and in terms of their licensing stuff, you probably shouldn't be using a "Student" version anyway - so I wouldn't feel too conscience-stricken about trying it to see whether it will install on another computer. (I don't know when MS Office started on the "activation" thing - probably about Office 2003 or Office XP???)

The current file extension is .docx ...
IIRC, even Office 2003 has plug-ins (or something) to allow it to open documents formatted as docx - I don't know whether it allows you to save documents in that format. Presumably, Office 2007 onwards default to docx anyway.

Now the good news. LibreOffice does most of what MS Office does. Caveat - I think there are always risks attached to switching between formats in the "save as..." or opening stages. For most everyday stuff, though, LibreOffice copes fine with .doc, .docx and what have you. It also copes with Word Perfect and I think with Works.

If you create something really important in LibreOffice and save it as .doc or .docx, for goodness sake do a spot of proof reading before sending it to a publisher or whatever.

Again - a spot of reading. Sorry, but there's really no short cut if you're starting to consider alternatives.

https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/libreoffice/  (What is LibreOffice?);

https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Feature_Comparison:_LibreOffice_-_Microsoft_Office  (what it says - it's pretty detailed);

https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/screenshots/

and, of course

https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/?type=win-x86&version=5.4.2&lang=en-GB  (but choose the version and whether you want it for 32- or 64- bit etc.)

There's even a portable version which you can bung on a flash drive. Simply plug it into your computer and run it. Or just copy it onto the desktop and launch it from there. I honestly don't know why it's necessary to install programs if "portable" versions are that easy, but there must be advantages of some sort!

Why not give LibreOffice a try? It need cost you nothing, and could just give you a useful option for the future.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Well, I have just found this thread quite interesting reading.

I have just been very brave and bought myself a brand new desktop pc with Windows 10 ( while away on holiday for a week)

It has taken me a year or so to decide to buy another, I've been holding out for ages with my vista but finally got fed up with slowly losing the use of my pc because of no more updates etc.

i'm really quite thankful though as I have a good teacher at my fingertips to teach me how to use Windows 10.  

My son was trained by Microsoft on how to use Windows 10, he was taught how to teach others to use it, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go.

My son thinks that windows 10 is the best thing since sliced bread haha xxx

[otherego]

Hi, busty - enjoy the new computer!

If you're concerned about privacy stuff, you might ask your son to take you through the privacy settings in detail. Oh - and you don't need to use a Microsoft account to log in for your everyday stuff - unless you really like sharing lots of stuff with Microsoft, of course.

It's really not for me, I think. The lack of control over it, the data gathering (might be harmless, but without more information, one can't be sure - and what of the future?) and the humongous downloads relating to updates have really put me off.

Having said all that, it works well and a lot of folk like it. Just be sure you know about the downsides!

In the meantime, why not upgrade your old Vista machine to Linux? It's easy, and you might just like it...

[**bustysinclaire**]

Thanks for the tips otherego.

I like the sound of shutting microsoft out a bit.  😀

You have mentioned Linux to me before, I do feel it a shame to let perfectly good equipment go to waste, that's one reason I have held out for so long.

How do I go about getting Linux, is it something I have to purchase?  Can you give me some tips in what I need? And where to get it. I'd be very interested in looking into it and would appreciate your help and advice.  TIA. Xxx