Windows 10 upgrade query

Windows 10 – should I upgrade?

This week many users saw an extra icon appear in the system tray of their Windows computer inviting them to reserve a copy of Windows 10 for free.

Windows 10 upgrade offer

This offer is open to those users who have a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 installed, and the offer lasts until 29 July 2016. After this date, if you want a copy of Windows 10, you will have to pay for it.

Since the announcement I have had a number of customers ask me a similar question to the one below.

I have seen in the press that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade to customers that are running Windows 7 or 8.1 from July 29 2015. Would you recommend that we should take up this offer?

My recommendation

First of all, if you are running Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1 installed) you will continue to receive security updates for the operating system up until 14 January 2020. Windows 8.1 will continue to be supported until 10 January 2023, so there is no hurry to make the decision. The offer lasts until 29 July 2016 and you can decide to accept the upgrade at any time in this period.

If you are currently running Windows 8.1 I would accept the free upgrade. One of the reasons many people are reluctant to upgrade or replace their computers is that they are used to the operating system they currently use and don’t like the idea of ‘learning’ to use another one. The move from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 is not going to be a big change for Windows 8.1 users, they are already used to the look and feel and Windows 10 will not require ‘learning’ again. Of course there will be changes but nothing like the changes from earlier versions of Windows to Windows 8.

To Windows 7 users I would say wait a little bit but don’t disregard the upgrade. Take the opportunity to have a look at computers running Windows 10 once the upgrade is out and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many of my customers who have moved from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 8.1, after a brief explanation of how to use the new operating system, have taken to it like a duck to water and couldn’t understand what the fuss was about.

If you are going to upgrade, make sure you use the compatibility check in the Get Windows 10 app to see if there are any issues and what solutions are recommended.

5 thoughts on “Windows 10 upgrade query”

  1. Barrie Wheatley

    I think that I will wait awhile before I update to windows 10 in case there are problems with it. By then hopefully any problems will have been rectified.

    Best Wishes

    Barrie

  2. RITA TEMPANY

    Hello BRIAN, Thanks for the information re windows10, I am very reluctant to change again but would be sorry to miss a free upgrade but would do it if I can have a look at it first to see if I would like it, I will wait and see, Hope the family are all well, hope to see you soon, regards, Rita.

  3. robin mackay

    hi brian assume UBUNTU is word perfect not requiring another upgrade. suits me fine
    kind regards
    robin

    1. Yes, you are right Robin, no upgrade needed for your operating system. Your version is in Long Term Support and all versions are FREE anyway.

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