A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch
Is Windows 10 really a new operating system? If it is why do new security updates apply to all versions of Windows? Shouldn’t they either only have to update older versions or just Windows 10. I’m starting to believe that Windows 10 is really Windows 8, 7, Vista, Millennium and maybe even 98. Could it be that all they’ve done is change the interface and add some new features?
From the Microsoft website: “Windows 10 is full of new features and improvements. Take a look at the highlights!” This is where we first find out that the Start Menu is back. It was removed for the last version. Is it a feature that has been restored, or is it really new in Windows 10?
The next paragraph lets us know about the great apps in the Windows Store. There isn’t any mention of the Store being released with Windows 8. Might be improved, but it sure isn’t new.
Next up on the new list is something that is actually almost new. Cortana is Microsoft’s personal voice assistant. New might or might not be the right description. You might remember several years ago when I gave a demonstration on voice recognition in Windows. Dragon’s Naturally Speaking has been around since 1997. By the way, Cortana is only available in seven countries.
“Microsoft Edge is the first browser that lets you take notes, write, doodle, and highlight directly on web pages. Use the reading list to save your favorite articles for later, then read them in reading view. Hover over open tabs to preview them, and bring your favorites and reading list with you when you use Microsoft Edge on another device. Plus, Cortana is built in to Microsoft Edge to help you do things faster and easier.” Don’t you think it is kind of amusing that the company is extolling a web browser as the best thing about a “new” operating system?
Next on the whats new list is Windows Hello. You can use facial recognition or a fingerprint reader to log into Windows. Once again, a new feature that isn’t new. Yawn.
Microsoft is telling us that we can use the enhanced Photo App to create photo albums, organize photo folders and sub-folders, share them in e-mail and post them to social media. Once again, nothing new in the operating system.
King Solomon said “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun.” It seems to me that he was right.
Thanks for reading.