Back in 2011, Microsoft revealed its vision of the future, one that would put it at the forefront of tablets and PCs. That vision was Windows 8, an operating system optimised for touch but one that would work on devices tethered to a mouse and keyboard.
This was intended to tempt customers to buy PCs and give Microsoft a foothold in the mobile sector.
But Microsoft had failed to factor in one thing: people are creatures of habit.
Taking away the Start menu caused confusion; bringing in the tile-based user interface, known originally as “metro” then modern, seemed to make matters worse.
And while the Windows 8 interface worked fine for those on tablets, those limited to the mouse and keyboard found it more difficult and frustrating to use.
The desktop was relegated to a tile on the Start page, further adding to the confusion. And that was before you got into the distinction between Windows RT and Windows proper.
The end result was an operating system that, despite sales figures trumpeted loudly by the tech giant, failed to find much love among users.
Microsoft capitulated somewhat with Windows 8.1, conceding that perhaps ditching the Start button was a step too far. It steadfastly stuck to the new interface, although there were a few concessions intended to placate users confused by too much change all at once.
The ability to boot to the desktop was a small change but one that helped to lessen the jarring effect of switching between the desktop and the Start screen. Last year, Microsoft announced the next generation of its OS would be known as Windows 10, due for launch this autumn.
We took a look at the current pre- release version of Windows 10 that is available under Microsoft’s Windows Insider programme. The software will likely have a few changes before its official release later in the year, but it gives a good indication of where Microsoft is heading.
For the purposes of the review, Windows 10 was installed on an Asus SonicMaster, a notebook that comes with a touchscreen.
The first thing that you notice about Windows 10 is that it looks a bit more familiar. You immediately start on the desktop by default, which is reassuring for those who feared Microsoft would persist with forcing change on consumers. The company still is, but this time the changes are more of a rowback.
The biggest change is that the Start menu is back and the Start screen that was such a leap in Windows 8 has, for the most, been consigned to that great recycle bin in the sky. Elements of it remain in Windows 10’s version of the Start menu though. It’s a hybrid of the Windows 8 user interface and the old Start menu; you get the list of programmes on one side and tiles on the other. The tile section can be expanded at a click. It’s a little jarring at first and almost makes you long for the Windows 8 Start screen.
As part of the new-look Start menu, there’s a search that feels similar to Spotlight on the Mac, although it’s not quite as comprehensive.
It searches the web and Windows, but although I gave it a search term that should have thrown up an email or two in the results, it failed to show even one. That could just be a prerelease bug.
At the click of an icon on the taskbar, you can see what apps and software are running on your machine, presented in a neat row that you can then shut down with a single click.
This is also where you can choose to set up virtual desktops. Mac users are familiar with the benefits of having multiple desktops – one for work, one for the stuff you really shouldn’t be doing during work hours, another for research perhaps – but this is the first time Windows users will be able to take advantage.
You can move applications from your active list to a specific desktop by right-clicking on the application and choosing where to move it. It would be far simpler to allow users to drag and drop to the desktops.
Dedicated tablet mode
The idea of the one-size-fits-all operating system has been revised a little. Windows 8 may have been slightly overambitious in trying to force the tablet interface on every machine, but Windows 10 does a far better job. Yes, Windows 10 will work for both tablets and desktops, but there’s a dedicated tablet mode that changes things up a bit.
If you are using a hybrid machine, that feature – Continuum – will kick in automatically when a keyboard and mouse are connected to the device, with Windows automatically sensing the change and adapting accordingly. There’s also the option to select tablet mode yourself under the setting menu. Going into tablet mode changes how the windows look, but the desktop remains the same. The Start menu expands itself automatically, a throwback to the Windows 8 Start screen, but on the whole, it’s an easier-to-manage transition.
Apps that were once part of Microsoft’s “modern” interface now open in windows on the desktop. That means they no longer take over your machine and allow you to continue working without having to “snap” other software alongside it. You don’t have to swipe your way through them either, making it easier to jump between applications.
Other things that Microsoft has ditched from this version of its operating system is the charms menu that you could swipe in from the left of the screen. And because apps now open in their own windows, there’s no need to swipe in from the top to close them either.
Notifications are presented via a message icon on the taskbar, alongside volume indicators, network connectivity and the onscreen keyboard control. Its part of the Action Centre, which also allows quick access to tablet mode, settings and display.
There’s still more to come. Microsoft’s digital assistant, its version of Siri, is Cortana. That feature will also make its appearance in Windows 10. However, in the technical preview Cortana was unavailable at the time of writing. Perhaps she had better things to be doing. Another element unavailable for testing was the Spartan browser Microsoft has promised.
The verdict? Windows 10 could be the operating system that will bridge that PC/tablet divide. Much will depend on the final version of the software, but there have been some positive steps and a lot of concessions made in the next version of Microsoft’s operating system.
Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for users of both Windows 8 and Windows 7 systems, meaning Windows 8 may soon be a blip in Microsoft’s history.
