Windows 10 You're Going to Love It!

Transcription

1 Windows 10 You're Going to Love It! Based on initial reviews and our tests of Windows 10, most users are going to love Microsoft's new operating system. Built on the innovative foundation of Windows 8 (outstanding performance, heightened security, and cloud integration), Windows 10 returns the tried-and-true Start Menu, introduces Universal apps that interact with the Desktop and the Taskbar, and incorporates a boot process that bypasses the Start Screen on PCs without touch capability. Slick new features, such as a common notification area, virtual desktops known as Task Views (think multiple monitor functionality on a single monitor), mobile device management, and data protection push the innovation envelope in Windows 10. This session will help you understand the excitement that precedes the release of Microsoft's forthcoming operating system.

2 Introduction Based on initial reviews and our tests of Windows 10, most users are going to love Microsoft's new operating system. Built on the innovative foundation of Windows 8 (outstanding performance, heightened security, and cloud integration), Windows 10 returns the tried-and-true Start Menu, introduces Universal apps that interact with the Desktop and the Taskbar, and incorporates a boot process that bypasses the Start Screen on PCs without touch capability. Slick new features, such as a common notification area, virtual desktops known as Task Views (think multiple monitor functionality on a single monitor), mobile device management, and data protection push the innovation envelope in Windows 10. This session will help you understand the excitement that precedes the release of Microsoft's forthcoming operating system. Learning Objectives Upon completing this session, participants should be able to: Identify ten new features of Windows 10 that will improve staff productivity and end-user experience. List advantages and disadvantages of adopting Windows 10. Use the improved user interface effectively in performing day-to-day business tasks. Summarize the problems likely to be encountered when upgrading a large number of PCs to a new operating system. Microsoft's Overall Strategy After what many consider the debacle of Windows 8, Microsoft has developed a clear and compelling strategy for Windows 10. Their strategy has several pillars. Immediate familiarity to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. Users of the most current Windows operating systems should feel comfortable in transition because Windows 10 contains familiar design elements, such as menus, icons, settings, and processes, found in Windows 7 and Windows 8. This should go a long way toward reducing the frustrations associated with transitioning to a new operating system. Improved user experience for desktop users. Windows 8 left most desktop users frustrated and bewildered because of the tight integration of the touch interface. Windows 10 reverses some of the integration by adopting an interface that adapts to the device a touch interface for touch devices and a keyboard and mouse interface for traditional PCs. Unified experience across all devices. Windows 10 is designed to run on all devices workstations, desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones, whether touch-enabled or used with a keyboard and mouse. Users will benefit from a common user interface and functionality.

3 Converged apps run everywhere. A single application development model means that apps will run on every device, regardless of the device on which the app was originally acquired and installed. Windows 10 will recognize if the device is touch-enabled or a conventional PC and configure the interface accordingly. End users will benefit from using the same applications regardless of the device employed, rather than the hodge-podge of applications typically used today. Windows as a Service (WaaS) becomes a reality with Windows 10. Windows will be installed once on a device and continually updated thereafter. Microsoft pledges that Windows 10 will be supported for the lifetime of the device. The initial update will be applied through the Windows Update service and will be free to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1/8.1U users who upgrade within one year of release. Continuous update through Windows Update will benefit most individual users and small businesses but may have a negative impact on enterprises that want to investigate software upgrades fully before they are implemented. WaaS should render obsolete the question, "What version of Windows are you using?" Windows 10 The Old and the New In keeping with the strategy to make Windows 10 immediately familiar to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users alike, some of the classic design elements of Windows have returned while preserving some of the GUI innovations of Windows 8. In most cases, users have the flexibility to configure the GUI with the elements with which they are most familiar and those they prefer using. Start Menu In Windows 8, hovering in the lower left corner of the desktop displayed the Start button. Clicking the Start button opened the Start Screen. Windows 8.1 Update returned the Windows button to the Taskbar, but clicking the button still opened the Start Screen. Users could, however, right-click on the Windows button to expose the Power User Menu from which they could launch some system applications, navigate to the Control Panel, or power off their computer. Windows 10 returns the familiar Start Menu but with a few innovations that will be familiar to Windows 8 users. In reality, the new Start Menu displayed in Figure 1 is a combination of Windows 7 and Windows 8 functionality, including the Power User Menu!

4 Sleep, Shutdown, Restart Expand or Contract mini Start Screen All Programs Search Box Figure 1 The New Start Menu in Windows 10 The All Apps button functions as the All Programs button in Windows 7, but the apps are arranged in ascending alphabetic order very similar to the default view of All Apps in Windows 8. Some items, such as Windows Accessories, are displayed in folders. In early beta versions of Windows 10, users could select whether to display the Start Screen or the new Start menu but not both. Whether that configuration flexibility remains won't be known until the final release of Windows 10. The new Start Menu can be customized to meet specific user needs in Taskbar Properties, Start Menu.

5 Apps Open in Windows and Interact with the Desktop One of the biggest frustrations of using Windows 8 was how the Modern (Start Screen) apps opened and interacted with the desktop. Originally, they were full-screen applications similar to those found on smart phones and tablets. They could not be resized, although Windows 8 allowed the entire screen to be split in up to three panels. Modern apps had no title bar or minimize, minimize down/maximize, or close buttons. To close an app, users had to click and pull down with their mouse from the top edge. The frustration didn't end there. When a user closed an app, Windows 8 stranded the user on the Start Screen, leaving the user to find her way back to the desktop. Title Bar with Minimize, Minimize Down/Maximize, and Close Buttons and new App button. Apps interact with the Desktop and Taskbar. Figure 2 - All Apps Open in Windows and Interact with the Desktop

6 Since many of the default applications associated with file extensions were Modern apps, users would click a file (for example, a PDF document) on the desktop, be whisked away to a Modern app, and then be stranded on the Start Screen when they closed the document (if they knew how to do that!). Windows 8.1 and 8.1 Update partially remedied many of these frustrations. In Windows 10, all applications, including Start Screen apps, open in windows with a title bar, minimize, minimize down/ maximize, and close buttons. In addition, they interact with the desktop and Taskbar just as does any other application, as displayed in Figure 2. Windows 10 Innovative New Features Along with all of the interface improvements that roll back the frustration causing changes that appeared in Windows 8, Microsoft has introduced some innovative new features that will make Windows 10 the best Windows yet. Among them are Task View (virtual desktops), Cortana (the virtual assistant from Windows Phone 8.1), a unified Notifications area, Continuum (the ability to switch dynamically between keyboard/mouse and touch-enabled control) on hybrid devices, and the universal Office apps. Virtual Desktops with Task View Windows 10 introduces virtual desktops to the operating system with Task View. If you are using multiple monitors, then you will recognize the similarity and usefulness of virtual desktops. Task View allows users to open and arrange a set of applications related to different tasks on separate desktops as if they were separate monitors. This will be particularly useful on laptops or single-monitor desktop computers. Create or switch between multiple virtual desktops with the Task View button. Figure 3 Task View Allows Users to Create Multiple Virtual Desktops Use the Task View button on the Taskbar or press WIN + TAB to access this functionality. Users can quickly switch between multiple virtual desktops with CTRL + WIN + LEFT/RIGHT ARROW; however, the

7 keyboard process does not cycle through all desktops but simply moves the focus to the previous or following desktop. Cortana Comes to the Desktop Everyone who has used Siri on an iphone, Google Now on an Android phone, or Cortana on a Windows Phone understands the convenience and productivity-enhancing capabilities of a digital assistant. It was just a matter of time before a digital assistant landed on the desktop of a PC, and that time has arrived. Microsoft has migrated Cortana, its voice-activated digital assistant from Windows Phone, to Windows 10. Once the sound devices (speakers, microphone, or headset) are properly set up, users can interact with Cortana simply by asking her questions, dictating notes, setting reminders, or requesting directions.

8 Click and ask your question. Launch Cortana if you have disabled the Search box on the Taskbar. Figure 4 Windows 10 Includes a Digital Assistant Depending on the context of your question, Cortana will reply verbally through your enabled sound device or display search results from Bing. Simple questions, such as "What is the weather forecast for tomorrow?" or "What's the capital of Maine?" will usually be answered verbally. Time and distance questions will be answered verbally if your device has GPS functionality. The answers to more sophisticated questions will usually be displayed as Bing search results. To use the digital assistant, click the microphone icon at the right edge of the search box and ask your question as shown in Figure 4. If active listening is enabled, simply ask your question by first addressing Cortana: "Hey Cortana." There

9 is no need to click the microphone button. To enable active listening, open Cortana Settings and turn on "Let Cortana respond when you say, Hey Cortana." Unified Notifications Area Smartphone users will appreciate the new unified notifications area in Windows 10. All notifications system alerts, new notifications, and appointments from your calendar are combined in a single Notifications area. To access notifications, click the Notifications icon on the Taskbar as shown in Figure 5. The Notifications area also provides quick and easy access to heavily used system settings at the bottom of the information pane. Figure 5 Windows 10 Includes a Unified Notifications Area Office Universal Apps Windows 10 includes the Office universal apps Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook designed to provide a touch-first user experience across smart phones, tablets, and conventional laptop or desktop PCs as shown in Figure 6. The apps will be preinstalled on smart phones and small tablets running Windows 10 and will be available for download from the Windows Store for other devices. Users will be able to create or edit Word documents, make PowerPoint presentations or annotate slides in real time, and create or update spreadsheets in Excel without a keyboard or mouse. While not as full featured as the desktop applications, the universal Office apps provide significant functionality in a touch-first environment that can be used with a keyboard and mouse.

10 Figure 6 Touch-First Excel and Word Universal Apps Included with Windows 10 Continuum Continuum is a feature intended for those using combination notebook/tablet devices with detachable keyboards, such as the Surface Pro. Continuum is designed to adjust the user interface depending on whether or not a mouse and keyboard are present. When a keyboard is disconnected, a Start Screen reminiscent of Windows 8 appears, and a back button becomes available so that users can easily return to a prior command. Larger menus are displayed to accommodate touch control. When a mouse and keyboard are reconnected, the Start Screen disappears, and the familiar desktop mode returns. All menus return to their normal size, and applications run and interact with the desktop. More importantly, all of this takes place with a single touch.

11 Planned Innovations Several planned innovations and improvements have been announced by Microsoft, but they haven't yet appeared in the latest beta release of Windows 10. Among them are biometric sign-in, a flexible update policy, and 3D hologram support. Biometric Sign-In Microsoft recently announced that Windows 10 would support the open source Fast Identity Online (FIDO) authentication specification. FIDO will allow users to access PCs, networks, Microsoft services, and other accounts without using passwords. Users will be able to sign in with a fingerprint, eye scan, or facial scan. Moreover, a biometric sign-in can be used in combination with a smart card or key fob for two-factor authentication. The FIDO specification is designed so that a user's biometric data never leaves the device, making it very difficult for a user's authentication credentials to be acquired illicitly. Microsoft joins ARM, Bank of America, Google, Lenovo, MasterCard, PayPal, and Visa in their support for FIDO. The company also announced FIDO authentication support for enterprise services such as Office 365, Exchange Online, Salesforce, Citrix, and Box and consumer services such as Windows 10 sign-in, Outlook.com, and OneDrive. FIDO support in Windows 10 provides two major advantages. First, it can reduce or eliminate the use of passwords, one of the weak links in IT security. Second, it increases the likelihood of universal acceptance because it's open source. Flexible Update Policy Consistent with their continuous update strategy for Windows 10, Microsoft allows enterprise users to opt-in or opt-out of the continuous update process. This allows businesses to pick the speed of innovation that is right for its users. Consumers and opt-in businesses will be able to take advantage of the latest updates as soon as they are available, delivered through Windows Update. Businesses with a centrally managed IT structure will be able to opt-in to the fast-moving consumer pace or lock-down mission critical environments so that their users only receive security patches and other critical updates to their systems. The opt-in/opt-out process can be made on a user group by user group basis. This allows companies to adopt an in-between option: mission critical systems can be locked down, while non-mission critical systems can be updated rapidly. New Browser Spartan is Microsoft's initiative to create a single browsing experience across all Windows devices. It is designed to be lightweight and fast like its competitors, Chrome and Firefox. It is slated to provide annotation and sharing capabilities, integration with Cortana, built-in PDF support, a reading mode (no more obtrusive online advertisements), and a save-for-later reading list. Unlike Internet Explorer, Spartan will support browser extensions and allow users to group tabs for convenience and improved productivity. 3D Hologram Support Windows 10 will include support for 3D holograms, complete with a set of APIs that enable developers to create holographic experiences. Microsoft also announced HoloLens, a self-contained holographic computer (worn as glasses) running Windows 10. HoloLens allows users to view holograms in high definition and hear them in surround sound as shown in Figure 7. With advanced sensors, it can view what users are seeing and understand what users are communicating with their hands and voice.

12 HoloLens allows users to create, explore, and access information, enjoy entertainment, and communicate to others in new and exciting ways. Figure 7 HoloLens Allows Users to Interact with Holograms as Physical Objects 1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Upgrading to Windows 10 Should I upgrade to Windows 10 is the inevitable question of most organizations, especially those that are comfortable with Windows 7 or Windows 8. Here's a short list of advantages and potential disadvantages of upgrading to Windows 10. Advantages Very innovative operating system that delivers more speed, better security, and better cloud integration Provides a unified interface and applications across all devices Allows mobile workers to move between work environments without using different apps or enduring the frustration of using a different interface Builds on Windows 8 touch integration while providing a superior desktop user experience FREE upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8 delivered through Windows Update or Windows Server Update Services FIDO biometric authentication frees users from the risks of memorizing and using passwords 1 Photo from Myerson, Terry, "The next generation of Windows: Windows 10," Blogging Windows, January 21, 2015.

13 Extends built-in mobile device management (MDM) capabilities to laptops and desktops so that IT professionals can exercise full control of Windows devices Includes the universal Office apps Disadvantages Inevitable hardware, software, or cloud service incompatibilities Still contains very strong vestiges of Windows 8 that will likely require user training for those using Windows 7 or earlier Only supports Internet Explorer 11 or higher. Some cloud services and applications, such as QuickBooks 2014 and earlier, do not support IE 11. This may cause them not to function properly, but the new Spartan browser may solve these concerns. Checklist for Upgrading to Windows 10 The following checklist provides recommended steps for upgrading to Windows 10. The same considerations and process should be used to upgrade a single PC or an entire office of PCs; however, upgrading an entire office requires much greater discipline in determining the compatibility of Windows 10 with existing hardware and mission critical applications. 1. Inventory all hardware PCs, printers, scanners, and other peripherals, etc. and determine their compatibility with Windows 10. In determining the compatibility of desktop and laptop PCs, refer to the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 10. Be prepared to replace older hardware. Peripherals should have suitable drivers available for Windows Inventory all applications and determine their compatibility with Windows 10. This is especially important for mission critical applications and processes. Call vendors of critical software or visit their web sites for the necessary information. Be prepared to alter processes, adopt new solutions, or postpone the upgrade if current applications are not supported on Windows 10. Concentrate your efforts on mission critical applications as defined by end users. 3. Inventory all cloud services and determine their compatibility with Internet Explorer 11. Be prepared to adopt an alternative browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, to overcome any identified incompatibilities. 4. Locate all of the installation DVDs for your installed applications. For any applications for which installation media is not available, determine whether the installation files are available from the vendor or on the Internet. Be prepared to acquire new licenses for misplaced media. 5. Back up all of your data and verify that the backups can be restored. 6. Determine the type of install clean install or upgrade in place to be used in the process. Prepare a plan and timetable to do the installations. 7. Install Windows 10 on a test PC of similar age and functionality to most machines used in your office. Thoroughly test the operating system with your mission critical applications and cloud services before rolling out Windows 10 to all machines. Make sure to test through several simulated processing cycles.

14 8. Follow your plan to install Windows 10 throughout your office. 9. Train your staff in the use of Windows 10. This is especially important for users migrating from Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7. The most salient point to be made is that individual users or companies must investigate the compatibility of their hardware, software, and cloud services with Windows 10 before they upgrade. Discovering incompatibilities after an upgrade will be a costly mistake that may not be reversible. Some who have installed Windows 10 on their touch devices have already complained of the loss of touch functionality available in Windows 8.1, notwithstanding that Microsoft made it clear in the release notes that the Technical Preview and Consumer Preview releases of Windows 10 were for conventional PCs that used a keyboard and mouse. Is Windows 10 Free? The following analysis is based, in part, on an article published by Windows IT Pro on February 2, Consumers running Windows 7 or Windows 8 will be able to upgrade free of charge to Windows 10 through Windows Update if they do so within one year of its release date. Business users using Windows 7 or Windows 8 Professional will also be able to upgrade free of charge through Windows Update. Enterprise-sized businesses using Windows 7 or Windows 8 Enterprise with Software Assurance will have access to Windows 10 free of charge through their Software Assurance agreement. Large companies that have allowed their Software Assurance contracts to expire can exercise their rights to downgrade to Windows Professional and thereby receive the upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge through Windows Update. Large companies with an Enterprise Agreement can acquire licenses (on a per user basis) to Microsoft's Enterprise Cloud Suite (ECS) that combines Office 365, the Enterprise Mobility Suite, and a license to Windows. An ECS license costs $7 to $12 per user per month. Microsoft has also announced standalone ECS subscriptions for large companies without an Enterprise Agreement, but the price for standalone licenses has not been announced. Bottom Line: Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for all consumers and most businesses, regardless of size. Summary The marketplace did not receive Windows 8 well and it is clear that Microsoft recognizes that fact. In Windows 10, Microsoft addressed many of the issues that caused users to be reluctant to embrace Windows 8 and, by most accounts and reviews, created an operating system that should be received well. Windows 10 is fast, secure, convenient, and appears to bridge the gap between traditional desktop computing and tablet computing. Plus, for most users, the price free will be attractive. Based on these considerations, most users are going to love Windows Trent, Rod, "Microsoft's Windows 10 Upgrade Policy for Business - Not What You Might Think," Windows IT Pro, February 2, 2015.