Windows 10 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. Should I upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 now? If you have this question, then this post attempts to answer your question, giving you reasons why it makes sense to upgrade to Windows 10 and how you will fare if you don’t.
Why should I upgrade to Windows 10
The Start Menu is back
The Start Screen was disliked by many. Listening to user feedback, Microsoft has re-introduced that Start Menu in Windows 10. One compelling reason for many to upgrade!
Windows 10 as a Service
Windows 10 will be the last operating system from Microsoft. There will be updates i.e. Microsoft will be working in providing security patches and feature updates to the Windows 10 operating system but there will be nothing like Windows 11 or Windows 12. The fact that Microsoft had said that Windows will be offered as a service, makes it clear that you will have to upgrade to Windows 10 only even if you defer the installation of the operating system for some years. That is, even if you want to upgrade to the latest operating system after, say five years, you still will be upgrading to Windows 10.
Operating Windows 10 becomes easier if you upgrade
This is in continuance with the above section. The sooner you upgrade to Windows 10, you sooner you will learn to operate the operating system. You will be acquainted with the new navigation system. You will know where to locate things you want. You will learn about the features of Windows 10 as and when they are released and added to your copy of Windows 10. That will help you keep ahead of people who will upgrade to Windows 10 later when support to Windows 7 is ended.
Windows 10 is free
You might already be on Windows 7 if not on Windows 8.1. Many people preferred to skip Windows 8.1, especially big businesses. Microsoft has announced that you need not pay anything if you upgrade within the first 365 days after release of Windows 10 – that is, after July 29 2015. You should take this offer else you will have to pay up to $199 (Windows 10 Pro edition) to get the latest version of Windows 10. You might even have to invest in learning the new operating system if the office you work, suddenly upgrades to Windows 10.
Windows 10 means better security
There are plenty of security features in Windows 10. The list includes Security Guard, Secure Boot among others. You will have advantage over the businesses that are still running Windows 7. Your IT admins will have to worry less about smaller aspects of security and can focus on bigger threats as well as other factors like cloud etc. integrated into Windows 10.
You’ll save on training
Business houses are still using Windows 7 SP1. The Enterprise versions may not be free but still, if you upgrade to Windows 10 as it is released, you will not have to invest much in Windows 10 training. The new features are easier to understand when compared to Windows 8.1. There are some similarities in Windows 7 and Windows 10 unlike Windows 8.1 that was totally different and confusing. If you invest in Windows 10 now – Pro or Enterprise edition, you are sure to save on training costs. If you are a small business with 10-15 computers and are on Windows 7, you can upgrade for free, thereby further saving the costs of purchasing the last operating system from Windows or rather, Windows as a Service from Microsoft. If you are an Enterprise, though the upgrades will not be free, the training costs will be substantially less compared to what you will incur three years from now – as the initial features would change much. Hence, even businesses should upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible.
If you have any other questions, please read our Windows 10 Review and Windows 10 FAQ for more details.