Should your business upgrade to Windows 10
As you may already be aware Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for compatible devices that are running genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Time is running out though as the free upgrade offer is only available until 29th July 2016.
It is estimated that more than 350 million devices are now running Windows 10 according to the figures from Microsoft.
With this in mind its clear to see that a lot of businesses have taken the plunge and upgraded but…is this right for your business?
With new features and various improvements taking advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10 appears to be a no brainer!
For anyone that is not too sure it’s worth considering this upgrade before 29th July as subsequent to this date Windows 10 will cost home users £99.99 and for the professional version it will cost £189.99 (prices may vary).
I know that a lot of businesses have concerns when looking at major updates but one key thing to bear in mind is that technology is an ever evolving world. By 2020 Microsoft will cease supporting Windows 7 and therefore it’s inevitable that the move to Windows 10 will have to take place at some point. This release could also be the last ever full version of Windows with Microsoft intending to treat the operating system as a service from now on, with incremental updates and potentially with a subscription model pricing scheme – although this is yet to be confirmed.
Now, It’s well documented that Windows 8 was not a popular move for a lot of businesses and this in itself may put businesses off any future upgrade where Windows is concerned. However, Microsoft has tried to learn from the issues surrounding Windows 8 and have certainly taken a massive leap forward when it comes to Windows 10.
One key feature that sees a return is the start menu particularly for those using a regular desktop or non-touch screens. The full start screen in Windows 8 – Metro – never made any sense when using a keyboard and mouse and thankfully Microsoft have taken note and addresses this in Windows 10.
Another key point is that Microsoft are offering an easy path to go back to your previous version. So, after the upgrade if you feel that Windows 10 is not right for you Microsoft have built a very simple process that only requires a few clicks to have your PC rolled back to the previous version you were on. Having said this, I don’t think that many businesses will take advantage of this.
It’s also worthwhile mentioning that those who do choose to upgrade now will also benefit from Windows 10 first major update which is due to be released on 2nd August.
Essentially the move to Windows 10 is worthwhile for most businesses, especially as this is a free upgrade.
For those that are currently running Windows 7 and 8.1 you should get an invitation to install the free copy of Windows 10.
BEFORE UPGRADING PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
N.B Please make sure that you check all your Business Applications are compatible with Windows 10, your PC/Laptop has the minimum requirements in order to run Windows 10 and lastly we would strongly advise reloading each machine with Windows 10 rather than selecting the upgrade path.
Also it is worth mentioning that if you have ageing hardware that you are looking to replace soon, then it would be worthwhile waiting until you purchase the new equipment as Windows 10 comes as standard with all new hardware.
Windows 10 FAQ
WHAT IS THE FREE UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 10?
Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for compatible devices that are running genuine Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 Update.
The free upgrade is a full version of Windows (not a trial or introductory version). Once you upgrade, you’ll have Windows 10 for free on that device.
The free upgrade offer isn’t available for devices running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Enterprise editions of Windows.
WHAT EDITION OF WINDOWS WILL I GET AS PART OF THE FREE UPGRADE?
When you upgrade to Windows 10 for free, you’ll stay on an edition of Windows that is similar to the one you’re currently running. For example, if you’re running Windows 7 Home Premium, you’ll receive an upgrade to Windows 10 Home.
WILL MY APPS AND DEVICES WORK WITH WINDOWS 10?
Windows 10 is designed to be compatible with the majority of devices and apps that are currently available.
HOW DO I UPGRADE ON A LOW STORAGE DEVICE?
Devices with a 32GB hard drive or older devices with full hard drives, might need additional storage space to complete the upgrade. If you don’t have enough space, during the upgrade you’ll be asked to free up some space on your device or attach an USB flash drive with enough space to continue.
IS THE FREE UPGRADE OFFER AVAILABLE TO WINDOWS PHONE 8.1 DEVICES?
Microsoft are working with partners to make Windows 10 Mobile available to most Windows Phone 8.1 devices as an update starting later this year.
CAN I REINSTALL WINDOWS 10 ON MY PC AFTER UPGRADING?
Yes. Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer, you can reinstall or perform a clean installation on the same device.
If you are upgrading from Windows 8 then you won’t even need a product key to re-activate Windows 10 on the same hardware.
Contact us
If you would like any advice or assistance in upgrading to Windows 10 please contact us on 01392 824 022 or info@amesolutions.co.uk.