What are the advantages of windows

Windows operating system is made by Microsoft and it has
released many versions. The most famous and used version of Microsoft Windows
is windows 7. The first operating system (OS) which was developed by Microsoft
was MS-DOS. MS-DOS was a simple OS and has a command line interface. The new
version of Microsoft OS has also MS-DOS build-in as a utility. MS-DOS is still
used in doing some common tasks like creating files, folders, installing
plugins in some software, using GIT and other uses as well.

After Windows 7, Microsoft launched Windows 8. Windows 8 was
not that much success because of the new interface and missing the start menu.
In the next release of Windows 10, the company again added start menu which was
missing in windows 8. Start menu in Windows 10 is a combination of Windows 7
and a little touch of windows 8.

In Windows 10, Cortana which is a quick search tool was
introduced. Cortana still has some bugs which need to be fixed. Cortana is
inspired by google voice search. You can voice search in windows 10 by Cortana.
This search engine stores lots of data of people and it make the high load on
the system. You can optionally turn off the Cortana if you do not like to use
it.

Now let me discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
windows operating system.

Advantages of windows operating system

Support for all hardware:
As windows OS is used by 95% of users so most of the hardware vendors make
drivers for windows.

Ease of use: All
versions of Microsoft Windows have something common in it which makes users easy
to shift from one version to another. Windows 7 users have no difficulty in
migrating to Windows 10 because most of the features of Windows 10 are the same
as windows 7. The user interface of windows is also easy to use than UNIX and MAC.

Software support:
Windows platform is best suited for game and software developers. Windows have
large number audience so developers prefer to make utilities, games and
software for windows OS. Linux users cannot make windows apps so it is better
to use windows for developing apps.

Plug and play feature:
Most hardware can be detected automatically by plug and play feature. You do
not need to manually install the hardware but it is ready to use when attached
e.g. webcam, keyboard, mouse, mobile device etc.

Desktop and touch screen:
Windows 10 is made for both touch screen devices and desktop computers. The user
interface of Windows 10 is made in such a way that it works better for any type
of windows device.

Disadvantages of Windows operating system

Virus attacks: Windows
have a high amount of hacker attacks. The hackers can easily break windows
security. So windows users are dependent on anti-virus software and have to pay
monthly charges to companies to protect their data. Also, windows users have to
update OS to keep up-to-date with security patches.

Most of the software is paid:
Most windows programs are paid e.g. games, graphics software (Photoshop),
download manager (IDM) and other popular software are paid. You have to buy these
software or pay a monthly fee to use them.

Rebooting a system: If
your system becomes slow in performance then you have to reboot it. If you load
many programs at the same time then your system slows down and hangs up. The
only solution for this is to reboot.

High price: Linux OS
is open source and is free to use for everyone but windows OS has paid license
and you cannot use windows OS legally free. The cost of buying a copy of
windows OS is high as well. You also need to buy other Microsoft software e.g.
MS Office to do regular office work on the computer.

High computer resources:
If you are installing windows OS then your computer should have high ram
capacity, a lot of hard drive space and good graphics card. This is because of
features that are used in windows. If you want to install graphics software
i.e. Photoshop then 16 GB of ram is recommended.

Technical support: Windows support is not good for most users. Only some large organizations can get good support from the windows team. Common users have to search for forums to get their problem solved.

Examples of windows operating system:

Some examples of windows operating system are below:

• Windows 95
• Windows 98
• Windows XP
• Windows vista
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 10
• Windows 11

Also check:

• Advantages and disadvantages of Linux operating system
• Advantages and disadvantages of macOS
• Advantages and disadvantages of UNIX operating system
• Advantages and disadvantages of Chrome operating system

Microsoft Windows is a common operating system for the home computer users, It is also commonly found on the workplace and the school computers, Some versions of Windows are used on the servers at the companies and the schools as well, and it is easy to use.

Advantages of Microsoft Windows

Windows provides ready-made solutions that can be implemented by just about anyone who’s ever used a computer, Because of a large amount of Microsoft Windows users, there is a much larger selection of available software programs, utilities, and games for Windows.

Microsoft has implemented many changes throughout its versions of Windows to facilitate ease of use, While it may arguably not be the easiest operating system, it is still less difficult to use than Linux, Although Windows has the software programs, utilities, and games for free, the majority of the programs will cost anywhere between $20.00 – $200.00+ US dollars per copy, and it has backward compatibility.

Microsoft Windows has a very large user base, so, Most hardware manufacturers support Windows drivers for their products, the majority of Windows programs are not open source, Microsoft has made great security improvements to their operating system over the years, Windows continues to be the most vulnerable to the viruses, the malware, and other attacks.

Microsoft Windows includes its own help section, It has a vast amount of available online documentation and help and there are books on each of the version of Windows, Windows has an edge over the competition in the area of Plug and Play support for PC hardware, Windows will usually do a good job at recognizing new hardware.

Microsoft Windows is available software, There is a huge selection of software available for Windows, This is because of Microsoft’s dominance of the world market for PC computer operating systems and office software, If you crave the latest in PC gaming technology, then you need Windows, A plethora of gaming titles are available for Windows, as well as lots of special gaming hardware that’s supported.

After Windows had become the world’s most popular desktop operating system, Internet Explorer (IE) became the world’s most popular web browser, IE is only available for Windows, It has made Windows the only choice for those who want to take full advantage of those websites that use Microsoft’s technology, Windows has compatibility with MS driven websites.

Disadvantages of Microsoft Windows

Over 95% of all viruses and malicious software are written for the Windows OS, This means you have to double-down all the security measures if you are using Microsoft software across the board, only Microsoft has full access to its software’s source code.

The security vulnerabilities of Windows operating systems make them popular targets for the programmers of malicious code, Whether these vulnerabilities are due to their enormous share of the market or coding errors on the part of Microsoft.

Although Microsoft Windows has made great improvements in reliability over the last few versions of Windows, It still cannot match the reliability of Linux, Microsoft Windows has poor security, Compared to other operating systems.

Microsoft Windows has poor support for older hardware, Legacy support for older hardware is gone in Windows 2000 and Windows XP, Microsoft claims this that was necessary to increase the overall stability of their systems.

Microsoft Windows uses high resource requirements, As opposed to the makers of other operating systems, Microsoft requires its customers to invest the most in their computer hardware, a faster processor (CPU), more internal memory and a larger hard disk.

Windows computers are more likely than other systems to be hijacked and used to distribute everything from spam to pornography to hate mail, Windows does not generate log files.

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Microsoft Windows is an operating system developed by Microsoft to be used on personal computers. Its popularity is high worldwide and it is recognized for having windows interface facilitating its users to perform various tasks. So this article explains the characteristics, versions, pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of the Windows operating System 2023.

Windows OS is pre-installed on most computers. We will see reasons to use and not to use different operating systems, we are going to present a list of reasons why you should choose Microsoft Windows.

The Windows operating system is used by a large number of people worldwide, we must take into account the advantages and disadvantages of Windows and stands out for its functions and characteristics:

Desk

• It is located on the monitor screen.
• It has different forms depending on the version of the platform.
• It has a visually pleasant and comfortable platform for users.
• It is the foundation on which Windows is based.

Menu

• It is a list that provides options for various subtopics.
• Allows the user to configure and customize it.
• Gives the option of being hidden or visible.
• Facilitates the use and access of all components provided by the system.
• You are limited to running one program at a time.
• It has a control panel that allows you to modify various aspects such as the time, date, add devices, among others.

Start button

• It is an essential switch for your interface.
• Its function is to show the menu with all the programs constituted.
• It is designed so that it is located at the bottom left of the screen.
• It gives the advantage of showing the programs and applications most used by the user.
• Offers a search engine to facilitate the search for a specific program.

Taskbar

• It is responsible for displaying all user tasks that are active or loaded.
• Gives the option to navigate between the tasks performed.
• They offer shortcuts to activate their function either with the mouse or shortcuts by pressing the Alt + Tab keys.
• You have the ability to perform various tasks simultaneously, that is, at the same time.

Icons

• It is the graphical representation of the various installed applications.
• It is responsible for indicating all the modifiers in the applications on the computer.
• It also provides instructions for performing specific tasks.
• Provides the option to link to a folder or an application so that it is on the screen and saves time searching for it.

Windows

• There are various tables that make up the graphical interface.
• It is in charge of presenting the different information and indications to the user.
• This interface is intuitive.
• Offers the option of customizing the windows to suit the user.

If you are interested in learning more about the features of Microsoft Windows then it is recommended to see the article on Features and Evaluation of Microsoft Windows where its evolution as its main functions is deepened.

Advantages of Windows Operating System

Because it is one of the most used operating systems, advantages can be found that drive it to be one of the most used platforms worldwide. However, it also has disadvantages that must be taken into account for its use. To differentiate better, we also covered the Advantages and Disadvantages of MacOS and the Advantages and Disadvantages of Linux OS.

• It is best known, being the most popular and distributed. It is an operating system that is very compatible with most of the programs or devices that are distributed.
• You can play countless titles with the correct system.
• By software and drivers.
• Incredible designs, the interface is neat, functional, and user-friendly. So there are many aids and the designs end up standing out as they are innovative and visually pleasing.
• Multi-devices, with current developments the operating system can be carried on all devices without any kind of problem, whether on smartphones, tablets, or computers.

You may also read:

• Advantages and Disadvantage of Android Operation System
• Advantages and Disadvantage of iOS Operating System
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Chrome OS

Advantages of using Windows:

It is easy

Everybody knows how to use it. Anyone who has had some sort of formal education will know how to use a Windows machine (although Windows 8 was a bit confusing, I think Microsoft cleared it with their version of Windows 10).

Goodbye piracy

You are helping to abolish piracy. I understand that there are people who will not agree with this “advantage”, but piracy is a great loss for software companies around the world.

People spend thousands of hours scrambling for something only to have it stolen. Windows 10 detects and removes pirated software from your computer.

Too much fun

Arguably the biggest advantage Windows has over GNU / L. (and Mac for that matter) is that game makers are much more supportive of Windows and most games run better on a Windows system.

Software compatibility

Like game companies, there are other large companies that provide Windows-only support, such as AutoDesk, Photoshop, Dassault, etc. Of course, you can find alternatives to this software in GNU. But they just don’t get as much support, and they’re not as durable and bug-free as those from big companies.

Hardware compatibility

Due to the reasons mentioned above, Windows can run on almost any processor. (Generally, it is recommended that GNU users install the operating system on machines that have Intel processors, although support for AMD is coming in now as well.)

Disadvantages of Windows Operating System

• The cost is very high
• New versions require a lot of resources
• Most viruses are made for Windows
• You can have compatibility errors on new systems.
• Historically it is the most unstable.
• Maintenance requires a lot of care and constant maintenance with attention because otherwise, it becomes unstable.

Disadvantages of using Windows:

Malware

Security in Windows is not that great, but I have heard that it is improving. Every day, nearly a million malware threats are released that can affect Windows systems.

Eat resources

Windows is known to consume a lot of RAM and take up a lot of space.

You have to keep paying for everything

I don’t understand why there is such a huge difference in price between the Student, Home, and Professional Edition of Windows. You have to buy Microsoft Office, and on top of that, you have to pay an annual fee to maintain it.

That’s crazy! People think that Windows is changing a new leaf by providing Windows 10 for free to users who already have Windows 7 and 8 installed.

The reality of the situation is that the support of software that is 6 years old is really hurting Microsoft because the majority of Windows users today use Windows 7.

Windows versions

Due to the constant increase and development in technology and operating systems, Windows has several versions with specific characteristics that differentiate them from others, as well as their advantages and disadvantages Windows.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows 98

Advantages of Windows 98

• It is an improved system from Windows 95.
• Change the password.
• It gives the possibility to detect system errors.
• Using FAT 32 increases system speed compared to Windows 95.
• You have the option of detecting intruders.

Disadvantages of Windows 98

• It no longer has support for multiplex updates.
• It does not offer intrusion blocking.
• It requires at least 16 MB of RAM.
• You need a 133 MHZ processor or higher.
• It works very slow compared to later versions.
• It does not support a DOS application.
• Offer fewer services.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows Server 2008

Advantages of Windows Server 2008

• It is a multi-threaded and multi-user system.
• Provides ease of administration, helping users with its use.
• It has a high development of applications and systems.
• It has extensive official documentation.
• It has high-performance Framework support.
• It provides codes for the mastery of various simple functions.

Disadvantages of Windows Server 2008

• It is an expensive system.
• You must pay for the license to be able to use it.
• It has a high level of advanced settings.
• Its security level is low since it has many bugs and failures.
• It requires the user to have experience and knowledge of this type of operating system.
• It has little stability.
• It consumes a lot of resources.
• It needs to restart for each update that is applied.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows 7

Advantages of Windows 7

• It has a high level of efficiency.
• Offers transparency in execution.
• It stands out for providing greater comfort to users at the time of use, whether playing multimedia files or documents.
• Maintains communications with various devices.
• It automatically detects the different devices.
• Allows you to run applications that are only allowed by the System Administrator.
• It agrees to have any type of program open from the toolbar.
• Due to its interface, it allows processes to be executed at high speed and in a short time.
• Its design provides that the size of the icons is large, facilitating their search and use.
• It allows working with several connected monitors in a very efficient way.
• It has Direct 11 that increases the reproduction and graphics of multimedia files and different games
• Optimize RAM memory management.
• It reduces power consumption compared to previous versions and has low memory consumption.
• The starting speed is enhanced compared to previous versions.
• Accepts the compatibility of the various programs used in Windows XP.

Disadvantages of Windows 7

• The price is high.
• To update the system requires a payment.
• It does not have an update with Windows XP.
• Your computer may be locked after installation.
• The level of security it provides is low since the antivirus is still required to improve protection.
• Sometimes you have problems with its installation.
• Additional resources such as RAM must be purchased.
• Limit the acquisition of themes you provide from the system to users who are not in specific countries.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows 8

Advantages of Windows 8

• It has an innovative operating system.
• Provides a fresh start menu while being regarded as flawless.
• Shows applications that the user wants to have visible.
• You have access to email and the messaging application.
• Its startup speed is very fast compared to previous versions.
• It allows everything to be personalized by the user.

Disadvantages of Windows 8

• It is focused on specific devices such as tablets.
• For computers that do not have a touch screen, you do not have the opportunity to enjoy all the sales that this system has.
• It has paid applications.
• It does not allow the option to install Adobe Flash Player.
• It limits the possibility of watching some videos or being able to play some games depending on their formats.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows 10

Advantage of Windows 10

• It is a system with more processing and lighter.
• Consumes fewer computer resources compared to predecessor versions.
• Provides greater confidence and greater security.
• It has a higher performance.
• It has seamless source code.
• Offers higher levels of encryption.
• It has a more protected password manager.
• Includes a Microsoft virtual assistant.
• Provides a new folder explorer.
• Create virtual desktops.
• Allows syncing in the cloud.
• Make it easy to access OneDrive directly from your browser.
• Synchronize the user’s account from the Windows Store.
• It has a new notification center.
• It offers a new browser called Edge.

Disadvantages of Windows 10

• It does not play DVD as it does not contain Windows Media Center.
• Accept a free update for the first year only.
• Provides licenses at a high cost.
• It has a wide range of versions so it often confuses users of which one is best for them.
• Forces to perform automatic updates.
• It has several small bugs and system errors.
• It is not compatible with all older programs.

Hopefully, this article helped you learning in-depth features, pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of windows version, etc.

Advantages of using Windows:

1. Ease of use. Users familiar
   with earlier versions of Windows will probably also find the more modern
   ones easy to work with. This is ascribable to everything from the
   standardised look and feel of almost all programs written for Windows to
   the way the file system has been presented ever since the days of MS-DOS
   (disk A:, disk C:, etc.). This is one of the main reasons why Windows
   users are often reluctant to switch operating systems.
2. Available software. There is
   a huge selection of software available for Windows. This is both due to and
   the reason for Microsoft’s dominance of the world market for PC computer
   operating systems and office software. If you’re looking for an application
   to suit your business needs, chances are that if it exists there will be a
   Windows version of it available somewhere.
3. Backwards compatibility. If
   you’re currently using an older version of Windows and need something more
   up to date, but you don’t want to loose the use of some older programs that
   are only available for Windows and are critical to your business needs, the
   chances are good (although not a certainty) that those programs will also
   work with a newer version of Windows.
4. Support for new hardware.
   Virtually all hardware manufacturers will offer support for a recent version
   of Windows when they go to market with a new product. Again, Microsoft’s
   dominance of the software market makes Windows impossible for hardware
   manufacturers to ignore. So, if you run off to a store today any buy some
   random new piece of computer hardware, you’ll find that it will probably
   work with the latest version of Windows.
5. Plug & Play. As an
   operating system for the average home user, Windows still has an edge over
   the competition in the area of Plug & Play support for PC hardware. As
   long as the right drivers are installed, Windows will usually do a good
   job at recognising new hardware. Other operating systems also offer Plug
   & Play functionality, but to a lesser degree and more frequently
   require manual intervention.
6. Games. If you crave the
   latest in PC gaming technology, then you need Windows. A plethora of
   gaming titles are available for Windows, as well as lots of special
   gaming hardware that’s supported. Some of the most popular games are also
   available for Linux, and even more for the Mac, but there’s really no
   comparison. It must be said, though, that not all of the old games that
   were written for Windows 95 and 98 will also work with XP.
7. Compatibility with MS driven
   websites. After Windows had become the world’s most popular
   desktop operating system, Internet Explorer (IE) became the world’s most
   popular web browser soon after Microsoft began bundling it
   with Windows 95 in order to squash competition from rival Netscape’s
   Navigator browser. Since Netscape’s demise, Microsoft have introduced
   more and more proprietary features into their web servers that can only
   be taken advantage of with Internet Explorer. Obviously, these sites are
   less accessible with other browsers − sometimes not at all. This,
   coupled with the fact that the latest versions of IE are only available
   for Windows, has made Windows the only choice for those who want to take
   full advantage of those websites that use Microsoft’s technology.

Disadvantages of using Windows:

1. High resource requirements.
   As opposed to the makers of other operating systems, Microsoft requires its
   customers to invest the most in their computer hardware: a faster processor
   (the CPU), more internal memory and a larger hard disk. Microsoft have always
   maintained that this is due to all the extra functionality that they’ve
   added, as demanded by their customers. Actually, few people make use of many
   of those features, yet everyone is still forced to contend with the
   additional overhead that is the result. (Ref: CNN)
2. Closed Source. Troubleshooting
   problems with Windows would be so much easier for users and support personnel
   if only they knew what was actually going on. Unfortunately, only Microsoft
   has full access to its software’s source code, and since no log files are
   generated its users are left to try and deduce what causes their problems by
   trial and error alone. At best this is time-consuming, while at worst it can
   make a program impossible to work with. See also: «Shared Source».
3. Poor security. Compared to
   other operating systems, Microsoft security is weak. According to their own
   developers, their products «just aren’t engineered for security.» The
   result is that Windows computers are more likely than other
   systems to be hijacked and used to distribute everything from spam to
   pornography (Ref: Inquirer) to hate mail. Even worse, any such activity only
   points to the computer that was compromised: since Windows does not generate
   log files, the owner has no way of proving anyone else’s involvement.
   Another aspect of this issue has to do with internal security from an
   administrative point of view. Configuring any computer is time-consuming and
   Windows is certainly no exception. Therefore, it’s better if users can be
   prevented from making changes to certain parts of the system, whether on
   purpose or by accident. Unfortunately, only with great difficulty is it
   possible to achieve a level of fine-grained administrative control on
   Windows systems, which is why it is rarely seen outside of larger
   organizations. What all this means for businesses is that Windows systems
   require a lot more time and effort to maintain than other systems. Failure
   to do so will only result in more lost productivity or worse.
4. Virus susceptibility. This
   subject is usually regarded as part Microsoft’s general problems with
   security. However, the susceptibility of any of Microsoft’s operating
   systems to computer viruses has always been pronounced; nearly all computer
   viruses target Windows computers and regularly wreak newsworthy havoc.
   Indeed, if it wasn’t for Windows, the multi-million dollar anti-virus
   industry as as we know it would be virtually non-existant. Viruses on
   other platforms, save for perhaps the older Mac operating systems, are
   strictly a rarity. What this means for businesses, is that that they have
   no choice but to keep investing in anti-virus software for all of their
   Windows computers, as well as to keep up with the almost daily release of
   Microsoft security patches.
5. Outrageous license agreements.
   Most people never bother to read the EULA, or End User License Agreement,
   that must be agreed to before any Microsoft product − including service
   packs and security updates − can be used or installed. Most people
   simply regard these screens as an irritant that must be to clicked through in
   order to install the product. However, if they did take the trouble to read
   the EULA, many would probably be a little more than irritated. For instance,
   Microsoft’s EULA for Windows XP was radically ammended for people who
   installed a security update in mid-2002 that fixed an obvious and potentially
   dangerous security leak in Windows Media Player. It states explicitly:

   You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software
   protected by digital rights management (‘Secure Content’), Microsoft may
   provide security related updates to the OS Components that will be
   automatically downloaded onto your computer. These security related updates
   may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other
   software on your computer.

   So, along with a routine security patch, Microsoft also slipped in this new
   agreement that gives them the right to install any software on your computer
   that they see fit − including software that «may disable your ability
   to … use other software on your computer». Basically, this amounts to
   giving Microsoft ‘Administrator’ rights on your computer (so much for privacy).
   No doubt Microsoft would say that this measure is only meant to target
   pirated software, but the EULA is vague insofar that it does not exclude the
   possibility that software acquired legally from vendors other than Microsoft
   can be disabled as well. In other words, at the very least, this agreement
   gives Microsoft the final say on what software may be run on your computer.

   And just in case you think all of this might be a little exaggerated, know
   that Microsoft has been a big booster of the

   UCITA − a horrible law that
   would allow:

   • Software publishers to change the terms of the contract after purchase.
   • Restrictions that prohibit users from criticizing or publicly commenting
     on software they purchased.
   • Software and information products to contain «back door» entrances,
     potentially making users’ systems vulnerable to infiltration by
     unauthorized hackers.
   • Software publishers to sell their products «as is» and to disclaim
     liability for product shortcomings.

   Sound familiar? That’s right − they’re already doing this! Or, at least
   they’re trying to, despite loads of criticism. Naturally, this is why
   Microsoft is pushing for a law to be passed that would be on their side.
   (Ref: InfoWorld)

6. Poor technical support.
   Few of Microsoft’s support staff truly understand security or high-end
   enterprise issues, and even less have access to or understand any of the
   source code. Extremely high-volume accounts get special treatment, but for
   others the odds of getting good support on truly difficult problems are
   extremely poor. To make matters worse, the free support provided to end-users
   has been dramatically reduced over the years. For businesses that depend on
   Microsoft products, this translates into greater risks and higher costs.
   These days, all Windows users rely heavily on the automated Windows Update
   system that applies all the necessary patches to Windows computers via the
   Internet. Unfortunately, this update system is not very reliable; it’s had
   all kinds of problems. Recently, for example, it was giving computers
   that were in need of critical security patches a clean bill of health. So
   much for Microsoft’s much vaunted Trustworthy Computing Initiative.
7. Hostile treatment of legitimate
   users. In an effort to curb software piracy, Microsoft includes a scheme in
   Windows XP that involves sending them a «fingerprint» of your PC’s hardware
   configuration that allows them verify whether your license is still being
   used on only one PC or not. The moment they detect that your license is
   running on another machine, your copy of Windows will cease to function. The
   only way you can get it to work again is by asking them for a new activation
   code. To some, this may sound reasonable at first, since I’m sure we all
   agree that software piracy is a bad thing, but what happens if you want to
   upgrade your entire machine? That’s right: you have to call Microsoft for a
   new code. What’s interesting is that Microsoft knows this would really annoy
   IT managers in big corporations (who normally pay anyway), so they give the
   bulk licenses a back door round this protection. The rest of us are are
   considered guilty until proven innocent.
   Another long-time method that Microsoft uses to harass legitimate users is
   through the Business Software Alliance (BSA). This is a non-profit
   organization that was set up to fight software piracy and is sponsored by a
   number of well-known software companies, but mainly by Microsoft. Of course,
   they spend their time looking for organizations (and even individuals) who
   they suspect might be using Microsoft’s software illegally, but they’re
   equally zealous at targeting those that might not be able to account for all
   of their licenses in time for an ‘official’ BSA audit. Actually, unless they
   are invited to come by to talk about ‘software licensing’, which is what
   they like to offer, they have no legal authority to enter onto anyone’s
   premises. Still, that doesn’t stop them from sending threats of hefty fines
   and even jail time − even to those not using Microsoft’s products!
   Again, everyone’s guilty until proven innocent. Interestingly, the moment a
   mea culpa is made, the BSA will arrange for people to buy Microsoft licenses
   rather than force them to pay fines.
8. Extortionist prices. In the
   past, when Microsoft was asked on numerous occasions why it was raising the
   price of its Windows licenses yet again, the standard reply was that it was
   necessary to offset the development costs of their latest version. However,
   after the the Enron and Worldcom scandles, Microsoft decided to overhaul its
   reporting structure in an effort to achieve more transparency in its earnings
   information. The results are quite revealing. What people long suspected was
   the case is now known to be fact: that Microsoft’s profit margin for Windows
   is huge. According to their earnings report filed with the S.E.C for the third
   quarter of 2002 (Ref: S.E.C.), it was a whopping 85.8% of $2.892 billion in
   revenues. Their ‘Information Worker’ division, which includes the Office line
   of applications, took a 76.8% profit on sales of $2.385 billion. In other
   words, Microsoft’s high prices are mostly ‘monopoly tax’. Interestingly,
   though, while their server division also turned a profit, all the others ones
   operated at a loss. It looks like Microsoft is using the profits from its
   monopoly divisions to pay its way into new markets.
9. Additional expenses. After
   setting up a series of Microsoft computers, or even a single one for that
   matter, sooner or later customers invariably find themselves in need of
   additional software. For example, a virus scanner is mandatory nowadays, but
   many also believe a spyware blocker is essential as well. But, that’s just
   the cheap stuff. If you run a Windows-based website, for instance, you may
   find yourself investing a lot of money in development tools, most of which
   are Microsoft products. The costs of applications that can run on your web
   site are usually higher than that of other systems. For example, you can
   find loads of free scripts and applications to run services such s web
   boards, chat rooms, web statisics and email for Linux-based web sites, but
   you won’t find many free applications in the Microsoft world.
10. Poor stability. For people who
    are used to dealing with Windows, rebooting and re-installing are such a
    regular occurance that most don’t even give it a second thought. However, that
    is by no means an excuse for such poor performance: Windows should not freeze
    up and reboot simply because Word or Internet Explorer was being used. And
    yes, this is because Microsoft products are full of bugs − no matter what
    Bill Gates says (Ref: Cantrip Corpus). Nevertheless, it seems most people have become
    largely desensitized on this issue − as if it’s a natural consequense of
    the complexity involved. But, it doesn’t have to be that way: every other major
    operating system available today has a better track record.
11. Vendor lock-in. Also referred
    to as ‘vendor dependence’, Microsoft is infamous for promoting brand loyalty
    among its customers in this manner. One way for a vendor to establish
    lock-in is for it to gain control of both sides of an otherwise open and
    standard client/server model by adding proprietary extensions to the
    standard communications format. Customers can then no longer switch to
    cheaper, alternative client or server ssoftware without losing fuctionality,
    having to finance a complete migration to different products, or both.
    Microsoft, being a manufacturer of applications and operating systems for
    both workstations and servers, is in the ideal position to create such
    situations. Indeed, they have taken this concept and made it into a fine
    art. For the customer, poor quality and high prices are inevitably the
    result.
12. Backwards incompatible file formats.
    A well-known drawback of using Microsoft applications such as Office
    (Word, Excel, etc.), is that their file formats are not backwards compatible.
    For instance, this means that a document created in the MS Word 2002 format
    cannot be interpreted in any way by someone using Word 97. Microsoft has
    always maintained that this is because of all the new features that have been
    added to each new document format, but the truth is that it would have been
    easy for Microsoft’s developers to create a common file format that would
    have allowed all versions of Word to simply ignore any new and unrecognised
    formatting features. No, they chose to do things differently because their
    method is the one that keeps their customers upgrading.
    
    How does this work in practice? Well, most businesses buy into Microsoft’s
    product lines because they believe everybody else does. An important benefit
    is that, if all the latest versions are used, they will always be able to
    read files sent to them by other organizations that also use Micosoft’s
    products. Everything’s fine until the next version of the software hits
    the market. Customers then find that, first of all, the longer that upgrade
    has been available and they delay buying it, the more often they’ll find
    themselves receiving documents in the new file formats that they can’t read.
    Second, if they postpone their move to the new version for too long, Microsoft
    will no longer consider them eligible for a cheaper upgrade option and force
    them to buy a whole new license instead. Finally, upgrading the applications
    often forces you to upgrade the entire operating system as well.
13. Poor support for older hardware.
    Legacy support for older hardware is gone in Windows 2000 and
    Windows XP. Microsoft claims this was necessary to increase the overall
    stability of their systems, but if other systems with excellent reputations
    for stability include much better support for older hardware, where does
    this leave Microsoft’s argument?
14. Poor remote access. As
    opposed to many of the alternatives available, MS-DOS, and thus Windows
    after it, were never designed with remote access in mind. That’s not to say
    that it isn’t done − it is, because it’s a great way to save on
    administration costs − it’s just that the solutions have always left
    something to be desired. They’re unreliable, insecure (especially via the
    Internet), expensive, need too much bandwidth or require extra Microsoft
    network components to work. Invariably, it’s a combination of these
    characteristics.
15. High Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
    The fact that Microsoft charge so much initially for their software
    is one thing, but what most salesmen fail to mention is that, if you want to
    stay with this platform in the future and keep all the benefits (application
    and file format compatibility), you’ll have to upgrade every two to three
    years. Also, Microsoft make upgrading more expensive for customers who lag
    behind. The other major reason for the high TCO, is the intensive maintenance
    required by modern Windows systems. Vital Microsoft security patches are
    published so often, that it seems even Microsoft can’t always keep up. As
    a result, their systems were also affected when the Slammer worm struck
    in late January 2003. They would not have suffered this humiliation if
    they had only remembered to install one of their own security patches
    many months earlier (Ref: News.com).

Although new technology is usually seen as innovative and exciting, it’s not always the case when it comes to your PC.

Our computers tend to hold important documents, photos and software which we need on a daily basis and anything going wrong with running the system can cause havoc.

A lot of people who are considering an upgrade to Windows 10 aren’t sure whether or not it’s worth it, since there seem to be pros and cons from both sides.

Windows 8 gave way to Windows 10 and upgrading could either make your PC run more smoothly and be easier for you to use or it could wreck the entire machine, according to some reports.

A lot of the issues however have to do with various software manufacturers not ensuring their software is Windows 10 compatible. This isn’t Microsoft’s fault directly, but for users it can be beyond frustrating.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to a Windows 10 upgrade if your system is running Windows 10 or older right now.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these pros and cons so you can make a more informed choice.

Main Pros of Windows 10 are:

Better security

Windows 10 offers stronger security than other versions of Windows.

It has better mobile device management so IT companies can implement Mobile Device Management solutions faster and easier and also extend IT support’s reach wherever your tablet or laptop might be.

The authentication and defense mechanism is also better in Windows 10.

These are the points which are most talked about, so don’t assume just because someone else loves/hates this operating system, you will feel the same way.

The antivirus software that comes with Windows 10 is much better than ever before.

There are new apps making it harder for malicious parties to infect your PC.

Windows Hello, for example, lets you unlock the PC using your fingerprint, face recognition or iris scan, which is of course harder for malicious parties to crack than a password.

Windows 10 can also automatically encrypt files if it finds the PC infected with malicious software.

Also Windows Defender Antivirus is included in this OS and it’s advanced software capable of protecting your PC against digital threats.

Windows as a service

This operating system is going to be around longer than any prior versions of Windows, as Microsoft is changing how Windows is positioned in their portfolio.

The subscription model means paying a small monthly fee rather than purchasing something outright.

Microsoft might not be charging a monthly fee for this OS but they are selling quarterly or yearly Windows 10 subscriptions to allow users to enjoy new capabilities and features.

These features make it worthwhile for a lot of Windows users, as it means they’re always using the newest and best version of Windows 10.

One connected ecosystem

Windows allows users to combine a variety of apps in one place such as the Google search engine, Gmail/calendar, YouTube, and Google Play Store.

Users can enjoy a more personalized experience since all that information can be combined.

You might ask Google about an upcoming appointment, for example, and this means Microsoft can look through your calendars.

If you ask to book a flight, Google can remind you of upcoming flights.

Google’s main focus is to target ads and services better to make more money for themselves and advertising parties, but it also results in things being simplified for users, so it’s a win-win really.

Desktop and tablet mode

Because two in one devices (laptops that have removable screens) are becoming ever more popular, Windows 10 was created with this in mind.

You can shift the interface design to finger interactions by engaging the tablet mode. This also means interactions can be done with one tap and the buttons are larger.

Once you return to the dock or laptop, you can change over to desktop mode which allows keyboard and mouse interactions.

Cons of Windows 10

And here are some cons of Windows 10:

Mandatory Windows updates

Microsoft aims to push out more mandatory updates than ever before.

It’s true that patches for security and software are critical in defending your PC and data from attacks but some Microsoft updates have been known to crash or disrupt the smooth running of computers.

Microsoft does usually fix their errors promptly if they release an update too soon, but it might be better to wait a few days before installing an update in case it doesn’t work quite as planned.

Issues About Privacy

Microsoft’s Windows phone, Bing search engine and email services don’t compete with Google’s numbers but computer OS is its one big market share.

Microsoft has integrated Cortana (their answer to Apple’s Siri) as well as Edge, the new version of Internet Explorer, inside of the operating system itself.

Privacy concerns came to light when power-users as well as developers discovered that Microsoft could track users via their privacy setting options.

Microsoft claims users can disable Cortana whenever they want, even though their design is to provide you with useful information.

These settings are on by default however, meaning users might not be able to see or change them during the installation process or even know they are there.

If you’re concerned about your privacy but still want to install Windows 10, you might want to ensure you’re on top of your settings.

Lost Apps

Windows Media Center is no longer available with Windows 10 and there is no standard DVD player available after installing it either.

Windows Photo Viewer is not included with Windows 10.

There are of course substitutes that you can download and use, but it’s worth knowing what is and isn’t available before making the decision of whether to upgrade or not.

In Conclusion

The choice of whether or not to install Windows 10 is of course up to you.

There are some minor disadvantages to bear in mind before making your decision but, on the other hand, there are plenty of advantages as well, including speed, graphics and enhanced virus protection.

If your PC hardware and software is compatible, then it makes sense to upgrade to Windows 10.