The hotly anticipated Windows 10 was released at the end of July and we’ve been keeping our eyes peeled for reviews that share all the details of this new bit of kit. Plenty of new features were promised, including Cortana (the voice controlled virtual assistant), as well as improvements to the existing roster of elements. To encourage users to adopt Windows 10, those utilising Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 were offered a free upgrade to the new version, which has been well-received by casual users and critics alike. However, our focus for this post isn’t on casual users but on business users, who require a much more robust and feature-rich system than the everyday browser.
So, should you upgrade your business to Windows 10?
The Pros
The good news is that numerous reports confirm that Windows 10 is the most advanced version of Windows so far, so anybody jaded by Windows 8 can breathe a sigh of relief! Oh, and Internet Explorer has been replaced by Microsoft Edge, which is another definite plus point.
Taking a step away from Windows 8 and moving back to a more familiar layout, long-time users of Windows will be pleased to see a standard desktop layout that makes Windows 10 feel a great deal more user-friendly.
Designed to be responsive on all devices, Windows 10 performs as well on PCs and laptops as it does on tablets and smartphones, which is crucial in today’s ‘on the go’ society. One of the key features of Windows 10 is that it makes it simple to retrieve and view your documents while you’re on the go, allowing you to seamlessly hop from device to device.
The Virtual Desktops feature is another shining star for businesses, allowing you to create numerous workspaces for different projects. And, of course, Cortana has to have a mention here. Originally debuted on Windows phones, the voice-activated virtual assistant has made it to desktops. It all depends whether voice control is your type of thing or not, but for those who make good use out of the technology – you’ll definitely be impressed.
The Cons
We’ve outlined the positives above, so now it’s time to delve into the not-so-positive side of Windows 10 for business. There are, of course, a few concerns about this new operating system, which do suggest that maybe Windows 10 isn’t quite ready for business use.
First of all, there’s the stress of deploying a new operating system across your business. It’s always going to have its hurdles, so it’s not something you want to jump into unless you’re sure the new system is going to majorly outperform what you currently have in place.
Another concern amongst IT professionals is potential compatibility issues. Existing infrastructure may run into issues with Windows 10, and hardware like scanners and printers may require time-consuming driver updates. Microsoft does offer a compatibility checker that allows you to confirm whether or not your devices will work seamlessly with the new version or whether you’ll need to install compatible drivers first.
Every new release comes with a few annoying niggles and bugs, and Windows 10 is no exception. There are a few known issues that are currently being worked on and a number of updates have already been released, though there are still more glitches being discovered by users. For this reason alone, we suggest waiting to upgrade until all of these issues have been discovered and resolved.
Conclusion
Although Windows 10 has some interesting features, we aren’t convinced that making the switch is the best decision for businesses at this time. It may well be something to keep an eye on in the future but, for now, we suggest holding off.
A recent survey by SpiceWorks suggests that 75% of IT professionals surveyed intend to adopt Windows 10 for business within the next two years. That’s certainly a hefty figure but time will tell whether it comes to fruition or not.
Whatever you decide to do about upgrading, make sure you cheek the compatibility first…you’ll thank us, we promise!