Five Windows features that won't be missed in Windows 10
Revolutionizing an operating system is not about the introduction of new features, but rather about integrating and improving upon what we know and love. Microsoft Windows 10, at least from what we can see thus far, embodies many of the features and functionality, users have been yearning for, and demanding, quite vocally.
No more Windows 95 Classic theme
With Windows 8, Microsoft has officially retired the “Classic” theme. Ironically, the Classic theme, with its embossed edges and grey background, has been a safety net for users resistant to different variants, from Windows Vista’s first attempt at at introducing a translucent taskbar, poorly received due to its resource-hungry rendering requirements, to Windows XP’s more resource-conservative, colorful replacement, which also did not receive a tremendous amount of love from users who, once again, reverted to using the Classic theme.
Microsoft Windows is a very different product now, one where the Classic theme has no reason to exist, in consideration of how much smoother and cleaner the new flat theme is.
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center was a feature very much ahead of its time. Unfortunately, while it enjoyed a small but enthusiastic community of users, its core functionality stopped making sense, as multimedia Internet connected cable boxes gained popularity, many of whom offering DVD and Blu Ray disc playback, as well as media synchronization with mobile and desktop devices using Wi-Fi.
Charms Bar
The Charms Bar was one of the two main features Microsoft had introduced with Windows 8, which had users dazed and confused. While the concept makes sense, from an engineering point of view, as it provides quicker access to basic features and settings, many users still see the Charms Bar as cryptic as the Metro interface itself. The most irritating fact about the Charms Bar is the way it pops up unannounced, covering a thick portion of the right side of the screen, as well as displaying the time and date with a big blocky rectangle. On the other hand, attempting to access it on purpose involves quite a mouse cursor dance on the right edge of the desktop. To that we say: good riddance.
The Metro Start Screen
In the eyes of Windows 10 insiders, Microsoft earned a fair share of brownie points, by taking the most useful features from the Metro Start Screen, and squeezing them into a more familiar task menu bar context. The Metro Start Screen in its first Windows 8 inception, had a startling effect on users, leaving many dazed and confused. One thing Microsoft has learned the hard way is: you don’t want to confuse your users.
Forceful restarts
With Windows 10, the dreaded forceful restarts due to Windows Update, already are a thing of the past. Restarts can now be scheduled, or at the very least, wait until the computer is idle. Best of all, many Windows 10 updates do not require a restart.