(PeteCresswell) posted this via
:

Somebody is asking me to help them select a Windows laptop.

It's really the blind leading the blind, but I cannot convince them of
that.

My gut says to avoid 10 if at all possible (forced updates, for
instance)... and go with the familiar 8.1 with Start8 or, if possible,
7.

What think Those Who Know?

Windows 10 is NOT that daunting compared to 7, 8 and/or 8.1. The trick is
like in the old days with Windows 9x releases... You have to get familiar
with the options in the settings interfaces and simply turn off what you
don't want, don't trust or don't want to be bothered with right now...
Nice thing is, once you do that, you can always go back and switch back.

In the case of the automatic updates... So far, so good. The nice thing
about being in the herd is that *if* something does screw up after
Microsoft has extensively tested it prior to release, then a whole lot of
peeples will be in the same stew - which would serve as incentive to fix it
berry berry quickly, ehhh?

At any rate, if you go with a Windows 8.1 lappy, at least you have what's
left of a year (since July 29) or so to avail yerself to the free Windows
10 upgrade.... That's like a really good set of options!

On the alternative, if someone is really comfortable in their paranoia or
their contempt for Microsoft, this could be a really good time to get
familiar with something like Unbuntu (*FREE*) or Apple (*Expensive*)... AND
still keep their options open for Windows 10 while the year clicks off. Of
course, you'd have to have a qualifying Windows device to avail yourself to
the free upgrade option.

Bottom line, Windows 10 is a change and takes some getting used to, but if
you're used to Win7/8/8.1, it's not that terribly daunting, and Microsoft
seems committed to tweaking the options along the way...

somebody else can elucidate about the chat and telephone support with
Windows 10 -- and all the feedback options readily available as well...

HTH.

--

I AM Bucky Breeder, (*(^; and,
It's like Yogi Berra always used to say:
"The future ain't what it used to be!"

http://tinyurl.com/ocnqvgq