Windows 10's End-Of-Year Report Card

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Ed Bott over at ZDNet has put together a Windows 10 end-of-the-year report card today that is worth checking out. The article gives A through F ratings for everything from adoption rate to security. Hit the link and tell us what you think.

Of course, it wouldn't be a major Microsoft release without an equally oversized serving of controversy, and Windows 10 had more than its share this year. Some of it was self-inflicted, with executives (probably at the behest of lawyers) releasing poorly written announcements that looked like they were hiding something.
 
I can think of a few other categories that might need grading as well. "user interface" or "configurability".

Configurability is a big deal for me. And Windows 10 is a big step back in that regard, if you ask me. Just attempting to remove the built-in apps is a huge hassle, and you can't configure updates, nor can you fully disable telemetry.
 
So many of the stories are bullshit or people jumping to conclusions though. It's like today's fud that Microsoft is leaving a key in live drive for every MS account. It's a backup for bitlocker which most people aren't using or don't have the proper hardware to fully implement. It was brought up originally back in the fall, despite the feature being there since 8.1 but since a new blog found it it's in the news again.
 
Winbeta reported today that Windows 10 has reached 200 million plus installs. There was a pretty interesting interview of Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer Chris Capossela on the Windows Weekly podcast last week. He was pretty candid about the importance of the getting the Windows 10 install numbers up to make the platform more attractive to mobile developers. Indeed this does seems to be Microsoft's main concern right now, even to the exclusion of other things.

Even with the free upgrade and the force of the Windows 10 update nag and assuming that the 200 million plus number is correct, it's hard for me to imagine how there could have been significantly better numbers than that in 5 months.
 
I think that was a pretty fair assessment.

Win 10 is a pretty good operating system. I would rather they kept the control panel, if nothing else, just because I am familiar with it and know where to find stuff.

The privacy stuff: Apple and Google get it to sell you stuff or make money from those who want to sell you stuff. MS, at least at this point, gathers data to IMPROVE the OS.

I guess the question is....how much will Win 10 cost later this year?
 
^^ well crap I just read a post from a few days ago that a new ADK has fixed the static IP issue. I'll have to test it next week.
Still should be F as it was just now fixed (if it works).
 
MrValentine said:
^^ well crap I just read a post from a few days ago that a new ADK has fixed the static IP issue. I'll have to test it next week.
Still should be F as it was just now fixed (if it works).
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What is that, a Microsoft supplied Windows deployment tool to push out installs?
 
SlipperyPete said:
I felt this guy sums things up nicely:

http://linuxfonts.narod.ru/why-windows-10-sucks.html
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lol :D
windows-10-fixed.jpg
 
I'm sticking with 8.1 until they get rid of all of those privacy concerns. If it never happens, then oh well. I'll deal with being on 8.1 for the rest of my life. I'm still using Waterfox 26.0, and refuse to upgrade due to the layout of the new FF and how they keep stripping stuff to try to make themselves look more and more like Chrome.

Bobert said:
lol :D
windows-10-fixed.jpg
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Not enough cameras on that plane. Oh wait, they're on the inside. Nevermind.
 
Everyone keeps arguing about how Chrome, Google, Safari, etc are tracking, selling, stalking and poking you at night. Understandable as NOTHING on the internet is not recorded or sold to someone somewhere at a given time.

The difference is, I don't have to use Chrome or Google or Safari or whatever IF I choose not to use them. When it is the core of your computer, that is where the problem lies. Who is to say all these holes that Microsoft has poked in the OS to allow it report back don't get attacked or exploited some way or an other.

I get Microsoft has a pretty good track record with exploits and security issues but doesn't mean it can't happen on a massive scale. Especially when you have 200 million users reporting back in to various servers on who knows what they are truly capturing.

All we know is they capture stuff, who is to say they aren't watching snippets of that web cam you have running while you are doing the nasty on the internet.

More holes in the OS means more attacks and sections you have to monitor/close off to stay secure.
 
Sparkyy said:
The difference is, I don't have to use Chrome or Google or Safari or whatever IF I choose not to use them. When it is the core of your computer, that is where the problem lies. Who is to say all these holes that Microsoft has poked in the OS to allow it report back don't get attacked or exploited some way or an other.
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If the primary personal computing device use on the planet today were a PC then this point would have more relevance. But the today's PCs are smartphones where your point really doesn't apply.

Beyond that, the only thing that's forced in terms of data collection is the telemetry which if Microsoft is being honest contains far less personal information than most people give up with their surgically implanted smartphone.

It is unfortunately a different world for Microsoft where PCs, local files and execution simply don't drive things like they used to. Whatever switches Windows 10 critics want or those that move to Linux or whatever over privacy concerns, a legion more will use devices and services that leverage personal data because they want the features and convenience.

Sparkyy said:
More holes in the OS means more attacks and sections you have to monitor/close off to stay secure.
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It's a million times easier to get someone to install something in an email attachment. For now and the foreseeable future, the local files and execution that Windows 10 critics are so fond of are by far the easiest way to attack it or any version of Windows.
 
From linuxfonts.narod.ru
windows_devolution.jpg


Sums up nicely :D

Devastating Windows rot.
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While I can't confirm this myself (partly due to laziness), this doesn't sound right -- calling BS on the author anyone?

"I have installed Windows 10 and it feels faster", right, like with every Windows release it feels fast when you install it from scratch. Then, strangely, it slows down significantly.
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Perhaps try uninstalling your anti-virus. ;) At least with Windows XP after you do that, suddenly and somehow performance is restored to 'day #1 performance'.

There are a lot of good points, some subjective points, and some points that may be questionable altogether. I don't agree or disagree with the author. What I quoted above are just some things that stood out to me.

In any case, it looks like Windows 10 is joining the sinking ship with Vista and 8
 
The Windows hate train never runs out of steam here. I could run a full city for a year with all the steam created from the hate of Windows and Microsoft. :) Meanwhile, I show up at work and low and behold, my computer, running Windows 10 Pro is secure and 100% stable, who would have thought it possible. :D In regards to that link of wasted internet space and hate, why would I bother with an obviously biased site with no real potential to get a job in the IT industry, in my opinion.
 
ManofGod said:
The Windows hate train never runs out of steam here. I could run a full city for a year with all the steam created from the hate of Windows and Microsoft. :) Meanwhile, I show up at work and low and behold, my computer, running Windows 10 Pro is secure and 100% stable, who would have thought it possible. :D In regards to that link of wasted internet space and hate, why would I bother with an obviously biased site with no real potential to get a job in the IT industry, in my opinion.
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If you're talking about that one site from which the recycled airplane pic is from, yeah I totally agree that it's heavily biased against Windows and brings up quite a few arguments that aren't relevant, are outdated, or are just outright wrong and is worded in a way that makes it pretty clear the language is loaded so that it's inflammatory.

Microsoft's latest OS does have problems that aren't being addressed very well by the company, but the unfortunate thing about some people who use Linux is that they feel like they need to jump behind a pulpit to preach the good word of their OS to the masses and it's silly. Linux is good enough to stand on it's own merits and doesn't need that kind of rabid advocacy. Windows doesn't either. It's fine. Use it if you're comfortable with it and leave the soapbox for stuff that actually has a substantial impact on peoples' lives. No piece of computer software deserves that amount of emotion. It's just software.
 
I have had Windows 10 available and within easy reach since last year, via developer preview ISOs and later the 'free upgrade' campaign. MSFT's desperation with said campaign illustrates quite well how reluctant people like me are to even entertain the notion of switching to Windows 10. And MSFT knows this.

I just built a new system and installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it, along with a host of tools which keep out the telemetry and forced Windows 10 'upgrade' nonsense. It is bizarre that customers of MSFT like yours truly have to fight to keep the OS we bought and prefer.

The smell of fear and despair from MSFT is unbecoming and makes me rather worried about its agenda in all of this.
 
CreepyUncleGoogle said:
If you're talking about that one site from which the recycled airplane pic is from, yeah I totally agree that it's heavily biased against Windows and brings up quite a few arguments that aren't relevant, are outdated, or are just outright wrong and is worded in a way that makes it pretty clear the language is loaded so that it's inflammatory.

Microsoft's latest OS does have problems that aren't being addressed very well by the company, but the unfortunate thing about some people who use Linux is that they feel like they need to jump behind a pulpit to preach the good word of their OS to the masses and it's silly. Linux is good enough to stand on it's own merits and doesn't need that kind of rabid advocacy. Windows doesn't either. It's fine. Use it if you're comfortable with it and leave the soapbox for stuff that actually has a substantial impact on peoples' lives. No piece of computer software deserves that amount of emotion. It's just software.
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But then what would we discuss, Justin Beibers hair? :D
 
ManofGod said:
But then what would we discuss, Justin Beibers hair? :D
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We'd have to talk about cats, of course. After all the Internet basically IS just a place for people to share cat-related information...and where computer literate cats go to plot to take over the world.
 
DPI said:
"According to my contacts" -- whew that's quite a source for the 200 million.

Let's wait to see the Netmarketshare number for December in a couple days to see how much further month-over-month uptake has slowed down.

And always beware of big round numbers.
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Zac Bowden is a credible source of Microsoft information. He did release some bad numbers a while back with a 67 million number that didn't make much sense. Over 200 million makes sense relative to the 110 million number almost three months ago, considering the release of new hardware since that announcement from all the major OEMs and the holiday shopping season.

BTW, over 200 million is a big number but not round. I'm not sure what ultra-Windows 10 critics like you are thinking. You may not like the OS but many people do. The upgrade is free and easy enough so that tons of non-technical people are doing it with no problem. I'm not saying there aren't issues but for every issue we hear about there's also those that will never post to a forum or have problems. And most new consumer comes with Windows 10 now. Not everyone is going to stick with 7 or 8.x till the end or move to Linux.
 
Adoption rate: A
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Off to a bad/bullshit start. Adoption rate is ~200mil in ~6months. By MS's own goal 1billion in 2-3 years they'll just barely make it at the 3yr mark IF the rates don't drop.
Upgrades and updates: C-
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Sounds about right
Privacy: B
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LOL
Security: A-
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Directly related to privacy, again, LOL
Apps: C
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"Apps" should be an F. Applications are the same as any other windows system.
Enterprise support: B-
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Back to the security and privacy scores. If MS is tracking, enterprise ain't using it.
Tablets and phones: Incomplete
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Their biggest goal of Win8/10 and they're failing at it.

This guy is #1 shill.
 
Elledan said:
The smell of fear and despair from MSFT is unbecoming and makes me rather worried about its agenda in all of this.
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The agenda behind this is crystal clear. For as much as people say that Microsoft doesn't listen it seems that many individuals can be blamed of the same thing.

Microsoft is leveraging its desktop dominance to gain entry into mobile because there is no serious threat to its traditional desktop market that isn't more mobile than traditional desktop in nature. Desktop Linux? 20 years later and desktop Linux has done little to threaten Microsoft on the desktop. Chromebooks? A platform that's totally not about local files and execution. OS X? High margin stuff that will never make it to the masses. Smartphones and tablets? At least a few years ago these were considered very serious threats to the desktop and while maybe not as much anymore they still represent the biggest threat to the desktop. While also being Microsoft's biggest area of weakness though their tablet fortunes are in much better shape than smartphones.
 
lilbabycat said:
Off to a bad/bullshit start. Adoption rate is ~200mil in ~6months. By MS's own goal 1billion in 2-3 years they'll just barely make it at the 3yr mark IF the rates don't drop.
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That's 200 million in 5 months. If extrapolated linearly that would put Windows 10 at 1 billion devices in 25 months, right on the high end edge of their goal. The key will be business adoption which will take another 6 months to a year 10 gage.
 
lilbabycat said:
This guy is #1 shill.
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Shill = someone not bad mouthing Microsoft and Windows. :rolleyes: Personally, that tells me there are lots of Linux shills on these boards going by the same criteria. Oh well, I am glad I use everything and enjoy it all, you must be a non IT person?
 
ManofGod said:
Oh well, I am glad I use everything and enjoy it all, you must be a non IT person?
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Non IT guy that has to do IT stuff because most IT people are woefully inept at doing their jobs when anything happens outside whatever manual they're going by.
 
lilbabycat said:
Non IT guy that has to do IT stuff because most IT people are woefully inept at doing their jobs when anything happens outside whatever manual they're going by.
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Usually those IT people are the ones that learned everything from a book.
 
lilbabycat said:
Non IT guy that has to do IT stuff because most IT people are woefully inept at doing their jobs when anything happens outside whatever manual they're going by.
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Ummm, what? Manual's are important for esoteric stuff and how to videos for disassembling things are important. However, I have not seen a successful IT person just use manuals only. Also, if you are doing professional work, you are doing IT work but, I would think inept is not relevant since I do my job to the best of my ability, not what others are capable of in this industry.

On the other hand, I enjoy helping those who require help which is really what my job is all about anyways. :)
 
heatlesssun said:
That's 200 million in 5 months. If extrapolated linearly that would put Windows 10 at 1 billion devices in 25 months, right on the high end edge of their goal. The key will be business adoption which will take another 6 months to a year 10 gage.
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"If extrapolated linearly".. sorry sparky, can't do that because all the months harvesting preloads with that absurd "reservation system" pop-up nagware inflated the launch month's numbers

The honest, non delusional way of projecting future install numbers is plug in all the month-over-month numbers, and a trend line forms. And it's not exactly headed in the upward direction for 10 I'm sorry to report.
 
Bobert said:
Privacy: B :rolleyes:

Microsoft must really be cozy with the reviewers.
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Pretty much this.

The fact that they index all your media files and send the list to MarkMonitor and actively gather information on P2P traffic is enough to send chills down your spine, regardless of what you are actually doing.
 
KarsusTG said:
Pretty much this.

The fact that they index all your media files and send the list to MarkMonitor and actively gather information on P2P traffic is enough to send chills down your spine, regardless of what you are actually doing.
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Proof please. A quick search has not pulled up anything yet.
 
Uh yeah. 8.1 works fine here but I might go back to 7 and block everything just to be sure. Man this OS has become Uncle Creepy. Hands off ma junk Creepy!
 
DPI said:
"If extrapolated linearly".. sorry sparky, can't do that because all the months harvesting preloads with that absurd "reservation system" pop-up nagware inflated the launch month's numbers

The honest, non delusional way of projecting future install numbers is plug in all the month-over-month numbers, and a trend line forms. And it's not exactly headed in the upward direction for 10 I'm sorry to report.
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Windows 10 is gaining share at a good clip. It's probably going to hit the 1 billion number by mid 2018 if phones, Xboxes and other devices are added in add if enterprises adopt it.
 
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