The Windows to end all Windows (and what Yes, Minister has to do with it)

By | May 25, 2015
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If you’ve followed the news about the up-and-coming Windows 10 in the newspapers at all, you might have see the surprising news that Microsoft have announced that this is the last version of Windows they’re bringing out.

Now I’m pretty sure they aren’t planning to bring it out and then run a fish and chip shop instead. Nor are they quite confident enough to say “It’s perfect – that’s it, we don’t ever want to change anything”.

So what’s going on – is it true – is this the last ever version of Windows 10? Yes or no?

Well, did you ever watch “Yes, Minister” on the TV, back in the 80s? I didn’t see it at the time but have seen a few since (and I can’t help worrying it was all too true to life).

Anyway, I think Sir Humphrey, the permanent secretary of the department, would have probably answered it best: the answer is yes and no.

Windows 10 – the version to end all Windows?
From what Microsoft are saying, it’s true that they don’t plan to bring out Windows 11 a year later, having re-written it in the same way they have done since they first brought out Windows 1.0

But it doesn’t mean they aren’t going to change it. Instead they’ll be concentrating on the automatic updates that you get every week or so.

They already happen, fixing bugs and adding little tiny changes. But most of the time you don’t notice the differences from them.

But in the future, that’s how they’ll develop Windows itself.

I’m in two minds about this. On the one hand, it’ll be convenient that everyone will have the same version. And you won’t have to pay for a new one when it comes out.

But on the other hand, you could be happily using your PC and then one day find out a button has changed colour… or moved… or it can now do something it couldn’t before.

That could be confusing… so a lot depends on how well they do the updates and changes. I suspect they’ll tend to do only small, “bug fixes” most of the time then occasionally bring out a batch of changes to how it actually works. But it depends what they decide.

This way of working is a lot more like how most tablets get updates – both Apple (for the iPad) and Google (for Android tablets) do it more or less this way, so in some ways it makes sense for Microsoft to be the same.

But first, we have to get to Windows 10 – it’s not out just yet…

More about “Tablet Help is at Hand”
The information about the new book, Tablet Help is at Hand, is here.
But even there I can’t mention everything it covers. For example:

A drastic fix for many problems. Sometimes, it’s a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but there are times when nothing else will help – and here’s what you should do first, too. Page 6

The four possible solutions if a particular apps “freezes” or won’t open – what order to try them in and why one won’t work on a Kindle Fire. Page 7-10

If you find the screen too sensitive, there are 3 things you can do to help. Number 2 is really clever – the fact that it works is accidental, but it can still work! Page 24-25

Why it doesn’t matter if you accidentally delete a new app, film or ebook. Page 50

The most common reason for having a problem with the camera is there’s something in the way – maybe the device is in a case the wrong way round! But there are some more “techie” issues that could be the problem – number 4 you’d probably never think of for yourself. Page 61

The mysterious case of the disappearing emails – a not-unusual problem… (but worrying when it happens to you) Page 105

Junk Mail/Spam… things to do and to never do in an attempt to reduce how much you get (you can never be sure to avoid all of it, I’m afraid). Page 112

So if you haven’t already ordered your copy, why not have a look at the information here… and if you like, you can order a free trial copy.

5 thoughts on “The Windows to end all Windows (and what Yes, Minister has to do with it)

  1. Sheila Newble

    I have just received the book “Tablet help is at hand”(thank you). Looking through it, I have no doubt that it is going to be a life-saver.

    Reply
    1. Tim Post author

      Thanks for the kind comments! It’s certainly looking like it’s going to be popular.
      Tim

      Reply
  2. Liz

    Windows 10, I’m hoping it will be a lot more user friendly than Windows 8.1??
    Tin,you might consider a book on help installing Windows 10,when the time is right?

    Reply
    1. Tim Post author

      Yes, I think it’s going to be more user friendly – the trial version we’re using is a bit more like Windows 7 with some tweaks.
      Good suggestion about help on installing it when it comes – watch this space!
      Tim

      Reply
  3. Jill

    Yes, I would find it easier to pay online for the books I’ve ordered or the free trial copy if I decide to keep.
    Thanks for considering it.

    Reply

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