QOTW: Would you be comfortable using Windows 10 S?

[skotsbox]

When Windows 10 was first unveiled the CEO uttered the phrase Windows as a service. And more and more that's what they're moving towards. The new CEO Microsoft is ruining the company. Windows phones which I use was only taking a small market share but they used to be working on their not anymore. The same thing with the Microsoft band. All their focusing on his windows as a service. I have a dual-boot Windows 7 Windows 10. I used seven more. I just don't like the look of windows 10 and Mormor they're taking the controls out. The control panel is messing in the newest build. The controls are where you just have to dig for them. I'm not go without.
So to answer your question hell no what I usually locked so

[Gunbuster]

I'm extremely uncomfortable about running 10
A bit squimish about running 8.1
and 7 is a bit like an old friend who has seen better days.

7 HP at the moment, 8.1 later for me. 10 LTS or what ever work around if I can get it legit.

Ultimately I am learning Manjaro KDE because of this monkey business.

[blokeinkent]

I don't think there'd be many that would be able to consider it as a complete desktop solution - perhaps on a secondary device it might be competent enough as an alternative to shelling out on a big brother license if you can live without the little 3rd party bells and whistle apps we all cling to for years.

As a developer however I've been stung too many times to get excited about any of Microsoft's attempts to become "the next best thing" in anything other than the stalwarts they're good at.

I put a lot into trying to get a couple of projects off of the ground with Windows 10 IoT Core on the Pi platform in an educational environment but they were dead in the water, solely down to Microsoft refusing to do anything about the state of accelerated chipset drivers. It was embarrassing trying to get even the most basic gui element going, and cost me dearly.

[sig]

No, because of Windows Store. Microsoft probably add that limitation to enforce developer go into Windows Store.

[lodore]

Hell no!

The lack of good apps is one of the reasons windows mobile failed.

[Top_gun]

Nope -single point failure.

[Saracen]

It depends.

Ignoring, for the moment, the fact that I refuse (for other reasons) to use Win10 at, in any version, and don't see that changing, it would depend on what I wanted the device for.

Currently, I have several PCs dedicated to specific purposes. If, for some task-specific device, Win10S and Store offered everything I needed then, for such task-specific devices, yes I would.

After all, a couple of my task-specific machines are currently running WinXP for much the same reason - it does everything I need and what I need doesn't change.

However .... for any generic PC of mine, which is what most people use most machines for, then hell no, Win10S is not an acceptable option.

For some users, with minimal and specified needs, a machine that is more locked down and therefore more secure, may have it's advantages. I certainly can see a case for it. But for most purposes, and certainly for me, no way.

[pa1nkiller]

No, it would prevent me from using all of the software that I use on a daily basis. The first three pieces of software that I install on a Windows machine are Spybot Antibeacon to block the telemetry, Classic Shell to bring back a proper start menu and Desksoft WindowManager to keep the folders where I want them.

Microsoft obviously haven't learnt from the failures of Windows RT and Windows Phone.

[Corky34]

The direct answer to would i be comfortable using Windows 10 S is a no but then again 10S isn't really intended for the likes of me, it's designed (IMO) to eventually replace all preinstalled version of Windows, it's a way of making sure average people who buy a Windows device set up a Microsoft account along with entering their name, address, and CC details so they can use the Windows Store to either purchase apps or upgrade to a real version of Windows.

It's basically designed to channel customers towards the Windows Store in the hope that once they're there they'll be more likely to buy things.

[Friesiansam]

No I wouldn't but, as it is not aimed at home users I don't see a problem. I expect it will work well in the usage scenarios it is aimed at.

[Output]

Considering the fact that I'm not even comfortable enough to use a regular Windows 10 installation, it's even more of an emphatic "NO!" for a version with even more features locked down.

[ET3D]

I wouldn't use it myself, but I might enjoy having it installed on PC's of some family members, on the assumption that it would reduce the need for support. If Microsoft releases Windows S as a cheap or free option for custom PC's, I'd consider installing it for some people. I can see two caveats:

Office or alternatives. I'd wait to see what price the Windows Store version of Office will have.

Drivers. With no third party installs, drivers could be an issue. In particular, printer drivers (which are the only thing that really matters for most users).

[s_ATI_sfied]

How is this any different to what Apple have done for the last... well, ever?

Usually these forums are full of people praising their locked in system for it's security and compatibility, yet the moment MS do the same thing, everyone is suddenly a freedom fighter who hates a locked in ecosystem.

The hypocrisy is startling and unbelievably amusing.

Make your mind up people

[Saracen]

How is this any different to what Apple have done for the last... well, ever?

Usually these forums are full of people praising their locked in system for it's security and compatibility, yet the moment MS do the same thing, everyone is suddenly a freedom fighter who hates a locked in ecosystem.

The hypocrisy is startling and unbelievably amusing.

Make your mind up people

You must be thinking of a different forum. This place has never been 'full of" people praising that. Though, like any other large group, there are some that like Apple hardware and OSs, and that sort of control does have some advantages. But to most of us, and I'd guess about 90%, the freedom of PCs is the way to go, and MSs apparent determination to make Windows more and more abour the users PC being configured how MS want it, and under MS control, is a major part of why I don't use any MS OS later than Win7. And probably not even that for much longer.

[spacein_vader]

I wouldn't use it myself, but I might enjoy having it installed on PC's of some family members, on the assumption that it would reduce the need for support. If Microsoft releases Windows S as a cheap or free option for custom PC's, I'd consider installing it for some people. I can see two caveats:

Office or alternatives. I'd wait to see what price the Windows Store version of Office will have.

Drivers. With no third party installs, drivers could be an issue. In particular, printer drivers (which are the only thing that really matters for most users).

I pretty much fall into this category. I have family members that would be easier to support this way on 2 conditions: some sort of rdp like remote admin is possible either via the OS or a Windows store app & that the app ecosystem is significantly more robust than at present.

My biggest concern is only Edge being available. My hope is that Mozilla will make Firefox available as there is no way Chrome will be. Google are trying to leverage Chrome as their own walled garden not have it contribute to anyone else's.

[Otherhand]

There's no chance I'd accept being locked to the Store, but as you say in the article I could just pay a bit extra to use W10 Pro and then that problem is solved. It's a distinctly odd marketing decision, but I don't think it's a big issue.

If they want to promote the Store, it needs to be good. It needs to offer significant savings, at least in the form of seasonal sales, to keep me checking it out as an alternative. It needs heavy curation to bar the rubbish and clutter. There needs to be a kind of Microsoft "Seal of Quality" assurance that nothing likely to disappoint will be allowed on the Store. Right now, many of the Universal offerings from major players are appallingly bad, to the point that I pick up my phone to use the "real" versions when I'm sitting at my PC.