Windows 10 could prompt upgrades of 600M aging PCs

[A Guy]

Microsoft's Windows 10 is still in testing, but hardware makers can't wait for the day the OS replaces the controversial Windows 8.

Millions of PCs are aging, and those who have resisted Windows 8 will likely upgrade to computers with Windows 10. The initial reception to a test version of Windows 10 has been positive, as it resolves many usability issues affecting Windows 8.

There are about 600 million PCs that are four years or older, and those systems are ripe for upgrades, said Renee James, president at Intel, at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference on Tuesday.

Source

A Guy

 

[gulls777]

after trying out preview, it feels more like an upgrade for 8.1 users.
i don't see how making a half baked start menu could attract those stuck at 7.

 

[Wordsworth]

"There are about 600 million PCs that are four years or older, and those systems are ripe for upgrades, said Renee James, president at Intel, at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference on Tuesday."

It's understandable that manufacturers are hoping Win 10 becomes a gold mine. But things are not like the old days.

For myself, when I was an avid gamer I upgraded often. If there were a new GPU interface I wanted in my system that meant a new motherboard, cpu, etc. The only game I play now is a three year old Dirt 3, and this five-year old i7 920 does just fine for that and everything else I need to do.

CPU speed was once a big thing especially when they were increasing in large increments down a pretty fast manufacturing pipeline. Today I don't see people in my neck of the woods upgrading to a new system very often; in times past it could be a worthwhile upgrade to go from a 600 MHz Pentium III to a 1.7 GHz Pentium IV a couple of years later. Now, a five year-old system can perform very well, especially with multiple cores, some of which are still not used for many programs and games. If it ain't broke why fix it?

That doesn't mean I won't consider upgrading to Win 10. But then this i7 920 will still run it just fine so unfortunately for the manufacturers I don't need to upgrade the hardware.

 

[fireberd]

As I mentioned on this same thread in the Windows 8 forum, I installed the preview but am not impressed. Its basically Windows 8.1 without the full metro apps. The Start menu is a joke. If they want older OS users to upgrade the Start Menu needs to be like Windows 7. On my Win 8.1 machine I use the "Start8" that makes the Win 8.1 Start Menu just like Win 7.

I've tested my recording studio software (Sonar X3) in Win 10 Preview and it appears to install and work OK. Main reason I installed the Win 10 preview, now, as there was a report by a user that they couldn't get Sonar X3 to install in their Win 10 installation.

 

[ThrashZone]

I fail to see any "usability" issues that were solved in 10TP from 8.1...
As Firebird already stated 8.... with start8 is better so 10 is actually a step backwards into an even more annoying Bing world

8 and 10 don't have really demanding resource requirements except a good fast internet connection for all of the built in Live apps.
If your machine will run 7 it will run 8-10

 

[Iain]

Microsoft's Windows 10 is still in testing, but hardware makers can't wait for the day the OS replaces the controversial Windows 8.

Millions of PCs are aging, and those who have resisted Windows 8 will likely upgrade to computers with Windows 10. The initial reception to a test version of Windows 10 has been positive, as it resolves many usability issues affecting Windows 8.

There are about 600 million PCs that are four years or older, and those systems are ripe for upgrades, said Renee James, president at Intel, at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference on Tuesday.

Source

A Guy

My new laptop arrived earlier this week.

After familiarising myself with Win 8.1, I decided to skip that OS and ordered new machine with Win 7 Pro installed instead of win 8.1 Pro.

Now waiting for Win 10 to see what it has to offer over Win 7. If Microsoft have sorted system image backup and restored the Aero interface, then I might give Win 10 a go.

 

[tinmar49]

I think that W10 will be better than 8/8.1 and will upgrade from them if the opportunity arises. However, I will keep W7 for the foreseeable future.

 

[FerchogtX]

There are about 600 million PCs that are four years or older, and those systems are ripe for upgrades, said Renee James, president at Intel, at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference on Tuesday.

My PC's are on this trend, but work like a charm... and I really hope manufacturers don't try to force MS into that trend of making the OS heavier so you have to buy new stuff... My machines run just fine and I don't need to replace them that soon... The preview was excelent as far as I tested, very little annoyances, but bypassable while you can work as you should on your desktop. Start Menu now is very customizable, useful and fast.

You are on the good way MS, don't break things again...

 

[lehnerus2000]

Wrong Direction

IMO, the W10 TP previews having been going backwards.
The first one b9841 was almost perfect (for my use).

The last two updates (b9860, b9879) have broken the new desktop Window Snapping (the improvement that impressed me in b9841).

Window Snapping (b9841)​

​

I especially want the ability to create the layout shown in the last picture to be restored.

 

[RoasterMen]

My computer is 7 years old and is still banging the benchmarks. I will only upgrade to a socket LGA 1155 if I need to.