http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/06/02/windows-10-features-removed-windows-7-windows-8/
Tempted by Windows 10? You should be.
I have been part of the Windows 10 beta program since day one and I’ve witnessed the evolution of an OS that blends the best aspects of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Unfortunately Microsoft has now also confirmed that Windows 10 will kill some of its predecessors’ most loved features…
Microsoft has confirmed this on its newly published Windows 10 specifications page under a section diplomatically called ‘Feature deprecation’.
In fairness some ‘feature deprecation’ makes sense – not all features last forever – but the surprise is Microsoft has chosen fairly large features that may even cause some users to think twice about upgrading.
The full list is as follows:
[EGG]•If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center, or Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center and you install Windows 10, Windows Media Center will be removed.
•Watching DVDs requires separate playback software
•Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be removed as part of installing Windows 10.
•Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.
•Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts Games that come pre-installed on Windows 7 will be removed as part of installing the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft has released our version of Solitaire and Minesweeper called the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper.”
•If you have a USB floppy drive, you will need to download the latest driver from Windows Update or from the manufacturer’s website.
•If you have Windows Live Essentials installed on your system, the OneDrive application is removed and replaced with the inbox version of OneDrive.[/EGG]
Yes, that’s some big stuff.
The most high profile removals are Windows Media Center, desktop gadgets and native driver support for USB floppy drives, but the one that should really catch your eye is how desktop updates will be handled for Windows 10 Home users.
Windows 10 Home will be by far the biggest selling version of Windows 10 (it is the one intended for mainstream consumers) and with it Microsoft now has complete control over what upgrades you will receive – in short: everything…
Windows 7 and 8 users are now prompted to get Windows 10
Given Windows 10 will be free to many upgraders, having the ability to nag them in future about upgrading to new editions and other Microsoft products in general (perhaps even promotions) seems a vital business strategy for the company.
In fact i#
f it sells this advertising space (there’s no indication it will) this could also be worth millions, after all it’s a display position Google and Facebook could only dream about.
All of which may have some users thinking about whether they want to make the jump to Windows 10 in the first place. Personally speaking I think the trade-off is worth it. While Windows 8 received a lot of (fair and unfair) criticism, Windows 10 is the true spiritual successor to Windows 7 without sacrificing the good stuff from 8.
Tempted by Windows 10? You should be.
I have been part of the Windows 10 beta program since day one and I’ve witnessed the evolution of an OS that blends the best aspects of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Unfortunately Microsoft has now also confirmed that Windows 10 will kill some of its predecessors’ most loved features…
Microsoft has confirmed this on its newly published Windows 10 specifications page under a section diplomatically called ‘Feature deprecation’.
In fairness some ‘feature deprecation’ makes sense – not all features last forever – but the surprise is Microsoft has chosen fairly large features that may even cause some users to think twice about upgrading.
The full list is as follows:
[EGG]•If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center, or Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center and you install Windows 10, Windows Media Center will be removed.
•Watching DVDs requires separate playback software
•Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be removed as part of installing Windows 10.
•Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.
•Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts Games that come pre-installed on Windows 7 will be removed as part of installing the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft has released our version of Solitaire and Minesweeper called the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper.”
•If you have a USB floppy drive, you will need to download the latest driver from Windows Update or from the manufacturer’s website.
•If you have Windows Live Essentials installed on your system, the OneDrive application is removed and replaced with the inbox version of OneDrive.[/EGG]
Yes, that’s some big stuff.
The most high profile removals are Windows Media Center, desktop gadgets and native driver support for USB floppy drives, but the one that should really catch your eye is how desktop updates will be handled for Windows 10 Home users.
Windows 10 Home will be by far the biggest selling version of Windows 10 (it is the one intended for mainstream consumers) and with it Microsoft now has complete control over what upgrades you will receive – in short: everything…
Windows 7 and 8 users are now prompted to get Windows 10
Given Windows 10 will be free to many upgraders, having the ability to nag them in future about upgrading to new editions and other Microsoft products in general (perhaps even promotions) seems a vital business strategy for the company.
In fact i#
f it sells this advertising space (there’s no indication it will) this could also be worth millions, after all it’s a display position Google and Facebook could only dream about.
All of which may have some users thinking about whether they want to make the jump to Windows 10 in the first place. Personally speaking I think the trade-off is worth it. While Windows 8 received a lot of (fair and unfair) criticism, Windows 10 is the true spiritual successor to Windows 7 without sacrificing the good stuff from 8.
Yeah, I sittin' here wondering what the hell is a USB floppy drive? 
I still have a floppy on my Windows ME Machine! Hot stuff! 
