only now i saw your reply so here is it

. windows store - its worrisome cause microsoft power can threaten innovative stores like GOG

. forced telemetry - with always-on net software providers feel they need to monitor you and i'm against it

. forced auto-updates - they already confirm this, with the home edition you no longer have choice and that is very bad

. internet as requirement - in the past never saw microsoft listing internet as a requirement for a OS and that for me is worrisome

. windows as a service/client - personal computers were never "clients" but stand-alone machines, so making it a client means less power to you user and more to the provider

Exactly why I won't be using it. It IS optional. For now, at least. And if that ever changes then I'll switch to Linux. I've had my toes in it since 1998 and actively working toward getting myself off of system locked software and using open source/cross platform whenever possible. The last holdouts have been Adobe products due to my job... still not sure what I'm going to do about those if I need to jump ship to Linux. WINE is an option for older versions, but I have to stay up with the latest versions for client compatibility. Again, this is only for the dev/insider preview. This is not going into the retail release. And if it "accidentally" does, security experts will raise all kinds of hell. You and I interpret that very differently. I read it as home users can't turn off updates entirely (which, let's be honest, is a good thing), not that updates are forced on them at Microsoft's whim. I, personally, always have updates automatically downloaded, but don't let them install until I'm ready for them. Which I've not seen anything with their statement that indicates otherwise. Internet has been a requirement since at least 2000/2001, and even earlier than that for Linux, early 90's even. Where you been the last 15 or so years? Personal computers have always been clients. You either have the server bundled in, as is with most computers these days, or you have a "thin client" that is little more than a screen with a keyboard and mouse, connecting to a server.

I think you're confusing "service" with "server". Windows as a service is worrisome only in so much as they could, at some point, start charging a subscription fee. You already have this, basically, in the enterprise environment. But, unless they've been lying through their teeth (which I absolutely wouldn't put it past them), Windows is not moving to a subscription model. What they are saying with "Windows as a service" is that they want to move away from "versions" and just have Windows, so you're always on the latest Windows with the latest updates. No more of this clinging to a 14 year old operating system that's the bane of security and the boon of malware dealers everywhere.

It's a bit like what Apple has done with OS X. Instead of charging $130 for the new version, they're just giving it away for free, because the more people using the latest version with the latest security updates, the better for everyone (except malware pushers, of course). Apple's money comes from their hardware. Microsoft's money comes from their business products and enterprise. Windows licenses are a drop in the bucket and they can give it away like candy and not be affected, financially, in the least. Hell, the vast majority of Windows licenses are to OEMs which are often given it for free or nearly free, anyway. No, Dell/HP/Lenovo/Toshiba/etc. does not pay the same $100 for an OEM Windows that you pay... if they pay anything, it's maybe $10.

in 2004 steam was also "optional" and look what happened 10 years later i haven't seen that, what i see is more and more everyone not questioning corporations so you're telling me home users shouldn't have control over their own pcs, i disagree PCs require a CPU, RAM, graphic card a Hard Disk but not a net connection PCs are not thin-clients, PCs are self-sufficient, you can take a PC to a desert island and it will work fine if XP works fine for me why do you want to force me to stop using it? do i also tell you how should you live your life?

You can't drive without a driver's license. And cars without working seatbelts can't be driven regularly at all. This is to prevent people from endangering themselves and others through ignorance and a lack of basic precautions.

Similarly, using an XP computer to go online is putting yourself (payment info, any important records saved on your computer, etc) and others (people who get spam sent from your PC, friends who use your network while at your house) in danger. XP is no longer securable without precautions far beyond what the average, or even well-informed, person can sustain.

XP does not 'work fine'. XP is a fundamentally limited tool designed for a different time and is no longer sufficient, much like Model T cars are no longer sufficient.

The number of Microsoft shills is too damn high.

Who's forcing you to buy from Steam? Uh... what? I've seen more push back against corporations in the last 5 years than I've ever seen. I'm telling you home users shouldn't leave their PCs unprotected and a shining beacon for all the malware out in the wild. Again... how do you do updates? I know, because they have both client and server components. Did you even bother reading what I wrote before replying? XP is not "fine" and hasn't been for several years now. You put not only yourself, but anyone you interact with at risk. So yes, you need to upgrade. Either upgrade or get off the internet permanently. Your choice.

Just upgraded to Windows 10, and found some real problems, most to do with the Start Menu.

None of the programs I had pinned to the Start Menu appear in the Start Menu under Windows 10
(I upgraded from Windows 7 Professional).

When I clicked on the GOG entry, all the games, settings links, and documents were right there, under GOG (no sub-folders, so I have something like 50 "manual.pdf" files listed, with no idea what game each is for).

This is not a good start.

EDIT: I found a solution to most of the Start Menu problems: http://www.classicshell.net/

With all the security concerns as well, it's really looking like Windows 7 is the last "good" version of Windows.

Considering that, within a year they are probably going to force everyone to switch to Windows 10, and pay for it, this is not promising in the least. Linux (confusing at parts of it can be) may be our last, best hope. I guess that means it's a good thing many of our beloved games are getting Linux versions now.

I've never really trusted Windows as a platform for anything but gaming and internet, but now I'm wondering if I will have to abandon many of my games that just don't run under Linux.