New Features in Windows 10

Windows 10 is Microsofts latest version of Windows, following their last version, called Windows 8. Obviously most people are comfortable with the computer system they know, but in the main, Windows 10 does appear to be a better product than the earlier versions of Windows.

Below are 8 new or updated Windows features that make it different to the earlier
versions of Windows. The whole look of the operating system has also been upgraded with
many other subtle changes and updates including features to make the system adapt to both touch screen tablets and regular desktop computers. Microsoft claim the system is more secure and also faster than previous versions of Windows.




The Start Menu is back. If you have used Windows XP or Windows 7, you would remember the start menu that pops up when you click the Windows icon in the bottom left hand corner. In Windows 8 this was replaced with a Start screen, but the good news is the menu is back with many improvements.





Edge Browser with tab previews. Microsoft has launched a new internet browser called Edge. Although the old Internet Explorer is still available in Windows 10, Edge is a simplified and faster browser with some good features, such as being able to quickly see previews of any open tabs and tools to make notes on websites.





Task Switcher. When you press the ALT and TAB keys together you can switch between programs and files you have open on your computer. Windows 10 introduces larger previews of your open windows making it easier to select the Window you want to jump to, and it also adds a new Task View shortcut in the taskbar.





Quick Access in Windows Explorer. When you open Windows Explorer to view folders and files, by default it now opens in a Quick Access view which shows a list of recent folders and files you have accessed, which is a time saver for documents you are working on and need to find quickly.





Virtual Desktops. Windows 10 allows you to have multiple desktops, which means you can have one set of programs and files open on one desktop, and a different set on another, keeping things you are working on a little more organized, especially if you are multitasking on two different projects at a time. Desktops are accessed in the Task Switcher view.





New Settings panel. Windows 10 has updated its settings menu bringing the most used settings all into one place, including some that before were on the control panel. The new settings menu is found on the Start Menu, and the original Control Panel is still available by searching for it in the start menu.





Desktop & Tablet Mode. When Microsoft launched Windows 8, they had the touch screen in mind, but many people complained that it was not as good to use on a desktop. With Windows 10 you can switch between two different modes, one which is tailored to suit a desktop or laptop computer, and the other for tablet users.





Split View. In previous versions of Windows you could see two windows side by side, which is great for editing or comparing two documents. What is new in Windows 10 is that you can adjust the width of one window and the other will automatically adjust to fill the available space.