ce magazine november issue 2021

1

Thanks to all who contributed to CE
Magazine. Have an article you would like
contribute? You can mail it to:
CE, P.O. Box 8619
Michigan City In 46360
Or E-Mail it to
computerease@juno.com
CE Magazine is part of OtherSide Ministries © all rights
reserved
Founder & Chief Editor
Peter Nadal
Editor
Pamela Kennoy
Art & Design
Peter Nadal
Our Writers
Rodrigo Esperanza
Nomar Shaw
Diane G
In our Vol. 4 November 2021 Issue 11
5 Hey Pete! Fall Foliage: Tips For Taking
Great Fall Photos
9 Biz Cards board!! Hey its free
10 CE MAGAZINE LINKS TABLET
11 5 Ways Technology Can Make Thanksgiving
Better
14 4G is Coming to the Moon
16 A Do-It-Yourself Basic PC Repair Resource
Guide
19 Windows 10 Vs Windows 8 Vs Windows 7:
What's The Difference?
30 Thanksgiving from all of us
Outside Sources On This Month issue
John Huegel / CMIT / Tegan Jones
Gordon Kelly
Front Cover... Leaf for a skirt
By Jasmine Alley
Original Computer-Ease logo ©
Michigan City, In
Vol 4 November 2021 issue 11
2

From Pete’s Desk
Like every year, nature gives us a show of all the
shades of colors from the trees to bushes and cold
rain for you to have some hot chocolate (aaah or a
wine cooler) while seating on your cozy chair in
front of a nice fireplace looking at flames dancing for you. Our Halloween edition,
for those of you who did not see it, was based on gore and like always here at CE
Magazine or CEM we have fun creating spook, horror and some of the best gory
makeup we have seen this year., oh, and short story of John Rosetta The Vampire,
written by yours truly.
The front cover is Leaf for a skirt by Jasmine Alley . On ―Hey Pete‖ great pictures
of John Huegel, with a very easy learning with all the tips he wrote. So go to his
site, just look it over and study the adjustment with your camera… Have fun!
Nick stopped by the CEM office and asked me if I would re run the ad from last
year and naturally I said yes, we sat down and Nick poured some holiday cheer (I
have no idea what‘s in that bottle) had few laughs and he got up, walked to the door
waved at me and in a puff of smoke he was gone.
Be safe and wear your mask if need to.
Have a great Thanksgiving….
3

INVITE A VETERAN FOR YOUR THANKSGIVING!
You may know one, Nick did!
Note says: “Dear Veteran, You are cordially invited for a great Thanksgiving dinner at my house and it
starts at 6pm. Bring your appetite, your neighbor ...Nick” the photo is real!
At the request of Nick here at CE Magazine we were more than happy to repeat this ad
4

How do you do that?
How-to take great pictures with the expertise of John Huegel, a
very easy learning with all the tips he wrote. To go the web site,
click on the link just below… Have fun!
Fall Foliage: Tips For Taking Great Fall Photos
1. Use Indirect Light
Try to avoid bright sunny days, which tend to increase the contrast and brightness
of the colors. Instead, go for partial or full shade. Shooting on overcast or rainy
days can emphasize the earth tones and the depth of color of fall trees and leaves.
Raindrops on fresh fallen leaves deepen the colors and create great patterns of light.
Photo by Yasunari( 康 就 ) Nakamura( 中 村 ); ISO 200, f/2.4, 1/40-second exposure.
5

2. See Close and Far
While you may be spellbound by a mountain covered in colored leaves, your
camera may not capture the full detail. Try to get some detail of individual leaves or
trees in the foreground.
3. Compose for Impact
Foliage is usually an emphasis on color, but you can also capture shapes, lines, and
patterns through close-ups of leaves and other items.
To keep the image dynamic, consider the rule of thirds, where your object of
interest is not in the center, but placed at an intersection of imaginary vertical and
horizontal lines which split the viewfinder into thirds in both directions.
4. Control the Focus
A wide open f-stop (low number, e.g. f/2) will sharpen the item in focus but will
blur much of the background. This is good for close-up shots of leaves and people.
Point-and-shoot camera users can choose the ―portrait‖ setting to achieve this
effect. A small f-stop (large number, e.g. f/11) will put more of the background in
focus, but will also lower the shutter speed and be more susceptible to blur from
camera shake or object movement. Often the ―landscape‖ setting on a point-andshoot
will set these preferences.
5. Balance the Brightness
If you have people in your image, you may need a touch of fill flash to lessen the
―raccoon eyes‖ and give them a bit of brightness compared to the background. Try
to balance the brightness of their faces and the background foliage so that you don‘t
have one underexposed and the other too bright. If you place your subjects just at
the edge of a wooded area, their faces will be lit more than the trees behind them,
creating a focal point of interest.
6

Photo by Chris Murphy; ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/125-second exposure.
6. Know the White Balance
If you can‘t set a custom white balance, you may want to try the ―shade‖ setting.
Often cameras will get confused with all of that color, and you may end up with
skin tones that are strange.
7. Stabilize the Camera
If your camera settings result in a shutter speed less than 1/100 second, you may
want to stabilize your camera. This can be as simple as setting it on a rigid surface,
such as a rock or fence post, or bring a monopod or tripod. Monopods make great
hiking poles! And don‘t hold your point-and-shoot out at arm‘s length and expect to
get a crisp shot.
8. Go for High Quality
Normally I recommend higher ISO (sensitivity) for shady or darker scenes, but in
this case I recommend to keep the ISO low to capture all of the detail of the colors
and leaves. Higher ISO often brings with it noise, and you want to limit that. Try for
ISO 100–200 if you can.
7

9. Don’t Forget the Fruit
This is a great time to get some shots of fall fruit stands. Baskets of apples, squash,
and grapes are great studies. So are pumpkins, haystacks, and corn. Take some time
to appreciate the color and fall bounty. Mums and other fall flowers are in full
bloom, as well. These images make great icons of the season.
Photo by liz west; ISO 640, f/18.0, 1/80-second exposure.
10. Finish Creatively
Even though there‘s lots of color, try finishing some photos in black and white
and/or sepia to emphasize lines and shape. Play around with brightness, contrast,
and saturation to provide more depth and interest. Consider printing and framing
some images or making up some note cards to give as gifts.
To summarize, you‘ll want high quality, stable shots, good lighting and
composition, creative framing, and good exposure control. Use your eyes and
creative talents, and capture some great fall images!
About the Author: John Huegel is a photographer in the Erie, Pennsylvania area who
specializes in Seniors, Dance Studio, Families and other groups. He operates a blog for
professional photographers at http://newphotopro.blogspot.com. He is active in many
charitable and volunteer activities in the Erie area
Enjoy yourself and Happy Thanksgiving… from Peter
8

9

CE MAGAZINE LINKS TABLET
By Nomar Shaw
Creative Father Makes Crazy Photo Manipulations
with His Three Daughters
This Designer Can Flawlessly Photoshop 5-6
Different Photos into One perfect Composite
Image
Fine Art children portraits with
Photo manipulation and compositing.
10

5 Ways Technology Can Make Thanksgiving Better
It‘s that time of year again: turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie,
the presence of friends and family, and a reason to give thanks for all of our good
fortune in the last year.
If there‘s one thing most of us want to NOT think about on Thanksgiving, it‘s
technology. Put the smartphones away, pack up the laptop, and disconnect for one
day, right? Well, technology can actually help to bring us together on this most
American of holidays, provided it‘s put to good use instead of as a distraction from
family time.
Here are 5 ways to put technology to work for you this Thanksgiving, all of which
will hopefully result in a more relaxing holiday:
11

1. Cooking and meal planning apps.
Sure, Grandma put out a delicious spread for 15 people without relying on so much
as a recipe. But in this digital day and age, doesn‘t it make more sense to utilize
technology when you‘re prepping and cooking for three days straight? From
shopping and planning list apps like Clear+ to recipe clearinghouses like Butterball
Cookbook Plus to menu assistants like Snapguide to project management sorters
like KitchenPad Timer to interactive scales and high-tech thermometers, the app
store can be your best (and cheapest) friend as you prepare for Thursday‘s feast.
2. Skype, FaceTime, or other video calling services.
Far away from your loved ones? Good thing Internet-based video calling is easy,
cheap, and everywhere. Whether you prefer Skype, FaceTime, or another video
conferencing service, don‘t let distance keep you from telling that absent relative
how much you love and miss them this Thanksgiving.
3. DVR, TiVo, or other video/TV solution.
Everybody wants to watch their own personal Thanksgiving tradition: the Macy‘s
Parade, football games, ―A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving‖… Rather than fighting
over the remote, though, let‘s put technology like DVR, TiVo, or even the
streaming service that can dial up Aunt Martha‘s favorite show in an instant to use.
Don‘t like watching TV? Use that giant screen to let everyone display family
pictures from throughout the year (Note: one tech-wise family member required).
4. The electric carving knife.
Doesn‘t sound very technologically involved — but ask anyone who‘s had to cut up
a turkey the old-fashioned way whether they‘d prefer a semi-sharp blade or an
electric carving knife come dinner time on Thursday. This time-saver and
frustration-minimizer is the ultimate in basic Thanksgiving technology.
5. Tech support from the goodness of our hearts.
Let‘s face it: our technologically disinclined relatives will always need a hand with
their computer, smartphone, or digital camera. We know how frustrating it can be to
help them learn the ins and outs of their device, but this Thanksgiving, remember
12

that we do it because we love them — and they love us right back when we can
finally figure out how to turn the darn thing on.
BONUS TIP:
If you‘re a Black Friday aficionado, remember that lining up at 12:01 AM isn‘t the
only way to get a good deal. Websites and apps that catalog operating hours, sales,
and other information proliferate. And you can always stay home and relax by
shopping online, as well.
This Thanksgiving, don‘t let technology ruin your day. Instead, put the best
attributes of the digital age to work to make the holiday even more meaningful.
Most of all, remember to give thanks for the friends beside us, the food before us,
and the love between us. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at CMIT Solutions!
CE Magazine public service
13

4G is Coming to the Moon
Tegan Jones
Published over a year ago: October 19, 2020 at 11:50 am -Filed to:4g
Image: Getty Credit: Earth image from NASA https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/79790/city-lights-ofasia-and-australia
Over the past few years there‘s been talk of installing an LTE network on the moon.
Now, thanks to a contract between NASA and Nokia, 4G moon connectivity is
closer to becoming a reality.
4G Moon Connectivity
NASA has announced it is giving Nokia $US14.1 million (which is just why of $20
million in Aussie dollars) to build a 4G LTE network that will work on the moon.
The purpose of the network is for more reliable communication between astronauts
while on the moon.
14

This funding is just a small part of Project Artemis, NASA‘s $US370 million
attempt to land on the moon in 2024.
―With NASA funding, Nokia will look at how terrestrial technology could be
modified for the lunar environment to support reliable, high-rate communications,‖
NASA Associate Administrator James Reuter said to United Press International.
―The system would also extend to spacecraft,‖ Reuter said. ―With NASA funding,
Nokia will look at how terrestrial technology could be modified for the lunar
environment to support reliable, high-rate communications.‖
What‘s also interesting about this is the plans for it to be 4G, despite the launch
being four years from now. Maybe it will pivot to 5G?
It ain’t the first attempt
We first learned about a 4G moon network back in 2017. German company
PTScientists was planning on the first ever privately-funded trip to the moon using
a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Part of the purpose of this trip was to study an Apollo 17
rover that was left on the moon back in 1972.
At the time, Nokia and Vodafone announced a joining of forces to help transmit
video of the rover through an LTE network.
―The 4G network will enable the Audi lunar quattro rovers to communicate and
transfer scientific data and HD video while they carefully approach and study
NASA‘s Apollo 17 lunar roving vehicle that was used by the last astronauts to walk
on the Moon,‖ Nokia said at the time.
In the end, that trip never eventuated, but clearly the dream for 4G on the moon has
not died. When NASA returns to the moon it seems like it will be taking mobile
connectivity with it.
More From Gizmodo Australia
Amazon Boss Jeff Bezos Wants To Send Packages To The Moon Now
After 7 Months, NASA Reminds Voyager 2 Probe That Earth Is Still Here
Water on the Moon: Research Unveils Its Type and Abundance
NASA’s Big Moon News: There’s Water All Over the Place
15

A Do-It-Yourself Basic PC Repair Resource Guide
Basic computer maintenance and repair can be done easily at home. Some common
problems are random error messages, computer being too slow, blue screen, frozen screen,
and automatic rebooting. It’s a common misconception that repairing a computer requires a
lot of expertise. In actuality, any common person can service simple computer problems.
There are numerous sites on the Internet that provide support for computers repairs. These
sites contain step-by-step detailed instructions so it’s not hard to repair some of the more
complicated problems. For any problem, just use a search engine and type in the problem.
After that, you will learn the severity of the computer problem and determine if it can be
repaired easily.
The obvious benefit of repairing the PC is the cost advantage. You save the amount you pay
to service person and also get any parts or software to be replaced at a lower rate. You can
save hundreds of dollars by fixing the problem on your own. Another advantage is the time
taken to get the PC up and running. Service personnel can take their own sweet time to
come and repair it. Even service centers may take a couple of days to service the system
while you can get it done in matter of hours!
One common problem is when a blue screen appears and the PC does not work at all. In this
case, you will have to restart the computer as there is no other option. This is called a STOP
error and it can be fixed by using the appropriate STOP code. These codes can be found
online quite easily. Depending on the error, the user can choose the best one and resolve
the problem. By learning how to solve these basic PC problems, the user can avoid bigger
and more difficult problems down the line.
Check the computer and identify the problem. In some instances, all it takes is to restart the
computer. If this does not work, check the antivirus and spyware software to see if they are
updated. Restart the computer in safe mode and type the F8 key which displays the boot
screen. Run virus scans to check for virus issues. If the screen does not appear, you may
need to call in a professional. A scan disk or defrag check can also be done to check for
errors and mostly these steps would solve the problem on your PC.
Most of the common computer problems are a result of poor maintenance but most people
can repair their computer by themselves even if they are not too tech savvy. A logical person
16

with ability to follow instructions can repair a computer. If you are still not sure, it’s best to
seek professional help.
For more information on basic PC repair, check out these resources.
Troubleshooting Tips: Offers a list of links to help users troubleshoot their computer.
PC Troubleshooting Manual: The page provides tips on computer troubleshooting and
repair.
Dead Computer: Learn how to get it working again.
Maintenance & Repair: A tutorial that offers basic computer maintenance and repair.
Slow Computer: Step-by-step instructions on how to speed up the computer.
Upgrade Hard Drive: The site provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to upgrade a
MacBook hard drive.
No Sound in Windows: This tutorial shows how to solve sound problems in Windows.
Replacing Sound Card: The site offers a detailed tutorial on changing a sound card.
Bad Memory: The guide shows how to diagnose bad memory on the PC.
Basic Diagnosis: The page provides instructions on diagnosing a computer.
5 Questions: Essential questions to ask to find out what’s wrong with the computer.
Computer Maintenance & Repair: A full tutorial to help users solve simple computer
problems.
Maintenance Checklist: Use this checklist to find out if everything’s working well.
Making Computers Run Better: The page offers some advice on how to make the
computer run better.
Improve Speed: A detailed tutorial on speeding up the PC.
Basic Computer Tutorial: Learn about some of the basic concepts of computing.
Maintenance Procedures: Follow these procedures to maintain your computer.
Maintenance Tips: The page provides 10 essential tips to a healthy computer.
Preventive Maintenance: A collection of tutorials to help maintain a working PC.
Recommended Procedures: Learn these maintenance procedures to prevent
computer problems.
Routine Maintenance: The site offers some routine maintenance tips to keep the PC
healthy.
Improve Performance: Follow these steps to get the most out of the PC.
Better PC Performance: The page offers five ways to improve a computer’s
performance.
Basic Computer Terminology: A place to find descriptions on many computer terms.
Computer Basics: The University of Chicago offers a list of basic computer terms.
17

The Journey Inside: Intel presents a series of 35 online lessons for you to learn about
computers.
Geek Squad: The site offers a variety of PC repair services.
Boston Computing Network: Provides computer repair services for Apple Macintosh,
laptops, networking services, and more.
On-Site PC Services: The site offers all types of computer repair services for
residential as well as commercial purposes.
Computer Repair Price List: The page offers information on the cost of PC repairs
For more information on this web site click this LINK !
CE Magazine public service
18

Aug 2, 2015, 09:30am EDT
Windows 10 Vs Windows 8 Vs Windows 7: What's
The Difference?
Gordon Kelly
Senior Contributor
Consumer Tech
I write about technology's biggest companies
Windows 10 launched on July 29th and has already been downloaded over 14
million times. But why? Microsoft ‘s decision to make Windows 10 free plays a big
part (especially given warnings to wait) but it is also just the tip of the iceberg.
So let‘s weigh up the main differences between Windows 10, Windows 7 and
Windows 8. There are a large number of pros but also some significant cons,
including a few potential deal breakers.
1. What Makes Windows 10 Worth The Upgrade
Cost - While some Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will not get Windows 10 free,
for the vast majority there is no cost to upgrading whatsoever. On paper this is a
great deal because Windows 10 is not cheap and ‗Windows 10 Home‘ and
‗Windows 10 Pro‘ editions retail for $119 and $199 respectively.
By contrast Windows 7 and Windows 8 have not been made free by Microsoft
following Windows 10‘s release and the company has no plans to make them so.
Consequently even if you revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8 in time, it would
seem to make sense to take your free Windows 10 upgrade while it lasts.
Longer Support -Another key reason for getting the latest edition of Windows is
Microsoft will support it for longer than both Windows 7 and Windows 8. The
Windows Lifecycle page (screen grab below) breaks this down into two sections:
Mainstream Support and Extended Support.
19

Mainstream Support is the deadline for adding new features and functionality which
makes it less crucial, but Extended Support is when Microsoft will stop supporting
the platform with security updates. As you will see Windows 10 gives five more
years Extended Support over Windows 7 and two more years over Windows 8:
Windows Lifecycles - Image credit Microsoft
Flexibility and Universal Apps -Where Microsoft deserves a lot of credit with
Windows 10 is its ambition because the OS will run across all future Microsoft
devices from desktops and laptops, to hybrids, tablets and smartphones.
The biggest benefits of this are:
1. Apps in the new Windows Store will run on any device which means a single
version of Angry Birds works everywhere.
2. Microsoft‘s ‗Continuum‘ feature allows you to potentially connect a phone or
tablet to a monitor and keyboard and use it like a PC. Yes Windows 10 really
does run through every device and the user interface can adapt to its
environment - be that phone, tablet or PC and touch, mouse or keyboard
interaction.
Read more- Windows 10: Should You Upgrade?
20

Gaming -Windows 10 brings with it DirectX 12 and for serious gamers this is a
must have. Initial reports suggested DX12 would bring a 30-40% performance gain
over DX11 and whereas the reality is closer to 10-20% that‘s still money for old
rope. Windows 7 and Windows 8 will never get access to DX12.
In addition Windows 10 supports streaming games from an Xbox One. Controllers
for the Xbox One are compatible with Windows 10 PCs and you can be playing The
Witcher 3 on your desktop or laptop in minutes. Best of all, Xbox One streaming is
fast and responsive and again it will not come to Windows 7 or Windows 8 at a
later date.
Windows 10 is the single operating system working across all Microsoft desktops, laptops, tablets and phones
Search / Cortana - Windows 8 offers fairly decent online search baked into its
controversial Start Screen and Windows 7 only offers local searches (what is on the
computer itself), Windows 10 easily trumps them both.
The secret to its success is Cortana, a voice assistant ported over from Windows
Phone and whose name comes from the Halo video game franchise. Like Siri on
iOS and Google Voice Search on Android, Cortana can respond to voice commands
21

and perform everything from quick Internet searches to core tasks around Windows
10 like opening a new email, creating calendar entries and much more.
Cortana isn‘t perfect, but she/it works pretty well out the gate and will only get
better with time.
Edge Browser and Virtual Desktops - I‘ve listed these both together as they are
catch up features. The Edge browser (which is still feature limited at launch) is
Microsoft‘s attempt to claw back momentum from Chrome. Edge works
significantly faster than Internet Explorer and is only available on Windows 10.
In addition to this Windows 10 finally adds Virtual Desktops like those long seen
on Linux and Mac OS X. These allow users without multi-monitor setups to create
multiple virtual desktops which are handy for splitting usage between work and
leisure, work into projects or whatever you require. It‘s a great feature.
Features
Gallery: Windows 10: Best And Worst New
11 images
View gallery -->
Minimum Requirements - Technically Windows 10 doesn‘t win this category, but
in requiring a PC with no greater minimum specifications than both two year old
Windows 8 and five year old Windows 7 Microsoft deserves great credit. Those
specifications:
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20GB for 64-bit OS
Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
Display: 800 x 600
I suspect a major motivator for Microsoft here was that Windows 10 needs to run
smoothly on both phones and tablets as well as PCs. That should make it efficient
22

enough to run on most PCs these days, with the exception of some very old
Windows XP machines.
Read more - When 'Free' Windows 10 Becomes Expensive, You Must Know This
Security - While both Windows 7 and Windows 8 do a pretty good job of keeping
users secure, Windows 10 ups its game with several new features. First is ‗Device
Guard‘ which blocks zero-day attacks by vetting unsigned software programs and
apps. Device Guard can also operate virtually so even if it is compromised a remote
version can recognise and neutralise malicious software.
Next is ‗Windows Hello‘ which is enhanced biometric support designed to reduce
reliance on passwords by using your face, iris, or fingerprint. You‘ll need hardware
support for this on your device (webcam, fingerprint reader, etc) but initial feedback
is it works well and again should improve over the lifetime of Windows 10.
Lastly in Windows 10 Microsoft now delivers security patches outside Windows
Update so they go straight to your computer the moment they are available. In
theory this means Windows 10 computers are always up-to-date which gives
hackers a much harder time, even if there are also some notable downsides.
In fact, while this list may make upgrades to Windows 10 sound like a no brainer,
there are actually serious pitfalls in moving to Microsoft‘s latest OS.
So now here are all the reasons you should stay put on Windows 7 or Windows 8...
2. What Makes It Worth Staying On Windows 7 Or Windows 8
Great as a free price tag, longer support, better apps and gaming, searches and
security may sound unfortunately the list where Windows 7 and Windows 8 current
beat out Windows 10 is just as strong.
These are my main concerns:
Stability - Right now Windows 10 is brand new and it has launched with a
surprisingly large number of bugs which you won‘t find in Windows 7 or Windows
8. Among these are disappearing icons from the taskbar, Start Menu lock-ups,
Windows Store download bugs, copy and paste errors, problems with audio and
more.
23

In fact Microsoft is about to release a massive one gigabyte download of bug fixes,
which gives you an idea of the scale. The trouble is such numerous patches always
bring new bugs of their own. Consequently this isn‘t so much a reason never to
upgrade to Windows 10, but a good reason not to upgrade to Windows 10 right
now.
By contrast Windows 7 and Windows 8 (despite the latter‘s bumpy start) are pretty
much rock solid these days.
Mandatory Updates - Windows 10 may be more secure and up-to-date because of
this, but Microsoft‘s decision to force updates upon users also has significant
downsides. This has included automatically installing a broken graphics driver
which crashed displays, a security patch which crashed Windows Explorer and
more.
By contrast Windows 8 and Windows 7 make all updates optional and you‘re
alerted to install them. I believe the ideal solution lies halfway between the two:
make all updates automatic by default, but give users the option to stop or delay any
update categories or individual updates they like. Right now this lack of flexibility
makes Windows 10 a deal breaker for some.
Read more - Windows 10 Automatic Updates Causing Serious New Problems
24

Windows Update's Nvidia driver update clashes with Nvidia's own GeForce Experience update software leading to
system instability and these contradictory notifications - Image credit Paul Monckton
Brutal Enforcement Policies - Of course mandatory updates have led to many
users devising elabourate ways to sidestep Windows 10 patches, but there‘s little
point in this. Microsoft requires users to accept these terms in its Windows 10
EULA (end user licence agreement) and security updates now sidestep Windows
Update and are installed to all versions of Windows 10 without warning.
Meanwhile driver and feature updates through Windows Update can be delayed up
to one month by Windows 10 Home users (the vast majority of consumers) and
eight months by Windows 10 Pro customers (most businesses), but after that time
Microsoft will cut off the next round of updates (including security patches) from
users until they accept the previous ones.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 have had similar policies for major updates in the past
(Service Packs in Windows 7, and the Windows 8.1 update) but a user doesn‘t face
a ticking clock for every single update - big or small - as with Windows 10.
Interestingly Microsoft recently released a tool for uninstalling bad updates on
Windows 10 which suggests its stance may be softening, but the tool only works
after updates are installed which isn‘t much use if a bad one stops your PC from
booting.
Privacy -If the enforcement policies were tough, however, they have nothing on the
privacy violations Microsoft requests in the Windows 10 EULA. A notable section
reads:
―We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such
as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private
folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary.‖
Needless to say ―necessary‖ is a crucial qualifier and this should mean Microsoft
won‘t violate your privacy for no reason, but that all comes down to trust - and
there‘s not a great deal of that going around in a post-Snowden world.
25

Windows 10 is a smart mix of the new and the familiar
Ease of Use - In fairness Windows 7 is so ubiquitous that Windows 10 was never
going to be more intuitive to use than its much loved forebear. That said Windows
10 is more intuitive than Windows 8 and much of that comes down to the return of
the Start Menu. Consequently Windows 10 is a great blend of the advancements of
Windows 8 and the familiarity of Windows 7, but sight of Windows 8 elements
(and there are many) will still be too much for some.
Windows 10 also needs greater consistency across its user interface as there is still a
jarring transition between traditional desktop settings like the Control Panel and
settings pushed into the Modern UI. Microsoft really needs to get this sorted out and
it should‘ve been by now.
Lost Features - This won‘t affect too many users, but the fact is Windows 10 does
kill some features Windows 7 and Windows 8 users consider essential.
The big one is Windows Media Center which is a mainstay in some home media
setups, while there‘s also no native DVD playback (Microsoft is reconsidering this),
no desktop gadgets and no floppy drive support. Meanwhile games like Solitaire
have been removed and are now ad supported from the Windows Store with
payment required to remove them.
Read more - Windows 10 Upgrades Explained: Who Gets It Free?
Broadband Hog - While Windows 10‘s mandatory update policy has split opinions,
a far less widely reported issue is also taking place: the new OS uses a peer-to-peer
26

(p2p) update distribution system called ‗Windows Update Delivery Optimization‘
(WUDO).
The benefit of WUDO is that once one Windows 10 device has downloaded the
latest updates it will automatically distribute them to other PCs on your network,
saving time. The problem is your PC will also start to share this update with other
PCs around the world that still need it. This takes the pressure off Microsoft‘s
servers but also means Windows 10 will consume more of your bandwidth than
Windows 7 or Windows 8, neither of which do this.
The good news for those on metered connections is this can be changed by going to:
Settings > Update & Security > the Windows Update section > Advanced
options
Select PCs on my local network only for WUDO to only be used for your
PCs, or
Switch it off so each PC has to get their own downloads
While the option to disable is nice, WUDO is another example of where Microsoft
should be more transparent with Windows 10 and let them know upfront what their
devices will be doing behind their backs by default.
27

Windows 7 and 8 users are now prompted to get Windows 10
Bottom Line
Given the way Windows operating systems evolve over their lifecycles, it is
impossible right now to overly praise or damn Windows 10 but we can start
drawing conclusions compared to the differences between it and its predecessors.
My personal feeling is that Windows 10 is an improvement on both Windows 7 and
Windows 8 and in time it will be considered one of the great Microsoft releases.
That said Windows 10 launches with more bugs than it should and (while Microsoft
has crafted a super OS) it is also the most controlling and invasive version of
Windows the company has ever released and a compromise does need to be found
long term.
All of which means Windows 10 is both the best and most troubling Windows
version I‘ve used. Those determined to be on the cutting edge will upgrade and love
it, but those more wedded to Windows 7 and Windows 8 should wait a little longer.
The Windows 10 free purchase period lasts until July 29th 2016 for eligible users so
there is time to see whether Microsoft can address the differences which make
Windows 10 worse than its predecessors compared to those that make it shine.
More Windows 10 Coverage
Windows 10: Should You Upgrade?
Microsoft Changes Windows 10 'Free Upgrade' Rules
Windows 10 Upgrades Explained: Who Gets It Free?
Microsoft Makes Windows 10 Upgrades Automatic For Windows 7 And
Windows 8
From CE Magazine:
Want to know more? Click this FORBES WINDOWS link!
28

29

From my home and staff to your family, have a great
Thanksgiving and May Peace dwell in your home.
From:
Peter Nadal, Pam Kennoy, Rodrigo Esperanza,
Nomar Shaw, Diane G and Big Poppa
And
The Nanomites
30