Share this article
Improve this guide
Windows 8.1, 8 vs Windows 10: Worth the Upgrade?
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
I know most of you just got used toWindows 8andWindows 8.1operating systems,but we have a newWindows 10in town and it is heading up to be quite impressive. You will see more information below if you should upgrade your system to theWindows 10operating systemor not.Microsoft took outWindows 9from the equation but brought theWindows 10 OSto the spotlight for our desktops and laptops computers. Also, they released the official version of thisoperating systemin October 2015.Regarding the pricing of thisoperating system, there are two possible scenarios: you can eitherupgrade to Windows 10 for free(yes, the free upgrade offer is still valid!) or you canshell out $119.00to get theOSpackage.
As a plus to theWindows 10operating system, Microsoft introduced a one application platform meaning that it can run on all your Windows devices like Desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, Smartphone’s and of course having the same “Store” feature on all.
Should I install Windows 10 or stick to Windows 8.1, 8?
For all of the fans of the Windows start menu, you will be pleased to find out thatWindows 10has thisfeatureavailable again. Of course, it is designed so that even if you have a mouse or a touch screen on your device, you are still able to move around quite easily. Another usefulfeatureabout the start menu present inWindows 10is the option to resize everything going from the start menu itself up to the tiles present in the start menu.
RegardingWindows 8, you will still have access to the Charms bar inWindows 10, so this goodfeatureis still available for all theWindows 8users who got used to it. Also, the search boxfeaturehas the capabilities of theWindows 8operating systemone of which being the results from our Windows store.
Windows 10 compared to Windows 8
Seeing that the charms bar is still present inWindows 10can be very reassuring for allWindows 8users. Thisfeatureis pretty much the same but with a slight modification to ease your operating time.
Let’s take, for example if you have an app opened up inWindows 10and you want to bring up the charms bar, you will have to press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “C”. The only difference is that the charms bar will appear a little bit smaller and it will be situated in the upper left corner of the app you have opened.
— RELATED:Windows 10 S vs Windows 10 Home: All the differences between the two
Yes, you will still have the beloved Command Prompt window inWindows 10. Besides the stylish design, you now have the opportunity to copy and paste your text inside and outside of the Command Prompt window.
On the other hand,Windows 10features a new tool calledPowerShell.Windows 10PowerShellis a task automation framework that allows administrators to perform administrative tasks on both local and remote Windows systems. So, if you want to test this newfeature, you need to install the latestWindows 10OSversion.
Press and hold the “Alt” button and the “Tab” button in any Windows operating system and you will see how easy it is to shift between apps. Thisfeaturehas not disappeared inWindows 10either from what Microsoft shows us in the prototype of this version. From this point of view there is still no downside so far from upgrading yourWindows 8toWindows 10system.
— RELATED: Microsoft further encourages iOS devs to port their apps to Windows 10
As far as security is concerned, it’s pretty clear whyWindows 10takes the crown. Long story short, if online security is one of your key concerns, then you should definitely hit the upgrade button andinstall the latest Windows 10 versionon your machine.
The Windows Defender version that’s available onWindows 10is one of the best antivirus software that you can use,according to tests. Microsoft has significantly improved its built-in antivirus tool since theWindows 8.1edition, adding a plethora of new features and improvements so as to successfully fend off the latest cyber threats.
If you’re a gamer, then Windows 10 is definitely the right OS for you. Microsoft has added a series of gaming-related features in Windows 10, including theGame Bar,Game DVR option, and more. Windows 10 definitely offers better gaming performance than Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.
So, seeing that a good bunch of thefeaturesinWindows 8are still be present inWindows 10and also some of them have been improved a bit as far as the design and user experience part is concerned, it’s easy to tell why thisoperating systemmight very well take the first place in Microsoft’s releases so far. It is worth mentioning that Windows 7 is still king, with over 43% of Windows users preferring it over other OS versions.
NewWindows 10operating systemswill regularly hit the market, but in the meantime you can compare thefeaturespresent on bothoperating systemsand decide if you want to stick toWindows 8or upgrade your device toWindows 10. Write us in the comments section below for any questions on this article.
RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:
More about the topics:windows 10
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
User forum
4 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.