Windows 10 Big Improvement Will Anger Users

Last week’s massive Windows 10 ‘Threshold 2’ update is living up to its name. For some the positive changes have renewed faith in the controversial operating system, for others new problems it introduced have seen them swear off the platform for good. And now a single Threshold 2 feature is causing both reactions…

Continuing the welcome trend of Microsoft MSFT +1.89% delivering on its promises, Threshold 2 (which brings Windows 10 up to version ‘1511’) has introduced flexible and powerful new ways to take control over how Windows 10 receives and installs updates.

Dug out by Computer World, it found Windows 10 1511 now lets users distinguish between ‘Updates’ (patches), and ‘Upgrades’ (new Windows 10 versions) and choose exactly how long they want to defer each – up to a maximum of eight months. The same threat remains in place that security updates will be stopped if users try to delay updates and upgrades longer than this, but given the time periods involved that shouldn’t lead to too much mutiny.

For many this is the number one thing they wanted from Windows 10: granular control of the features Microsoft pushes out through WINDOWS UPDATE.

>> Read more – Microsoft Admits Windows 10 Automatic Spying Cannot Be Stopped

It also represents the fulfillment of a statement from Microsoft Corporate Vice President Jim Alkove in September where he stated: “We’ve heard that feedback from enterprise customers so we’re actively working on how we provide them with information about what’s changing and what new capabilities and new value they’re getting.”

>> And here is where you spot the problem: Enterprise customers.

In fairness Threshold 2 has expanded upon Alcove's promise, delivering the new controls to Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education owners. But everyday consumers have again been left out in the cold. Consequently those Windows editions which already had most control now have more and no concessions have been made to mainstream Windows 10 Home users, a group which has been incredibly vocal in its frustration. By now this verges on taunting.

>> So should we be surprised? Probably not and here’s why…

Back in January Alcove openly published a blog post confirming mainstream consumers on Windows 10 had a valuable role to play as guinea pigs for businesses:

“By the time Current branch for Business [Windows 10] machines are updated, the changes will have been validated by millions of Insiders, consumers and customers’ internal test processes for several months, allowing updates to be deployed with this increased assurance of validation,” he explained.

With such a promise to business users it seems unlikely that the ongoing improvements Microsoft is delivering to the Window 10 update process will ever find themselves in consumers’ hands. Consequently the number one complaint about Windows 10 will likely never be fixed and the fact Threshold 2, the biggest Windows 10 update so far, actually widens the gap between the haves and have nots only emphasises that.

Needless to say there two obvious workarounds: 1. Pay the $199 asking price for Windows 10 Pro instead of taking the free upgrade offer to Windows 10 Home (normally $119). 2. Stick stick with Windows 7 or Windows 8 and apply pressure to Microsoft by continuing to grind Windows 10’s impressive early momentum to a halt.
(Special thanks to Mr.Gordon Kelly for this impressive information)