What You Need to Know about Windows 10

Windows 10 was just released to consumers last summer, and this year the update is rolling out to enterprise environments from admins to desktops. Upgrades can be great, but they also come with an inevitable learning curve, and as some features are added, others have to be readapted. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best Windows 10 tips and features and some starter tricks on how to make them work for you.

Goodbye Internet Explorer, hello Microsoft Edge.
Internet Explorer takes a lot of us back to simpler times, but Microsoft decided Windows 10 signaled the moment to finally move on once and for all. The new Microsoft Edge isn’t just another version of Internet Explorer, but a browser all its own with a goal to simplify the web experience and added functionality. Microsoft Edge comes with a streamlined, easy to use interface that emphasizes web content, making the browser experience accessible to everyone, from first-time novices to the most experienced tech. Extra bonuses such as Reading View and Web Note can also be productivity boosters in enterprise environments, and with the added integration of Cortana (see more about this feature below), it looks to make web browsing a more productive, less time consuming experience. (Look for more tips, tricks, and best practices for on Microsoft Edge in later blog posts.)

The start menu is back.
When Windows 8 released, Microsoft removed the traditional start menu, opting instead for a start screen. This caused an uproar from unhappy PC users everywhere, leading Microsoft to reintroduce the start menu in Windows 10. The good news is that whether you are a fan of the start menu or the start screen, Windows 10 is a win. A few personalization adjustments in settings allow the user to customize which option they use, plus resize the start menu if its too small to hold all the titles they want to see, choose menu colors, and select exactly what they see in start.

Cortana is built in.
Cortana, Microsoft’s new personal voice assistant, is a key part of the Windows 10 environment. This makes it easier to search the web for quick answers via traditional methods, such as typing and now voice. Users can perform basic search functions, as well as add calendar events, set reminders, and create cards that post information on stock updates and news headlines. Bottom line, the Windows 10 operating system is more dynamic and robust, with a lot more room for customization thanks to new bells and whistles.

Remove almost any app from the start menu.
If you didn’t want to see an app listed on the start menu in previous Windows versions, you were basically out of luck. Now, Windows 10 lets you get rid of any apps you don’t want to see with a quick right click and uninstall. It’s also easy to search a complete list of apps and features in the start menu to get a full view of every application you have installed.