Why is Windows 10 hated?
Why is Windows 10 hated?
until the following year brings another update, we'll continue doing things the same way
Yes there is bloat, it comes with a few games which you can immediately uninstall in a few minutes. No there is not "a lot of encouragement" there is literally one step where it asks you if you want to make it your personal assistant. Click no and it won't ask you again. You can even hide cortana from the taskbar with - wait for it - ONE RIGHT CLICK OF YOUR MOUSE! WOW! Opted in by default is how literally everything on the internet works. As I said, everyone should take the time to go through the settings after first installing any OS. Well obviously it will slow down if you have a ton of programs running. The point is that you should disable unnecessary stuff in the startup settings, regularly clean out temporary files, delete registry errors, uninstall programs you don't use anymore, etc etc etc That kind of OS maintenance will keep windows 10 running with no problem for years.
It shouldn’t include unnecessary bloat from the start. Windows 10 isn’t free, and Microsoft is pushing unwanted software onto users. You wonder why companies would install extra stuff during your first setup. After I refused Cortana, she kept showing up in notifications twice. Once right after the initial install and again when you started the program. I understand you can hide Cortana’s search, but you should be able to remove it completely. The goal is to avoid forcing users to disable or tweak settings unless they’re sure of what they’re doing.
I dislike several aspects of Windows 10. It bothers me when almost every major release changes my system configurations, like with the 1803 update. I find it frustrating to have to turn off many features just to boost privacy. The forced updates on Windows 10 Home are also annoying. There’s also a noticeable absence of thorough quality assurance testing.
Regarding QA, the absence of it is indeed accurate—it's a reality. Used to, there was a substantial QA team to verify software for issues, but they were eliminated. The insiders now handle it, though this approach is far from ideal.
I personally don't use Windows 10. I'm indifferent about mandatory updates or privacy worries. In my view, privacy problems are worse than those from services I never interact with. Still, I didn't dislike Vista when it launched. That was a completely different mindset compared to what our school follows. Students aren't allowed personal devices; they use school-provided computers for exams. The goal is to prevent theft, bullying, and most importantly, to monitor student activity—especially to protect against cheating during tests (like someone searching online on their own device, especially with mobile data). With school-owned devices, I make sure the right software is installed, no updates are pending, and internet access is restricted unless absolutely necessary for an exam.
Even in schools using BYOD, many set up new operating systems on student devices. Some institutions (based on conversations with peers) push all devices to Windows 10 Pro Education ahead of rollout. Visiting a school means signing paperwork about attendance, fees, and usage—often including vague clauses stating IT can access your devices during class. We don’t have BYOD, but we operate under Pro Education, which requires us to accept a strict agreement confirming I won’t misuse the equipment and that they retain control of the hardware for any reason.
The school keeps most online activity restricted for students, limiting access to certain sites only. As part of the IT class, we have a separate Wi-Fi network with more freedom—except for prohibited content like illegal DNS servers. We can still download legal material such as Kali Linux if needed, though it’s closely watched. Excessive usage triggers warnings from school officials, and you’re limited to just one warning before consequences kick in. The main goal is maintaining discipline: cheating isn’t tolerated, but personal choices are up to each student. If caught, penalties range from retaking exams to expulsion. It’s up to you to stay focused and behave responsibly.
This approach is quite different from what we normally consider. We've limited what students can and cannot do on computers and the Internet, using an internet filtering service that covers most of this. Windows 10 has made it difficult to remove certain functions, but I haven't given up yet. I'm planning to test 1803 for deployment soon, aiming for a school-wide rollout in July or August. I don’t know your location, but we’re in the GCSE exam period—final exams for ages 15-16 before students leave school and enter college or further education. If caught cheating, a student could lose all their qualifications, which is a serious risk. We also run mock exams throughout the year, and cheating during those could lead to suspension from school.