Amazing New Features of Windows 10 Sure That the Always Show All Icons and Windows 10 Offers Some Amazing Features
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By Merle Windler, Thoroughbred Systems, Inc. ComputerComputerCornerCorner NewNew Beginnings;Beginnings; ExcitingExciting TimesTimes AheadAhead WithWith WindowsWindows 1010 here is a line delivered by actress Sandra Bullock in the movie Hope Floats that goes like this: T “Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts. So when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a he loss of a parent is something most of us go through at one time Tor another. We have several customers dealing with that same chance to float up. And it will.” sorrow at this time so I thought I might share a short poem my wife As silly and crazy as Hollywood can be, sometimes wrote to her mom on the 13th anniversary of Linda’s father’s death, only they get it right. three days before her mother, Lucile Edson, passed away: For us, the folks at Thoroughbred Systems, there My Mommy's Hands have been some weighty endings and beginnings Memories of my Mom and I, live in my heart so clearly, lately, most notably the loss of my mother-in-law who She means the world and all to me, I love her, oh so dearly. so many of our customers remember most as the nice And when I travel back in time, I see her sitting there, lady that brought out the lemonade during computer Her open arms, her smiling face, framed by her dark brown hair. software classes. She needed our help twenty-four My tiny self climbs up and snuggles her so tight, hours a day in her last years of life. She passed I love her squishy softness, I love her eyes so bright. June 19, 2015. But most of all her hands I see, much bigger they were than mine, Now our focus has shifted back to self- with interesting marks and spots and veins that roam and vine and twine. Oh the work and strife and toil that pair of hands went through, improvement and business. We have just returned the joy, the bliss, the love they'd known, hands so strong and true. from Florida after attending a conference that is held My little hands, so different, but as the years have flown, every three years on changing technology for I see my Mommy's hands again, when I look down upon my own. software developers. We are brimming with new information to share with staff, customers, and our – Linda Kay (Edson) Windler readers. My mind is racing with new ideas and thoughts of how I might incorporate some of these June 16th, 2015 82 THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2015 new technologies to improve our software products to Let's talk Windows 10 put new tools in customers' hands enhancing their The program menu and desktop that we became productivity while making the job easier. accustomed to in Windows 7 and so many users At the conference, I saw some exciting new complained was missing in Windows 8, is back! Microsoft computerized mini-GPS guided flying drones, some with finally realized that most people preferred the more high definition cameras and others capable of carrying traditional menu. Many who purchased Windows 8 were payloads of cargo up to 10 to 15 pounds. Some of the downloading the free, for personal and nonprofit use, more expensive models can fly to a designated GPS Windows 7 impersonator, "StartMenu8 from location, delicately deliver payload items and return safely Download.com. to the original launch location. I laughed when the Everyone with a computer that has a licensed version of representative told me one of the drone models on Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 installed should be receiving regular display was actually being used for Pizza delivery in reminders on Windows Start Up each day..."Your FREE Russia. For water systems, I could envision a drone upgrade is Waiting..." All qualified delivering needed tools or parts cross computers will have until July 29, country from the office to a water 2016 to upgrade free, after which, service location, perhaps dispatched All qualified computers Windows 10 will need to be cross country with an onboard HD purchased at the full retail upgrade camera to make visual recordings of will have until price. a particular GPS location suspected July 29, 2016 to So, should we all rush to take of having a leak or other problem, advantage of this offer? Let's not saving water system staff a trip to the upgrade free, after leap before we look! DO NOT far end of the water system. Some of which, Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 10 until the less expensive HD Camera completing the proper steps to models with limited range were will need to be PREPARE in advance for the surprisingly less than $1,000; those upgrade... are sure to only get better and purchased at the full First rule of computer operation: cheaper with the passing of time.... Make a BACKUP! just like my Windows tablet that was retail upgrade price. nearly a $1,000 a year ago, now a Second rule of computer new better model sells for $100. operation: Make a BACKUP! I saw new Segway type devices capable of carrying a Third rule of computer operation: Duh, ...Go back to rule person and cargo with a combined weight up to 200 of computer operation number one. And, make sure it's a pounds for up to ten hours on a charge, depending on good backup. terrain. These new units start at only $500 and more. I can So, just to be clear, first: BEFORE upgrading to Windows see possible uses for some by cities. There was even a 10 – BACKUP all data. A common occurrence is for the device called ReWalk that reminded me of the movie Windows 10 upgrade process to go awry and cause the character "RoboCop". It was a mechanical/electronic leg Windows operating system to become corrupted resulting that strapped onto the leg of a person with lower limb in a complete loss of data and requiring a total re-install. paralysis due to spinal cord injuries providing the person Windows 10 is a rather large download, approximately with a computerized mechanical ability to walk. three gigabytes, that can take quite a while especially with While those things might provide some exciting new slower Internet service. There is an option to save the possibilities for a segment of the industry, one very installation to a USB drive to allow installation on multiple popular subject for discussion that will affect us all was computers without needing to do the same download the new Windows 10. Among the topics discussed were over and over. Such a large install combined with less than new web apps, tablets and other mobile data stellar Internet service is a recipe for disaster. Again, make technologies. Other topics included improvements and SURE to follow the First, Second, and Third Rules of changes in programming languages and Web security Computer Operation. technologies, online credit card transactions, security While our software programs and many other software issues of concern on the web and the latest technology programs will function properly in Windows 10, there are aimed at thwarting the bad guys attempts to hack and those that do not! Before upgrading to Windows 10, check steal data stored on the web. that critical software packages you use will continue to THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2015 83 function correctly in Windows 10. order to continue leasing the right to Many electronic meter reading Many electronic meter use the software. Although annual systems, meter reading equipment, subscription fees seem to be a fast printers, scanners and other reading systems, meter growing trend in the computer devices do NOT support Windows reading equipment, software industry, at least at this time, 10 as of yet. Some never will and Microsoft is not making known any will require upgrade or printers, scanners and intentions to change to an annual use replacement. Don't upgrade to other devices do fee with Windows 10. Windows 10 without verifying, in Windows 10 is free for now, advance, that all your critical NOT support however, it is noteworthy that software and hardware is going to Windows 10 as of yet. Windows 10 is designed to make work properly with it. It would be a purchase of application add-ons at the disaster to find out after the fact Microsoft (online) Store, very that an electronic meter reading convenient. It is very similar to the system that likely cost many thousands of dollars won't Apple Store add-on apps, on an iPhone. Microsoft is, of work with the new operating system AFTER your course, offering additional online storage, add-on computer or computers have been converted. That said, applications, and plenty of other temptations to allow you there is a limited time option to revert back to the to voluntarily make regular payments of subscriptions for previous a operating system. However, before attempting software and services. this option, follow Rules of Computer Operation One Several things to know before upgrading to through Three mentioned previously, in case reverting to Windows 10 are: the previous operating system causes a problem. ■ The user will no longer have control of whether or Find out the costs associated with any necessary not updates would be installed. Only the Pro and upgrades in meter reading hardware, new printers or Enterprise editions will have an option to defer other hardware that may need to be purchased. It might update installations to a later time be necessary to stick with whichever operating system is ■ doing the job at present until there is money in the The little card game called "Hearts" will no longer be budget to purchase all the necessary hardware and included (what a terrible blow!) software to be compatible with Windows 10.