Hey Cortana, start control panel

How Windows 10 meets expectations

I wrote an article about how I was looking forward to Windows 10. As I get experience with Windows 10 I plan to put in this article just how well it stands up against expectations. I installed the Windows Insider Build 10162 today.

HMM3

First, and foremost, Heroes of Might and Magic III seems to run just fine. What a relief! I must admit though, that after around 15 years of playing this game, I’m not doing it so often anymore.

The Start menu

Yes the Start menu/panel is back. Basically what was on the Windows Start Screen is now under the Windows logo button on a panel. Like the old Start Screen (which is gone), you can configure and group applications. All applications now run on the desktop. Like Windows 8.1, right clicking on the Windows logo start button shows a pop-up menu with the same stuff it did in Windows 8.1. In “tablet mode” the start menu overlays the desktop and appears like the old Start Screen. A minor annoyance is that it scrolls vertically, while the Windows 8.1 Start Screen scrolled horizontally. So all in all, I think this new start menu works.

Cortana

One of my initial gripes about Windows 10 was how hard it was to find the Control Panel. This was my mistake for expecting it to be on the start menu rather than on the start pop-up menu just like where it was in Windows 8.1, but I also discovered that I could say “Hey Cortana, start control panel” and up popped the Control Panel. That really pleased me.

Better tablet experience

This remains to be seen as I actually try to do stuff. Certainly some advances have been made in making more things available without switching from the Start Screen to the Desktop, or now we would say switching from Desktop to Tablet mode. As time has passed, I am finding Windows 10 to be natural in operating, and Windows 8.1 a little awkward. This is a good thing.

OneDrive

To be determined.

Hopes

These will have to wait until I have upgraded all my systems to the official release version. So far, all of the software from before, including the stuff I wrote, does work under Windows 10.

About Kevin

Just an old guy with opinions that I like to bounce off other people.
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3 Responses to Hey Cortana, start control panel

  1. Kevin says:

    Sometimes less is more, and a short question is more likely to be read and answered than a very, very long one that never gets to the point.

    In any case, go to Google.com and type in “how do i make google my default search engine in microsoft edge?” and the answer will pop up. If you type in “how do I make Google Chrome my default browser in Windows 10?” a short answer appears to tell you steps to accomplish it.

  2. Warren E. Justice says:

    You say my comment awaits Moderation? I have been using Google and ONLY Google since I bought my second computer. My first was an Apple Classic which was a GREAT word processor. Great! I then got an HP and signed into Google for the 1st time and I have not allowed BING or any other Browser jumper to stop me.
    I had a two step verification set up so that I could retrieve my password if it was lost. I went so long with allowing my computer to sign me in that I simply forgot which set of passwords I used when I set it up. I have a long list of user names and I simply could not match everything up– But I did not ever have to. I just used the two step verification process and was easily able to make a new password and I was able to get back into my email. When a person is trying to remember emails, I could not because I trusted Google to have them safely stored on my gmail page. I was wrong in believing tha this process would work.
    How could it NOT work? It asked me for my phone number and I gave it willingly so that I would not be locked out of my email. Always before it has saved me from this process.
    My computer crashed ( as most sooner or later do) and I had to clean out EVERYTHING. I had copies of most of things I needed except for the most valuable on my computer and that was a very involved resume that took me days to fine tune to make accurate and to make it look impressive. I tried to download The Music app that I also used for years and when it downloaded it—my computer did not accept the download.
    I feel betrayed. I NOT going to accept that I have to use a browser that is FORCED upon me by Microsoft. When BING takes over– I cannot find the things I need. I do not like OUTLOOK and its tendency to also take over. In the past, all I have had to do is to click on the little house on Google and I was HOME. Now there is NO HOUSE!
    Why does this business change the key items that have made things easy for its users, its loyal users?
    Why is the house gone and why can BING just take over when I have pressed every button available to me that says I want GOOGLE to remain to be my browser? Why does GOOGLE not have a free app that wipes BING off of any computer.? IT invades the loyal users computer.

    I just do not understand. I want your people to know that I like Google because it is the best search engine. It does not clean everything up to be like Disneyland and it is not a browser that caters to porn. It is a browser with easy to find information that it has stored for decades. I am loyal to it and it is NOT loyal to me?

    Why did the process–the two step verificatiom work. Wnat more proof does it need?
    It stated at some point that what was needed was my ip or my physical adress. I could have provided that. I have been gathering my old books and I am getting ready to get that email back because IT alone stores all of my emails.
    I was foolish to believe they were safe. You kept asking what emails I had used and what labels I have used.

    I am not computer literate in the fancy items like labels and other such things that seem junky to me. I do not want a bunch of labels hanging in front of me that will become so numerous that I will not remember what they are for
    I supervised 17 people who provided group therapy for people who had a dual diagnosis– which means they have a severe mental illness AND drug addiction.
    You do not get much more complicated than this.
    I also TAUGHT others who were “more credentialed” than I am. They had Masters and Phd degrees. I have a Bachelors degree ( actually I need a math class to finish my BS.. But my last employer of 15 years “grandfathered me into a higher classified position” This was a civil service position so really if they accepted it– any other providers in town where I might work part time in my retirement would HAVE to honor this or it would DIs the County or KERN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH.
    I am used to finding ways to make things work and I am used to flexible systems. Any system that is NOT flexible on most matters is a dysfunctional system and THIS will be their undoing.
    I saw Google as this kind of company and saw them as pioneers– who set the standards for others. Still I am taken away from my chosen browser and company and left with a devious, underhanded system who holds their customers as hostages.
    I have seen applications that will fix this and I was shocked to see that these apps ARE NOT FREE!! So companies are making money from another company’s corrupted way of doing business?
    I am hoping that my one comment WILL make a difference because I have read enough to know that the response to this has caused a negative reaction for MOST people who have been subjected to it and I believe that it happens to MOST people who use a computer.
    This is absolutely massive and unscrupulous and I find it hard to believe that Google tolerates this or even — pray not— enables it.
    Why has an app NOT been created that will my choice— MY choice and why does GOOGLE have a 2 step verification process that does NOT ensure that my email site is SAFE!!
    Please respond to me. Perhaps I have not completed the proper form- I hope someone will be ‘FLEXIBLE” AND WILL HELP ME EVEN IF I HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN I MIGHT AS WELL JUST GIVE UP AND LET BING HAVE THEIR WAY. WHY SHOULD I WORK FOR HOURS TO STOP THEM IF GOOGLE IS NOT WILLING TO TELL ME HOW OR PROVIDE AN EASY SOLUTION TO THIS MATTER.
    TO ME IT SHOULD BE AS EASY AS PUSHING A BUTTON. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SET GOOGLE AS MY BROWSER AND IT SHOULD BE IMPERVIOUS TO ROBBERY. OR IT SHOULD HAVE THAT LITTLE HOUSE BACK UP ON TOP SO THAT i CAN PRESS IT AND BE ON MY WHY IS THAT NOT THE CASE?

    WARREN E. JUSTICE

  3. Warren E. Justice says:

    I asked to have the control panel placed on my desk top and got a page of ways to do this? I thought she was supposed to HELP???

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