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SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Friday last day for free Windows 10 upgrade By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jul. 27, 2016 @ 12:01 am By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jul. 27, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> What's the big push from Microsoft to get us to install Windows 10? The expiration for it is this week, but I cannot tell from websites I've visited whether it's a bad thing or a good thing. — Chris G., Central Point As those popups on your Windows 7 PC task bar have made abundantly clear, you have only until Friday, July 29, to qualify for the free Windows 10 upgrade. Starting Saturday, Microsoft will charge $119 to upgrade a computer running a previous Windows version. It helps to understand why this lunch is free for a limited time. Microsoft still makes billions selling Windows copies to computer makers such as Dell and HP, so they're not giving Windows 10 away completely, just the upgrade as a promotion that's lasted a year. The previous version, Windows 8 (there was no Windows 9), was considered a flop. Windows 8 famously did away with the Start menu, and it gained a reputation for fixing what wasn't broken while doing away with what worked. Folks had held out upgrading Windows XP before, but competition from iPads and Google Chromebooks didn't exist back then. Not only did users eschew buying the Windows 8 upgrade, many paid extra to "downgrade" new computers to Windows 7, which came out in 2009. Software makers such as Adobe go where the bulk of computers users are. The unprecedented giveaway was done so software companies would focus on the new Windows, not the old versions. Should you upgrade? That depends in large part how much you loathe change. Windows 10 is considered to be an improvement, adopting the better parts of Windows 7 and Windows 8. It has been shown to work well on many older computers that ran Windows 7, with one review site showing it running on a computer using a 12-year-old chip. Under the hood, Windows 10 works similarly to Windows 7, so older programs should run the same. Although the update process is relatively simple, as those popups promise, it's always best to back up important files before undergoing any change that significant. When in doubt, check with a professional. If you'd rather keep your computer the way it is, you have time. Microsoft will stop issuing security updates for Windows 7 Jan. 14, 2020, although "mainstream support" of Windows 7, which includes feature updates, ended in 2015, according to Microsoft's site. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jul. 27, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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