This is how Microsoft would like everyone to begin their news and reports about the Fall Creators Update with. This is how actually many media outlets begin their stories with (no disrespect here). This is how I’d like to begin this article with. But unfortunately, that’s not possible. Because users are not satisfied, and the update is not that major. At least for PC users. Let’s get straight to the point right from the beginning. This so-called “major update” serves as nothing more than a promotion platform for new Microsoft’s products. Yeah, I said it. It also leaves PC users hanging, because the Fall Creators Update brings nothing that PC users can’t live without. Of course, Microsoft has every right to do what it did with the Fall Creators Update. It’s their product after all, and it would make little to no sense to promote others’ products. But at least, treat everyone equally! Here at Windows Report, I write positively about Windows-related products 95 percent of the time. But this time, I feel like it’s the right moment to step up in the name of all the PC users who won’t be using the Surface Pen to draw 3D smileys. So, here’s the complete analysis of the Fall Creators Update, and why installing it on your PC is simply not worth it.
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is useless on PC!
A promotional platform for Surface devices
If you take a look at the most important features of the Fall Creators Update, you’ll notice they’re mainly NOT meant for PC users. Let’s quickly break it down. Mixed Reality Viewer and Paint 3D are clearly for touch-enabled devices. Of course, you could use your peripheral camera on PC to view Mixed Reality, but that’s not the point here. But Paint 3D? Will any PC user ever use it? In fact, Microsoft started the whole thing with the original Creators Update back in April, and it just continues the practice now.
I’m not going to include the option for improving the battery life into this conversation. It’s a really useful feature that’s really supposed to be there. Let’s not overreact. So what happens next? All these 3D/Mixed Reality/Design features and Microsoft announces the Surface Book 2? I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but you’ll have to put in some pretty strong arguments to convince me that Microsoft didn’t do this on purpose. If we take into consideration the tragic fall of Windows 10 Mobile, the picture gets even clearer. Microsoft needs to sell hardware, for the company’s well-being. Which makes turning Windows 10 limited on non-Microsoft platforms a pretty powerful marketing strategy.
Imagine this, a new major update for Windows 10 introduces some ultra-futuristic technology that the whole world is talking about. But there’s a catch, it’s only compatible with the latest Surface Book. Wouldn’t it make you want to buy that powerful new laptop? You don’t need a Ph.D. in psychology to notice the pattern. Speaking of the human psychology, there’s another part of the story that also works in Microsoft’s favor. Technology users, especially Windows 10 people, are obsessed with keeping up with the latest trends. This forces you to install a new update for your operating system, even if you really don’t think it’s essential for your computer. Just for the sake of not ‘being left behind’. I’m sure Microsoft knows this better than I do. So it would make sense for the company to take advantage of it by promoting new hardware through major updates, knowing you simply couldn’t resist installing it. It’s business after all, and everything is allowed.
What about PC?
Just to make this clear, I’m not against the new technologies that Microsoft is trying to promote with both Creators Updates. I’m just saying the number of features is simply unbalanced. If you take a look at features that are compatible with PC, and think about them, I think you’d agree they’re nothing special, to say the least. So, what do we have? The My People app is now integrated into the taskbar, OneDrive now shows your files without downloading them, and there are new Story and Video Remix features to play with your photos and videos. And of course, the new GPU usage meter in the taskbar. SPONSORED I’ll just say that the GPU meter is by far the most useful feature of the update and the only “major update-worthy” feature that comes with the Fall Creators Update. If only there are more features like that one, I probably wouldn’t be writing this article right now.
What about the My People app integration into the taskbar and OneDrive placeholders? Well, these improvements feel more like individual app updates, then a major system update. Microsoft could easily deliver placeholders as a part of some bigger update for OneDrive, it would make much more sense. People app integration into the taskbar is another example of Microsoft forcing people to use products they don’t want to use. Skype, in its natural form, has been working very well for years, so there’s really no need to push it further. And for the My People app, I’m not even sure anyone actually uses it on the regular. But the exposure of these apps is now much bigger, so Microsoft obviously hopes for huge increases in the number of users. And finally, the most useless feature of them all – Story/Video Remix for Photos. Let’s get serious for a second, who will actually use these? Have you been waiting for six months just so you can create a few cute collages or slide videos with a few 3D animations and filters?! Windows 10 is not a social network! People who use filters and stickers on Instagram or Snapchat are doing so for the sake of sharing. But who will you share your ‘amazing 3D creations’ from Story Remix with? I really don’t see a bright future for this feature.
When we draw a line. This is all we got from six months of work from the whole development team of the biggest software maker in the world? Really not enough for a major update for ‘a service’ like Windows 10. After reading all of this, you could still just say: “So what? What difference does it make? I’ll just spend an hour or two updating my system, and I’ll just keep using my computer normally for the next six months.” Which brings me to my next and final point.
Bugs, issues, problems!
Major Windows 10 updates are known for being quite troublesome, and the Fall Creators Update is not the exception. Okay, I’m not saying the Fall Creators Update is the worst of them all, but it can potentially cause some issues. As far as we know, the main problems of the fall Creators Update are BSODs, high CPU usage, and activation issues. These issues were reported by a couple of users on the Fall Creators Update release day. While this doesn’t mean you’ll encounter any issues at all, a question naturally arises – are you willing to risk having your computer disrupted just for being able to make fancy drawings in Story Remix?
Conclusion
Let’s finally wrap all of this up. There are short-term and long-term conclusions that can be drawn from this case. The short therm conclusion isn’t worrying at all because you still have a choice. But the long-term conclusion is something completely different. Short-term conclusion: If you agree with all (or at least some) the arguments I just pointed out, you can block the update and no harm will be done. In case you don’t know how to do that, here’s a guide for just about any version of Windows 10, so we’ve got you covered. Microsoft still gives you choice, which is positive. But that brings us to the long-term conclusion. Long-term conclusion: If Microsoft continues with this trend of favorizing their own products in major updates in terms of delivering ‘platform-exclusive’ features, you’ll have to bend the knee eventually. It’s as simple as forcing users to abandon Windows 7 in favor of Windows 10. You can’t keep on blocking major Windows 10 updates forever, because your current system version will eventually become unsupported. And running an unsupported operating system is really living on the edge in these dark times for cybersecurity. So, what do you think about the Fall Creators Update? Am I overreacting or are these remarks on point? Write your opinion down in the comments below.
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