Windows 10 is the new major release of Microsoft’s Windows operating system and is the successor to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1.  Windows 10 includes several new features and important changes, in addition to its platform unifying design. Microsoft believes the future of Windows is as a platform for all. The strength of Windows is in the thousands of companies that develop for it and use it in their products.  Windows 10 is no longer just an operating system for 32 and 64-bit PCs, as it will also run on the ARM platform for smaller tablets and smartphones.

Here are some of the exciting new features:

1. Start menu: Customize your Start menu!  Windows 10’s new Start menu combines the Windows 7-like application list and the live tiles interface from Windows 8’s Start screen. However, note that you can right-click on any tile and select “Resize” to alter the tile’s dimensions or if you despise live tiles you can select “Uninstall” to wipe them from your system.
2. Make Mail your own: Windows 10’s overhauled Mail and Calendar apps are amazing compared to Windows 8’s dull offerings. They’re faster, more full-featured, and have customization options.
3. Schedule your restarts: If you’ve got pending updates that require you to reboot your PC, Windows 10 will allow you to schedule a specific time for it to do so.  Finally!
4. Virtual desktops: Segregate your open apps into discrete areas; literally multiple, virtualized versions of your PC’s desktops.
5. Action Center: Provides you with a single location for all your app alerts, along with quick access to some of the settings you utilize most often.
6. Improved security: Microsoft is addressing security threats by strengthening identity protection and access control, information protection, and is threat resistance.
7. Microsoft Edge: Windows 10’s new Edge is a blazing fast engine and forward-thinking tricks like intelligent, automatic Cortana integration for supplementing the info you’re looking at.  Also very exciting are Reading View and Reading List.  Reading View (the small book icon, next to the bookmark star) strips away ads, sidebar images, and other clutter to present a clean, straightforward reading experience. You can also share to the Reading List app, which functions like Pocket or Instapaper, letting you add a story for later reading. Click the bookmark star and opt to save the article to your Reading List rather than as a bookmark.
8. Cortana integration: Cortana’s finally made the leap to the PC in Windows 10.  Microsoft’s voice-powered personal assistant can be configured to take over the Search box.
9. Xbox Live integration: Windows 10’s new Game DVR function is supposed to be used for recording video proof of your most magnificent gaming moments, but it will also let you create videos of any open app or desktop software.
10. Enhanced graphics: Windows 10 will include new versions of DirectX and WDDM to improve game performance.

Why:  With several new features, including security updates, and a platform-unifying design, it marks the beginning of Microsoft’s new “Windows as a service” mentality.  Instead of releasing a new numbered version of Windows every few years, the company will continuously release new features and updates.  Microsoft has committed to support Windows 10 for a decade after the July, 2015 launch.

Who:  Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade to qualified devices running Windows 7 (SP1) or Windows 8/8.1 during the first year.  Users running Windows XP or Windows Vista, must purchase a copy of Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store or other retailer and do a “clean install”.

When:  It already happened!  Microsoft made Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro generally available on July 29, 2015 through a staggered release schedule. Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education editions were made available on August 1, 2015 through Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Center.  However, neither edition is included in the first-year-free program.

How:  Most Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows 8/8.1 users can get Windows 10 through the Get Windows 10 app.  Users can also download a Windows 10 ISO to be used on multiple PCs.  Here is step-by-step walkthrough.