What to know ahead of time

Hiya,

I came from 29 years of Apple instead of Windows. So 10 is my Windows 1, if you will. Slightly different perspective. Whereas some want some (but not all) of their Windows 7 back, I want some (but not all) of my Mac OS back.

1. There's a way to actually ERASE Cortana. As if it was never there. I don't hate it but I intentionally bought a PC lacking a mic and camera.

How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10

2. Windows users put app shortcuts on the desktop. I don't. I put my most used apps in the taskbar and my runner's up in my start menu. Like so --



3. I try not to tweak too much but I use an app that centers my taskbar apps (Falcon X), an app that makes the taskbar translucent (TranslucentTB from Windows store), and WinXCorners. The last allows you to trigger desktop events simply by moving your pointer into corners... which is a Mac thing but once you get used to it you don't go back.

Oh, and I do have stuff on my desktop. An app called AUTOHIDEDESKTOPICONS creates the illusion I have a clean desktop. These tweaks do not make the PC look like a Mac but, IMO, feel elegant LIKE a Mac.

4. IMO the best screen cap software there is -- Greenshot

5. There are privacy themed videos all over YouTube. Tells you what to turn off in Windows 10. Find one you like. And recent. This one ain't bad even though it's 2 years old now.

YouTube

6. If you look at my taskbar in the above picture -- you'll see apps that don't exist. Like there's no Google Maps 'app' for Windows. If you're an Android user you can pin web pages as 'apps' and not sweat any sync issues. That is: my 'contacts' app isn't from Windows. It's Google. So 'it just works'.

Best of luck!

There are no Microsoft accounts here. Not now. Not ever.

There is no need for one. There is no use for one. There is no benefit in one. There are only potential problems.

Nope, not in this house.

Lance1 said:

One of the better tools to use with Win 10 is Winaero Tweaker It is a free program and is very good at keeping Win 10 under control. Also Sledgehammer for keeping Windows updates under your control.

Thank you! I have them downloaded and saved, and ready to go!

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The Pool Man said:

Hiya,

I came from 29 years of Apple instead of Windows. So 10 is my Windows 1, if you will. Slightly different perspective. Whereas some want some (but not all) of their Windows 7 back, I want some (but not all) of my Mac OS back.

1. There's a way to actually ERASE Cortana. As if it was never there. I don't hate it but I intentionally bought a PC lacking a mic and camera.

How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10

2. Windows users put app shortcuts on the desktop. I don't. I put my most used apps in the taskbar and my runner's up in my start menu. Like so --



3. I try not to tweak too much but I use an app that centers my taskbar apps (Falcon X), an app that makes the taskbar translucent (TranslucentTB from Windows store), and WinXCorners. The last allows you to trigger desktop events simply by moving your pointer into corners... which is a Mac thing but once you get used to it you don't go back.

Oh, and I do have stuff on my desktop. An app called AUTOHIDEDESKTOPICONS creates the illusion I have a clean desktop. These tweaks do not make the PC look like a Mac but, IMO, feel elegant LIKE a Mac.

4. IMO the best screen cap software there is -- Greenshot

5. There are privacy themed videos all over YouTube. Tells you what to turn off in Windows 10. Find one you like. And recent. This one ain't bad even though it's 2 years old now.

YouTube

6. If you look at my taskbar in the above picture -- you'll see apps that don't exist. Like there's no Google Maps 'app' for Windows. If you're an Android user you can pin web pages as 'apps' and not sweat any sync issues. That is: my 'contacts' app isn't from Windows. It's Google. So 'it just works'.

Best of luck!

I was originally a Mac guy myself, made the jump to windows with XP (showing my age), so I indefinably appreciate a mac point of view. I don't need any type of assistant, virtual or otherwise, so I will be disabling Cortana. . .thanks for the link!

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margrave55 said:

There are no Microsoft accounts here. Not now. Not ever.

There is no need for one. There is no use for one. There is no benefit in one. There are only potential problems.

Nope, not in this house.

This was my thought, since I intend to install all my apps the old fashioned way, downloading the installer from the developer's website.

Zoloft said:

Privacy is one of my biggest concerns with ten,

Take a couple of hours grazing through the system, privacy, and update and security subdivisions of the settings menu--which is a gear icon located on the taskbar. There's maybe 15 subdivisions, but those 3 are highly pertinent and frequently accessed. Familiarize yourself with Windows Update process and control.

You'll see a lot of toggle switches and a high percentage should be turned off if you are keen on privacy.