Microsoft has finally released Windows 10 after trailing - and trialling it in various beta releases - for almost a year.
The result will be little surprise for anyone signed up to the Windows Insider Programme, but users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 will be surprised over the next few days with prompts to move up to the new version if they opted in to Microsoft's free upgrade for existing users.
In the meantime, PC makers will be rushing to put together new Windows 10 packages, despite many only receiving new drivers for key components relatively late. Consumers keen for a new machine on which to run the new operating system, however, might be advised to wait until the autumn when Intel will have some new microprocessor technology to offer as well.
One of the key features that Microsoft is keen to promote is that Windows 10 is both smaller and less resource intensive than previous Microsoft PC operating systems and will start up more quickly. There is also Edge, Microsoft's new "minimalist" web browser, which is intended to replace the ageing, bloated, clunky and slow Internet Explorer.
Further good news: the bizarre dual desktop introduced with Windows 8 has been expunged, replaced with a tablet mode for genuine touchscreen work - not forced on users by the operating system. The bafflingly titled "charms" menu, which was also all-too-easily triggered, has also been mercifully put up against a wall and shot.
Demonstrating how Microsoft is endeavouring to use the 10-series of operating systems to push convergence of its own operating systems, Windows 10 will enable users to stream games between their PCs and Xbox One.
Meanwhile, the introduction of Universal Apps will enable applications to run on a range of 10-series devices - potentially from Windows Phone mobiles, PCs, all the way through to Xboxes in the living room.
That may not cause too much wailing, gnashing of teeth or sleepless nights at Google, Apple or even Sony, but it almost certainly brings closer the nightmare scenario envisaged by Valve Software founder Gabe Newell, who devised the popular PC games download system Steam, when Microsoft introduced its own app store with Windows 8. In retaliation, it has developed its own games console, the Steam Box, but those have only just started to trickle out.
Nevertheless, Microsoft has promised (as it always does) that Windows 10 will offer a high degree of backwards compatibility for people wishing to run their old applications (such as their 500+ games bought in various Steam sales and Humble Bundles. Indeed), if something runs on Windows 7, it ought to run on Windows 10, too.
Mercifully, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hasn't been inclined to persuade people to host launch parties, as the then-CEO Steve Ballmer did when Windows 7 was released. However, as Windows Vista was (for most people) so bad, there was plenty to celebrate. Windows 8, meanwhile, was largely avoided - helped by Microsoft maintaining supplies of Windows 7 and offering downgrades so that no one need have the much-derided operating system if they didn't want it.
The actual user interface itself - and it's important to remember that Windows 10 is largely a UI update to Windows 8, rather than a top-to-bottom new operating system - is what Windows 8 probably would have been if high-handed Microsoft execs had actually bothered to respond to beta-testers' feedback.
Sure, the Start menu now looks much like the Windows Phone interface, but this is no bad thing. And the old Metro Modern interface has been tamed and renamed "tablet mode", and only forces itself on users when they are actually using a tablet.
Finally, there's Siri. Sorry, Cortana, Microsoft's "information assistant", which has been around a while now, and will enable PC users to interact with their PCs in the style of Dom Joly and his Nokia phone.
The operating system was launched at 5am BST this morning. No queues outside branches of PC World have been reported.
See also: Microsoft Surface Pro 4: Everything we know so far (free registration to Computing.co.uk required)
Source: Microsoft launches Windows 10 – world rejoices etc
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