Windows 10 is available for free (for a limited period). So should you upgrade? Are there additional benefits beyond the free upgrade offer?

Let’s discuss some scenarios where it would make sense to upgrade to Windows 10, followed by a situation where it might be better to not upgrade.

Should you upgrade to Windows 10: Yes, because it’s free

The upgrade to Windows 10 is free, and this is one of the main reasons why you would want to upgrade.

However, the free offer is for a limited period only. If you have a licensed version of Windows 7 or Windows 8, you don’t have to do much to avail of the free upgrade. All you need to do is reserve your free upgrade and upgrade before the offer expires.

If you miss the free offer, you might be required to pay for the same upgrade in the future.

Should you upgrade to Windows 10: Yes, for the new features

Windows 10 offers an improved desktop experience in comparison to Windows 8.  The new Operating System offers several new features that make it more exciting. For example, gamers will benefit greatly by upgrading to Windows 10, as they get DirectX12 which offers a vastly improved gaming experience. You also get the new Xbox gaming hub which offers games recording and an ability to share your gaming achievements with your friends.

Should you upgrade to Windows 10: Yes, if you heavily use mouse and keyboard

The biggest improvement in Windows 10 is the return of the Start Menu.

If you have been using Windows 8, you would probably agree that working with Start Screen was never that easy, particularly if your PC does not have Touchscreen capability.

Thankfully, Microsoft has understood the plight of these Windows users and brought back the Start Menu. In Windows 10, you can see the Start Menu and also the live tiles that were featured in Windows 8.

There is no doubt that working with a mouse and keyboard in Windows 10 is a better user experience in comparison to Windows 8.

Should you upgrade to Windows 10: Not if you are using old hardware

If you have very little hard drive space left on your PC, or have a very slow internet connection, then you are likely to experience problems upgrading to Windows 10. The minimum requirements for upgrade are as follows:

Processor: 1 gigahertz or faster

RAM: 1 gigabyte for 32-bit; 2 gigabyte for 64-bit

Hard disk space: 16 gigabyte for 32-bit OS; 20 gigabyte for 64-bit OS

Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver

Display: 800×600

There are some very common Windows 10 install issues which we will deal with in our next post on this topic.