Gregg Keizer published an excellent article today on what we know so far about Win10 1909: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3436618/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-unusual-windows-10-1909.html. As a current Win 8.1 user, but very intrigued about the improvements in Win10 1903 (which Woody hasn’t declared Ready for Prime Time… yet), & the possibilities for stability with 1909 (which I’ll refer to in the future as yyH2), I enjoyed it. Some key quotes that raised my eyebrows… & a key question:
Not only will 1903 and 1909 have identical content but both will come in <i>a single update</i>. (Microsoft has done the same with entire operating systems, where one package can, with the right license keys, install Home or Pro.)
Because Microsoft ships the Cumulative Update – the single package with the 1903/1909 fixes – with new features and functionality in 1909 turned off, systems “upgrading” from 1903 to 1909 need some kind of switch thrown to activate those features. This “enablement package” is that switch.
Remember, too, that Microsoft has said it will not turn on 1909’s new features immediately for all upgrading PCs, but will, as it already does with feature refreshes, activate 1909 in stages.
Windows 10 1909 can be upgraded using the Cumulative Update only on a machine running Windows 10 1903.
This raises my main question for those wanting to upgrade from Win7/8.1 to Win10 1909: Do we have to upgrade to 1903 first, then apply the 1909 “service pack” when ready? I’d like to go straight to 1909 from Win8.1, please.
This is no one-off but a template for 2020 and beyond. There’s no way Microsoft would invest this kind of time – and these resources – creating an entirely different kind of upgrade and servicing model and then use it only once.
If this is a template for the future as Keiser believes, then I would prefer to apply “feature updates” (version yyH2) once a year. However, as Woody has documented for 1903, all either Home or Pro can do now is to pause updates for 7 days at a time, up to 35 days. “Advanced options” may give more control… or not. I hope our choices will become clear… as mud… toward the end of September or in October. Any possible answers are welcome now.
Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
Wild Bill Rides Again...
