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Sometimes I have the impression that every time I write an editorial on Microsoft, it's because the company has acted wrongly. It's definitely worth noting when the company is doing something right, and the changes to Windows Update announced this week are clearly in this category.
First, the 1903 version of Windows 10 will spend a full month in the Release Preview ring, which is beneficial for everyone. You may remember that the latest version of the operating system completely ignored Release Preview and that the results were catastrophic. The update had to be removed temporarily because a small number of people discovered that their files were removed during the upgrade.
Hindsight is 20/20, but the Release Preview ring is the only ring of the Windows Insider program in which everyone goes from a production version to a version that should go into production. It sounds like a bug that could have been fixed with more tests, and Microsoft hurriedly throws it.
But not more. More tests mean a more stable update when deployed to the uninitiated.
Let's talk about "seekers" because that's what I wanted to do. I did not hesitate to criticize the method of the "applicants" of Microsoft. Starting from Windows 10 version 1803 a year ago, the company introduced the idea of "seekers", automatically assuming that anyone looking for updates would like to get the latest update.
Microsoft released versions 1803 and 1809 for applicants earlier than all others. The only problem was that you may not be looking for the update. On Tuesday patches, you may just want your fix. If you are setting up a new PC, you may just want it to be up to date; you certainly do not want a feature update that could break your workflow, and both these updates had significant problems.
A key problem was that Microsoft treated the Release Preview ring and people who pressed the "Check for Updates" button in the same way and considered them identical. But the truth is that one group of people has explicitly chosen to receive beta software, unlike the other.
This concept is going away, and that is another thing that is good for everyone. Now there will be a "download and install" button. Users will be notified in Windows Update if there is something new and you can enter it if you are Actually to seek it. If you just want your PC to be up to date, that's what "Check for Updates" is all about.
Microsoft has always been a bit pushy when it comes to Windows updates. You do not really have much control over them. Windows is a service now, and I think the idea was, originally, that your PC is just supposed to be updated without you knowing it. It was supposed to be transparent.
All of this comes out the window when you get a problematic update, and the truth is that it's not what users want. Years ago, when Windows 10 was launched for the first time, Microsoft spokespeople said things like "But that's how your phone works". There is a difference though; your PC is not your phone, nobody should expect that it works the same way.
Microsoft also brings other improvements. Feature updates will not be forced on your computer until the version you are using has arrived at the end of the support. Plus, you'll be able to suspend feature and quality updates for up to 35 days at a time and Windows 10 SKU Home.
This gives back control to the users they not only need, but they deserve. Microsoft finally respects the base of users of Windows 10, which was quite judicious.
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