Windows 10 What Is It and Why Does Everyone Still Use It?

If you’ve stared at a glowing rectangle at any point in the last decade, you’ve seen it. That signature blue window logo. It's everywhere. But when people ask Windows 10 what is it, they aren’t usually looking for a dictionary definition. They want to know why this specific version of Microsoft's operating system became the "forever" software for millions of offices, gaming rigs, and dusty laptops worldwide.

Windows 10 is basically the glue holding the modern computing world together. Released in July 2015, it arrived as a massive apology for Windows 8. Remember the "tiles" that took over your whole screen? People hated that. Microsoft listened. They brought back the Start menu, blended the old-school desktop feel with new cloud features, and told us it would be the "last version of Windows."

They lied about that last part, obviously, since Windows 11 exists now. But for a huge chunk of the population, Windows 10 remains the peak. It’s a service, not just a product.

The Actual Mechanics of Windows 10

At its core, Windows 10 is an NT-based operating system. That sounds technical, but it just means it’s built on a rock-solid foundation that Microsoft has been refining since the early 90s. It’s designed to run on almost anything. You’ll find it on $200 tablets and $5,000 liquid-cooled gaming PCs.

One of the biggest shifts with this version was the move to "Windows as a Service." In the old days—think Windows XP or 7—you bought a disc, installed it, and that was it. Maybe you got security patches, but the features stayed the same until you bought a new disc years later. Windows 10 changed the game by pushing massive feature updates twice a year.

It changed how we think about our computers. Suddenly, your OS was evolving while you slept.

Why the Start Menu Mattered So Much

When Microsoft launched Windows 8, they killed the Start button. It was a disaster. Users felt lost. So, when people ask about the identity of Windows 10, the return of the Start menu is the biggest piece of that puzzle. It combined the classic list of programs with "Live Tiles" that showed you the weather or your emails in real-time. It was the bridge between the past and the future.

Honestly, it worked. It made the PC feel like a PC again, not a giant smartphone.

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Windows 10 What Is It Doing Differently?

Security is the boring stuff nobody wants to talk about until they get hacked. Windows 10 introduced Windows Hello, which lets you sign in with your face or fingerprint. It sounds like sci-fi, but it’s actually just infrared technology and biometric mapping.

Then there’s DirectX 12. If you aren't a gamer, this means nothing to you. If you are, it’s everything. It allowed games to talk to your hardware more efficiently, leading to better frame rates and prettier explosions. This is why Windows 10 became the undisputed king of gaming. It wasn't just about the interface; it was about what was happening under the hood.

The Microsoft Store and Universal Apps

Microsoft tried to make "Universal Windows Platform" (UWP) apps a thing. The idea was that an app could run on a phone, a PC, and an Xbox without changing the code. It didn't really take off the way they hoped because developers stayed stuck on traditional desktop apps (.exe files). But you still see remnants of this in the "Photos" or "Calculator" apps on your machine today. They’re cleaner, faster, and update through the Store rather than through massive system restarts.

The Multi-Device Reality

Windows 10 wasn't just for desktops. It was meant for "2-in-1s" like the Microsoft Surface. If you detach the keyboard, the OS asks if you want to enter Tablet Mode. The buttons get bigger. The taskbar hides. It’s clever. It’s the first time an OS really tried to be a shapeshifter.

Microsoft also integrated OneDrive deeply into the file explorer. This meant your "Documents" folder wasn't just on your hard drive; it was in the cloud. You could start a Word doc at work and finish it on your laptop at home without ever using a thumb drive. This is standard now, but back in 2015, it felt like magic to a lot of office workers.

Cortana: The Assistant That Kind of Faded

We have to talk about Cortana. Microsoft’s answer to Siri was baked right into the taskbar. At first, it was a big deal. You could talk to your PC. "Hey Cortana, set a reminder." But over time, people realized they didn't really want to talk to their computers in an open office. Eventually, Microsoft moved Cortana out of the way, turning it into a separate app before mostly retiring the brand in favor of AI like Copilot. It’s a reminder that not every "future" feature actually sticks.

Versions: Pro vs. Home

If you're looking at a laptop at Best Buy, you’ll see these two labels. Windows 10 Home is exactly what it sounds like. It has everything a normal human needs.

Windows 10 Pro adds things like BitLocker (which encrypts your entire hard drive) and Remote Desktop. It also allows IT departments to manage thousands of computers at once. For most people? Home is plenty. But Pro gives you that extra layer of control over when updates happen, which is a big deal for people who hate being interrupted by a "Restarting in 10 minutes" notification.

The Elephant in the Room: The 2025 End of Support

Here is the thing about Windows 10 what is it that most people don't realize: it has an expiration date. Microsoft has officially stated that support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025.

What does that actually mean? It doesn't mean your computer will explode. It means Microsoft stops sending security patches. No more defense against new viruses. No more bug fixes. For businesses, this is a nightmare. For you, it means you have a choice to make soon.

Can You Stay on Windows 10 Forever?

Technically, yes. But it's risky. Without security updates, your PC becomes a sitting duck for malware. Microsoft is offering "Extended Security Updates" (ESU) for the first time for regular consumers, but you'll have to pay a yearly fee for it. It's a weird spot to be in. Windows 10 is so good that people don't want to leave, but the clock is ticking.

Misconceptions and Privacy Concerns

When Windows 10 first launched, it got slammed for "telemetry." That’s a fancy word for data collection. People were freaked out that Microsoft was watching every click.

In reality, most of that data was used to see which features were crashing and how people used the Start menu. Still, Microsoft eventually made the privacy settings much clearer. You can go into the settings right now and toggle off almost all of it. It’s far less intrusive than your average social media app, but the reputation stuck for a long time.

The "Forced" Update Saga

We've all been there. You're in the middle of a project, and Windows decides it's time to update. This was the biggest complaint for years. Microsoft eventually eased up, giving users more "snooze" options. They learned the hard way that taking control away from the user is a great way to make them hate your product.

Hardware Requirements: Why Windows 10 is the "Universal" OS

One reason Windows 10 became so popular is that it runs on potatoes. If your computer was built in 2012, it can probably run Windows 10 just fine.

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• RAM: 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit.
• CPU: 1GHz or faster.
• Storage: 20GB of space.

Compare that to Windows 11, which requires a specific security chip called a TPM 2.0. This requirement is exactly why Windows 10 still has such a massive market share. Millions of perfectly good computers can’t "officially" upgrade to Windows 11. So, Windows 10 remains the home for the hardware that still has plenty of life left in it.

How to Get the Most Out of Windows 10 Today

If you’re still using it (and you probably are), there are a few things you should be doing to keep it snappy. Windows 10 has a way of collecting "digital cruft."

1. Check your Startup Apps. Right-click the taskbar, hit Task Manager, and go to the Startup tab. If Spotify and Steam are starting every time you turn on the PC, your boot time will crawl. Disable the stuff you don't need immediately.
2. Use Storage Sense. Deep in the settings, there’s a feature called Storage Sense. It automatically deletes temporary files and empties your trash when your drive gets full. It’s a "set it and forget it" tool that saves lives.
3. Night Light. Stop searing your retinas at 11 PM. Turn on Night Light in the display settings to filter out blue light. Your sleep cycle will thank you.
4. Virtual Desktops. Hit Windows Key + Tab. You can create multiple "desktops." Put your work stuff on one and your gaming/distraction stuff on the other. It’s the easiest way to organize a messy workflow.

The Verdict on Windows 10

So, Windows 10 what is it? It’s the most stable, compatible, and widely-used operating system Microsoft ever built. It fixed the mistakes of the past and created a platform that was actually useful for work and play. It isn't flashy like the new AI-focused updates in Windows 11, but it works.

It represents an era where the PC became a tool again, rather than a confused tablet-laptop hybrid. While its days are numbered by the 2025 cutoff, its legacy is already cemented. It’s the OS that didn't get in your way.

Immediate Next Steps for Windows 10 Users

Check your hardware compatibility now. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If your PC says it isn't compatible with Windows 11, you have until October 2025 to either buy a new machine, look into a Linux transition, or prepare to pay for the Extended Security Updates. If your machine is compatible, consider the jump to Windows 11 sooner rather than later to get used to the new interface before the deadline hits.

Finally, do a quick audit of your "Privacy" settings in the main menu. Turn off "Background Apps" for anything you don't use daily. This is the single fastest way to reclaim system resources on an aging Windows 10 machine without spending a dime on new hardware.