Microsoft promised this week that the upcoming Windows 10 19H2 (October 2019 Update) will be a non-disruptive feature update that will be released like a cumulative update. The question is if this would become the norm?
With Microsoft's focus on finally working on the quality of the operating system since its initial release in 2015, many have questioned whether this will turn into a future strategy for the Windows maker: first feature update of the year brings new features and the fall update focuses more on performance and quality.
Windows 10 updates: major H1 and minor H2 release?
Microsoft isn't ready to promise that, but it does seem like a possibility. "Given the scope of the 19H2 release, we’re taking the opportunity to try something new in an effort to continue to improve the Windows 10 update experience," Microsoft said in a statement.
This may provide us future flexibility to offer a balanced range of Windows 10 feature update delivery methods including OS swaps as well as servicing technology (like the monthly update process).
Microsoft obviously wouldn't want to commit at this stage since this will be the first such update and it's still months away from public release. First preview build of Windows 10 19H2 arrived this week to be tested by Windows Insiders in the Slow ring.
If successful, it could lead to a similar strategy for the future fall updates. As folks at Neowin pointed out, this strategy makes more sense for fall updates since that's when Enterprise and Education editions of the operating system receive 30 months of support (the spring one only comes with 18 months of support). Add in the holiday season that ships new machines and it's apparent that if this strategy is going to be followed by future updates, it will be by the fall feature updates, not the spring releases.
The Windows maker took a long time to admit it needs to work on its update system, but it seems we are finally going to enter the era of stable Windows 10 updates (hopefully). Are disruptive Windows 10 updates a reason you are still running Windows 7 or would you continue to stick with it even if the update system has been, well, updated?
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