Microsoft will soon offer different installation experiences when setting up Windows 10 based on how you plan on using the computer.
As people use Windows 10 in different ways, Microsoft is testing a new setup screen that asks you to indicate how you plan to use the computer to customize the options and tools offered during setup.
"Based on feedback, we’re exploring adding a page to Windows setup (OOBE) to help better understand how you plan to use your device and aid in customizing your device given your intended usage," Microsoft announced today.
This new experience will be shown as an optional screen titled 'Customize your device' that states, "If you choose to tell Microsoft how you plan to use your device, we'll customize suggestions for tools and services during device setup and your welcome experience," as shown below.
The different categories Microsoft is testing include:
- Gaming - Play and discover games, keep up with new releases.
- Family - Connect with the whole family, edit safety settings, and give everyone their own profile on this device.
- Creativity - Bring ideas to life - from novels and presentations to photos and videos.
- Schoolwork - Take notes, write essays, and collaborate on projects.
- Entertainment - Watch videos, browse the web, and connect on social media.
- Business - Track expenses, manage customers, and run your business.
Depending on what category you select, Windows 10 will offer different setup options and possibly install a different set of preinstalled apps or features.
I am surprised that Microsoft did not offer a developer option that could automatically install Hyper-V, WSL, Python, and other developer tools.
Microsoft is first testing this feature with a small subset of users in the Windows Insider dev channel as part of today's release of the Windows 10 build 20231.
As time goes, they plan on rolling it out to all users in the dev channel who perform a reset or clean install of Windows 10.
Comments
redwolfe_98 - 4 years ago
they need to add another option, for "NORMAL."
EmanuelJacobsson - 4 years ago
They have Skip.
doriel - 4 years ago
Thank you for your article. I like this idea. Well done on this. I suppose some fuctions will be suppressed, depending on which button you click. I wonder how gaming will be different from bussiness. Hope this is not another cosmetical change. I mean.. after installation my desktop will have giant "WORK HARDER!!" written on it?
eLPuSHeR - 4 years ago
How about making installation simpler and more streamlined? Remove Cortana and all that crap. And allow people to choose which Store Apps are installed and such, even an option for NONE.
doriel - 4 years ago
Installation is not difficult at this time. I find it very simple and even non-techy user can do that. But I agree, that there should be option "install without bloatware" or something. Unfortunatelly, MSFT sees opportunity to earn more money, so you will be stuck with Store, unless you go to Mac. Oh! there is AppStore.. Linux? Software repository.. oops!
So.. Maybe the option "Bussiness"? I would add option "productivity".
My opinion is, that in Pro, Edu and Ent versions, there should be NO Candy crush saga and other crap.
Windows10User - 4 years ago
Just use a user account that's connected to Azure AD or local AD and poof, Candy Crush is gone. Or use the Windows 10 Debloater script
doriel - 4 years ago
Sure, every home user has Azure, or AD :) sory just joking.
And windows debloater is not very reliable. Every build (1809, 1903, ..) has its own specifications. And what functions on one PC, does not on other. Unfortunatelly. Try this script and select all apps that you want to remove (run powershell as admin):
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Out-GridView -PassThru | Remove-AppxPackage
BeckoningChasm - 4 years ago
I'd be very curious to see the differences in what is installed according to the choice the user makes. I mainly use my PC for graphics and animation, but I also watch movies, keep track of my expenses and am always interested in an efficient system.
DyingCrow - 4 years ago
I'll be honest, i can't make any sense of the options there, as far as it becoming a "customized", maybe "Lite" installation for a specific purpose. The only clue here is "We'll customize suggestions for tools...". Whatever that means?
Knowing M$, i'll just stay neutral and see what comes out of it. May have a sneak peek at the dev channel see what this is about. Still, positive points to M$ for reading feedback, and implementing ideas based on that feedback (like some of the recent feature updates). This is NOT the kinda stuff M$ would think of and implement as a surprise.
dogood76 - 4 years ago
Does this mean they're separating mobile from desktop, like Apple? I would love to return to not use mobile versions on my desktop.
JohnC_21 - 4 years ago
How about a "Minimal" install where we don't get all the Microsoft Bloatware like Xbox and Mixed Reality.
pcpunk - 4 years ago
And bring back the Skip the MS Account button! I always forget and connect Ethernet during a setup...so irritating.
steve.tabler - 4 years ago
Which option disables telemetry 100% and disables all patches and updates not explicitly enabled? No thanks. I'll keep my Windows 7. It's stable, and my 3rd party security apps that I've always needed anyway, keep my Ryzan 5 system secure.
herbman - 4 years ago
MS has needed a "Lite" version since Win 10 first appeared , there's way way way too much crap/bloatware .
Win 10 comes with 85% of stuff i have absolutely ZERO interest in , it's absolutely mind boggling how much crap is standard fare with Win 10.
You can use certain types of programs that disable or sometimes even remove a bit of the garbage but the majority of the garbage is permanent and can't be permanently removed which is the biggest reason Win 10 sucks.