New York: The good thing about Microsoft's new Windows 10 is that it takes you much less time to get used to ishan its predecessor Windows 8. There is another great thing about it: This update is free.

Windows 8 was Microsoft's way of modernising personal computers, as smartphones and tablets grew more popular. But it came across as trying to shove a square peg into a round hole. It steered people toward tablet-like touch commands, even on desktops and laptops that had keyboards and mouse controls. Apps that weren't designed for touch -- including Microsoft's Office -- got shoved into the basement, known as desktop mode. Desktop mode and tablet/touch mode were like feuding siblings, each seeking to dominate in a high-stakes tug of war.