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Microsoft promotes Windows 10 with new launch site and tutorial guide

Designed to drum up interest in the new OS, the launch site tries to convince you to upgrade, while the tutorial guide explains the new features in Windows 10.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer
Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.
Lance Whitney
3 min read
windows10-launch-site.jpg
Microsoft's new Windows 10 launch site wants to convince you to upgrade. Microsoft/screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET

Microsoft is trying to excite the masses about Windows 10 through an official launch site and quick guide touting its new OS.

The new Windows 10 launch site reminds us all that the new OS will officially start rolling out on Wednesday, July 29. Microsoft has dropped a series of hints on the site trying to explaining why Windows users should upgrade. Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for all Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users for the first year. Further, the latest version of Windows offers a host of new features that Microsoft hopes will convince people to upgrade.

Microsoft is counting on Windows 10 to erase the bad taste of the touchscreen-focused Windows 8, which failed to catch on with consumers, especially PC users. The company is trying to get the new OS into the hands of as many people as possible. Beyond offering it free to Windows 7 and 8.1 users, Windows 10 will be available for members of the Windows Insider Program, who have been downloading and testing each new version, or build, of the OS and offering their feedback to Microsoft.

Watch this: Top 5 reasons to upgrade to Windows 10

The launch site is trying to stir excitement through Microsoft's Windows 10 "Upgrade your world" theme. The site displays live tweets from Windows 10 fans from around the world as the new OS will be available in 190 different countries. Microsoft also has planned "fan celebrations" on Wednesday in 13 cities around the world. These celebrations will offer hands-on opportunities, demos, entertainment and "opportunities to meet the Windows team," according to the company.

Further, the site has listed 10 reasons why you should upgrade to Windows 10, including:

1. Familiarity in Windows 10
2. Do personal things with Cortana on Windows 10
3. Do unexpected things with Microsoft Edge
4. Game Epically on Windows 10
5. Do multiple things at once with Windows 10
6. Security in Windows 10
7. Say "Hello" to Windows Hello on Windows 10
8. A look at the great built-in apps in Windows 10
9. Continuum on Windows 10
10. Coming July 28th

From the launch site, you can also click a button to "Upgrade for free," which takes you to a page that explains how to reserve your free copy of Windows 10. There's also a "Read the FAQ" link, which takes you to a Windows 10 Q&A page that answers a host of questions about the upgrade.

To delve more into the inner workings of Windows 10, Microsoft has also published a 14-page tutorial guide highlighting the OS's key features. The guide dives into such features as the Cortana voice assistant, the new Edge web browser, the Xbox gaming app and the new Start menu.

Microsoft will start the launch of Windows 10 on Wednesday by pushing the upgrade to members of the Windows Insider Program. The upgrade will then segue to Windows 7 and 8.1 users who have reserved their free copy. The company is using a phased approach so that it can fix any bugs found in the initial stages and fix them as the rollout moves forward.