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>Also, I'd be remiss to not bemoan the ridiculous fact that as a Windows 10 user I am not able to avoid updates if I so choose. These updates that are forced upon me routinely break my games until drivers/games are updated and I'd very much like the ability to only apply them when and if I choose.

You actually can (partially) do that by simply disabling the Windows Update service. The only downside I've experienced thus far is that it also breaks the Windows Store. Apart from that you obviously need to reenable the service when you want to apply the updates. It's not quite ideal since you cannot apply individual (e.g. security) updates, but it works very well to avoid the random updates & included reboots.

I swear I've tried to do this but it just wouldn't let me. Are you on Home or Pro? I'm perfectly fine disabling/enabling it as that's basically the same action as I used to do: manually update when I want to.

I set network connections as "metered" since updates are disabled over metered connections.

When I'm ready to update, I switch to a non-metered connection.

This is really the only sane workaround. Unfortunately you have to set wired connections as metered through regedit (afaik).

I agree on the naming convention, Microsoft is once again defending its title as the limbo champion of naming things.

I'm inclined to defend Microsoft's strategy for forced security updates, they're really doing a commendable job of proactively defending their users from newly discovered threats. Feature updates not so much.

My response is they can do a great job by offering security patches quickly and separately, but it should remain the user's decision to install it or not. Sure, hide it away so the less technically inclined don't flip the switch and remain vulnerable. I just want to control my computer again and I dislike being talked down to by Microsoft. Even Apple, known for a "We Know Best™" attitude towards users, allows users to decide if and when to update. The vast majority of users update almost immediately.

I'm sure you know about deferred updates (if that's available to you in your version). I don't game anymore, but I would imagine that most drivers would be updated by the end of the deferral period.

Unfortunately, I do not have the more expensive "Pro" version, so I am not able to defer updates and even then you can only defer updates for a time before Microsoft decides they know better than the user and forces the update.

I think my issue with this is largely philosophical in that I should be able to choose what software is installed and which patches are applied to my system. Microsoft's controlling, patronizing decisions for me are grating and demeaning. I am well capable of making up my own mind about when and which updates to apply.

I know this is a core argument for a Free OS, but I am unable to use one for gaming, and all Windows versions before 10 and all macOS versions allow the user to choose to update.

Yeah, but now you could argue with your logic again: They are all called Service Pack and only differ by one number. Your concern regarding googling issues still remains.

Regarding Updates: Why don't you switch to "Current Branch for Business" then?

That's true, but I don't recall having issues searching for specific SPs. A better point could it's easier to understand at a glance which comes later if there's a number in it.

- Creators Update

- Fall Creators Update

Which is first? "Creators Update" doesn't have a modifier, so maybe it came in Spring? But which Spring? Before or after the Fall update?

- Service Pack 1

- Service Pack 2

- Service Pack 3

If you can count, you can figure out the order.

Yeah, that's true. I went to the MS ISO Download website and it said "Creators Update." I couldn't tell if that is the new one or the old one.

They do have Ubuntu-esque numbers as well if you'd prefer to use them. CU was 1703 and FCU is 1709 (AU was 1607, first release of Windows 10 was 1507).

1511 the "November Update"

similar to Windows 8.1 Update 1, which was a full in place upgrade of Windows, but more like a Day One update to an RTM, 3 months later.

Ah yes, I figured I'd forget one. That was all from memory because I looked it up a few weeks ago to elaborate on the distance between Windows 7 and the Fall Creators Update. If you treat all of the in-place upgrades of Windows as semver major, the FCU is very distant from Windows 7 (at least 6 to 8 semver major versions depending on how you count it).

Win7

6.1.7600

6.1.7601

Win 8

6.2.9200

6.3.9200

6.3.9600

Win10

10.0.10240

10.0.10586

10.0.14393

10.0.15063

10.0.16299

IDK what your stance is on piracy but you can try out Enterprise LTSC. It only gets security updates.

I just want a fast, stable, and lightweight OS. Not really interested in design overhaul or features I'll never use.

Most people who deal with Windows often use the actual version number when dicussing versions (as referred to by the winver command). This one is the 1709 update, which is plenty sensical.

> searching for info on them is problematic as they only differ by one word. *

To be fair, macOS has been doing that since Snow Leopard as well, but Google probably adapts to it.