自 2015 年推出Windows 10(Windows 10)以来，已经过去了两年多，从那时起许多事情都发生了变化。尽管随着时间的推移，世界上最流行的操作系统已经获得了重要的改进，但也有不少小东西使Windows 10成为比旧的 Windows 7 或 Windows 8.1 更好的选择。以下是我们最喜欢的改进：
注意：(NOTE:)本指南重点介绍使 Windows 10 成为比 Windows 7 或 Windows 8.1 更好的操作系统的小细节。还有其他更重要的改进，我们在文章中讨论了有关 Windows 10 的最佳内容(best things about Windows 10)。另一方面，也有一些我们不喜欢(things we don’t like)的东西和Windows 7 的功能，不幸的是，这些功能在 Windows 10 中不再存在(Windows 7 features that, unfortunately, are no longer found in Windows 10)。
1.开始菜单可以调整大小
与Windows 7的旧开始菜单和 Windows 8.1 的(Start Menu)开始屏幕(Start Screen)不同，Windows 10 的开始菜单可以根据需要调整大小(Start Menu can be resized)。这是一个简洁的小功能，许多用户觉得很有帮助。通过调整开始菜单的大小，(Start Menu,)您可以为更多的应用程序行和磁贴腾出空间，或者您可以缩小它，这样就不会留下未使用的空间。
Windows 10 开始菜单(Start Menu)可以调整大小
2.打开应用的任务栏(Taskbar)图标有下划线
这就是您所说的改善操作系统可用性的细微变化。直到Windows 10，我们在每个打开的程序或应用程序的任务栏上都有大按钮，这看起来不太好。在Windows 10中，用于打开的应用程序的任务栏图标(taskbar icons)更加微妙，任何打开的应用程序都带有强调色的下划线。如果你问我们，我们更喜欢这种方式。
打开的应用程序的任务栏(Taskbar)图标带有下划线
3、桌面上有一个隐藏菜单，叫做WinX菜单
很多人抱怨Windows 8的开始屏幕(Start Screen)，也有很多人不喜欢 Windows 10 的开始菜单(Start Menu)。他们中的许多人想要一个可以快速访问常用应用程序、功能和工具的开始菜单。(Start Menu)好消息是，Windows 10 包含一个新菜单，仅适用于桌面。您可以通过右键单击屏幕左下角的Windows按钮或同时按下键盘上的Win + XWinX 菜单(The WinX menu)随即显示，您可以获得各种有用内容的快捷方式，例如应用程序和功能、文件资源管理器、搜索、运行、设置、任务管理器(Apps and Features, File Explorer, Search, Run, Settings, Task Manager)或装置经理。(Device Manager.)
桌面上有一个隐藏菜单，叫做WinX菜单
4. 文件资源管理器的快速访问(Quick Access)部分
Windows 7 的Windows 资源管理器(Windows Explorer )和 Windows 8.1 的文件资源管理器(File Explorer )都包含一个收藏夹(Favorites )部分，您可以在其中放置文件夹、驱动器等的快捷方式。在Windows 10中，替换收藏夹(Favorites)的快速访问(Quick Access)部分更加灵活和可配置。
文件资源管理器的快速访问(Quick Access)部分
您可以将其设置为文件资源管理器的启动文件夹，(File Explorer,)还可以使其显示常用文件夹和最近打开的文件的列表。
5.文件资源管理器的起始位置可以配置
在Windows 10中，微软为(Microsoft)文件资源管理器(File Explorer)添加了一个小而漂亮的功能：您可以将其设置为在启动时自动打开(set it to automatically open) 快速访问(Quick Access)或这台电脑。(This PC)这是一项小而有用的改进，可以让您在使用Windows 10的文件管理器时提高工作效率。
文件资源管理器的起始位置可以配置
6. 你的手机应用
Your Phone是一款有趣的应用程序，旨在帮助您轻松地将任何类型的智能手机连接到您的 Windows 10 PC。除此之外，如果您连接Android手机，您的手机(Your Phone)可让您直接从您的 Windows 10 PC查看智能手机中的照片、拨打和接听电话以及查看通知和SMS消息。(SMS)
你的手机应用程序
根据我们的经验，我们可以告诉您，它在Android智能手机上运行良好，但在 iPhone 上的功能非常有限。在后者上，您只能将网页从 iPhone 发送到 Windows 10 PC。
7.剪贴板(Clipboard)更加先进和实用
从2018 年 10 月(October 2018) 更新(Update)开始，Windows 10 有了一个新的剪贴板，它比Windows 7或 Windows 8.1 的剪贴板更有用。新剪贴板(the new clipboard)不仅可以让您轻松查看其内容，还可以粘贴已保存在其中的旧项目、将项目固定到其中以及删除项目。它甚至可以在您的所有 Windows 10 计算机和设备之间同步。
剪贴板(Clipboard)更加先进和有用
8. Microsoft Defender 防病毒软件(Microsoft Defender Antivirus)附带云提供的保护
Microsoft Defender 防病毒软件(Microsoft Defender Antivirus)能够提供基于云的保护(cloud-based protection)。如果启用，此功能可提供更好、更快的恶意软件防护。我们建议您还允许 Windows 10 向Microsoft发送有关(Microsoft)Microsoft Defender Antivirus发现的问题的信息。如果您这样做，公司可以在创建新的反恶意软件定义以及必须解决您设备上的问题以及其他用户的问题时快速做出反应。
Microsoft Defender 防病毒软件(Microsoft Defender Antivirus)附带云提供的保护
9. Windows 更新可以从本地网络或互联网下载
传统上，Windows更新只能从Microsoft的服务器下载。但是，在Windows 10中，Microsoft采用了点对点技术。
因此，与Windows 7或 8.1 不同，Windows 10 设备可以从本地网络中的其他计算机和 Internet 上的其他 PC下载更新。(download updates)
可以从本地网络或 Internet 下载 Windows 更新
10. Storage Sense自动清理你的驱动器
您在Windows 10(Windows 10)中很容易错过的另一项小功能是Storage Sense，它比 Windows 7 或 8.1 更好。因为它可以自动清理系统硬盘中的临时和不需要的文件，所以如果您的 PC 上没有足够的空间， Storage Sense特别有用。(Storage Sense)多亏了这一点，您不再需要手动擦除文件或卸载应用程序来腾出空间。
Storage Sense 会(Sense)自动清理您的驱动器
11. 隐私控制是全面的
Microsoft非常重视您的隐私，并且在Windows 10中，它们包含了许多与隐私相关的新设置。您可以为可以访问您的位置、相机、麦克风、联系人、日历、消息、收音机等的应用程序设置权限。所有这些都分为不同的类别，每个类别都列出了可以控制或访问任何这些功能的每个应用程序。
隐私控制是全面的
12.省电模式让你继续前进
每当您的设备的电池电量低时，会自动启用省电模式。(Battery Saver)此功能更改屏幕亮度、禁用后台应用程序等设置，所有这些都是为了延长 Windows 10 笔记本电脑或平板电脑的电池寿命。
Windows 10 的省电模式
您还喜欢Windows 10、Windows 7和Windows 8.1中的哪些其他小东西？
总而言之，与旧版Windows相比， (Windows)Windows 10 不仅拥有主要功能和改进，还拥有许多起初并不明显的较小改进。我们希望您喜欢我们鲜为人知的功能列表，如果您认识其他功能，请不要犹豫，在评论部分分享它们。您最喜欢Windows 10 的哪些小改进？
12 small things that Windows 10 does better than older versions -
More than a couple of years have passed since Windows 10 waѕ launched back in 2015, and many things have changed since then. Although the most popular operating system in the world has received important improvements over time, there are also quite a few ѕmaller things thаt make Windows 10 a better choice than the оld Windоws 7 or Windows 8.1. Here are the іmprovements we like the most:
NOTE: This guide focuses on the small things that make Windows 10 a better operating system than Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. There are other, more significant improvements, which we discuss in our article with the best things about Windows 10. On the other hand, there are also things we don’t like and Windows 7 features that, unfortunately, are no longer found in Windows 10.
1. The Start Menu can be resized
Unlike the old Start Menu from Windows 7 and the Start Screen from Windows 8.1, Windows 10’s Start Menu can be resized as you wish. It’s a neat little feature that many users find helpful. By resizing your Start Menu, you can make space for more app rows and tiles, or you can shrink it, so that no space is left unused.
The Windows 10 Start Menu can be resized
2. Taskbar icons of open apps are underlined
This is what you’d call a subtle change that improves the usability of an operating system. Up to Windows 10, we had large buttons on the taskbar for each opened program or app, and that didn’t look so great. In Windows 10, the taskbar icons used for opened apps are much more subtle, and any opened app is underlined with an accent color. If you ask us, we like it better this way.
Taskbar icons of open apps are underlined
3. There’s a hidden menu on the desktop, called the WinX menu
A lot of people complained about Windows 8’s Start Screen, and many don’t like Windows 10’s Start Menu either. Many of them wanted a Start Menu that offered quick access to common apps, features, and tools. The good news is that Windows 10 includes a new menu just for that on the desktop. You can open it with a right-click on the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of your screen, or by simultaneously pressing Win + X on your keyboard. The WinX menu then shows up, and you get shortcuts to all kinds of useful things, like Apps and Features, File Explorer, Search, Run, Settings, Task Manager, or Device Manager.
There’s a hidden menu on the desktop, called the WinX menu
4. File Explorer’s Quick Access section
Both Windows Explorer from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1’s File Explorer include a Favorites section, where you can place shortcuts to folders, drives, and so on. In Windows 10, the Quick Access section that replaces Favorites is much more flexible and configurable.
File Explorer’s Quick Access section
You can set it as a startup folder for File Explorer, and you can also make it display a list of frequently used folders and recently opened files.
5. File Explorer’s starting location can be configured
In Windows 10, Microsoft added a small, yet nifty feature to File Explorer: you can set it to automatically open Quick Access or This PC when you start it. It’s a small but useful improvement that can make you more productive when using Windows 10’s file manager.
File Explorer’s starting location can be configured
6. The Your Phone app
Your Phone is an interesting app that aims to help you easily connect any kind of smartphone to your Windows 10 PC. Among other things, if you connect an Android phone, Your Phone lets you see the photos from your smartphone, make and receive phone calls, and check notifications and SMS messages directly from your Windows 10 PC.
The Your Phone app
From our experience, we can tell you that it works pretty well with Android smartphones, but its functionality is very limited with iPhones. On the latter, you can only send web pages from your iPhone to your Windows 10 PC.
7. The Clipboard is much more advanced and useful
Starting with the October 2018 Update, Windows 10 got a new clipboard that makes it much more useful than the clipboard from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Not only does the new clipboard allow you to see its contents easily, but you can also paste old items that you’ve saved in it, pin items to it, and delete items. It can even sync across all your Windows 10 computers and devices.
The Clipboard is much more advanced and useful
8. Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes with cloud-delivered protection
Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes with the ability to offer cloud-based protection. If enabled, this feature provides better and faster protection against malware. We recommend that you also allow Windows 10 to send information to Microsoft about the problems found by Microsoft Defender Antivirus. If you do, the company can react quickly when creating new antimalware definitions and when it has to fix the issues on your device and those of other users out there.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes with cloud-delivered protection
9. Windows updates can be downloaded from the local network or the internet
Traditionally, Windows updates were only downloaded from Microsoft’s servers. However, in Windows 10, Microsoft embraced peer-to-peer technologies.
As a result, unlike Windows 7 or 8.1, Windows 10 devices can download updates both from other computers in your local network and from other PCs on the internet.
Windows updates can be downloaded from the local network or the internet
10. Storage Sense automatically cleans your drives
One other small feature that you can easily miss in Windows 10, but which makes it better than Windows 7 or 8.1, is Storage Sense. Because it can automatically clean your system’s hard drive of temporary and unneeded files, Storage Sense is especially useful if you don’t have a lot of space on your PC. Thanks to that, you no longer have to struggle manually erasing files or uninstalling apps to make room.
Storage Sense automatically cleans your drives
11. Privacy controls are comprehensive
Microsoft takes your privacy very seriously and, in Windows 10, they included a lot of new privacy-related settings. You can set permissions for apps that can access your location, camera, microphone, contacts, calendar, messages, radios, and so on. All these are divided into separate categories, and each of them lists every app that can control or access any of these features.
Privacy controls are comprehensive
12. Battery Saver keeps you going
Whenever your device’s battery level is low, Battery Saver is enabled automatically. This feature changes settings like the screen’s brightness, disables background apps, and more, all in order to prolong the battery life of your Windows 10 laptop or tablet.
Windows 10's Battery Saver
What other small things do you like in Windows 10 vs. Windows 7 vs. Windows 8.1?
All in all, Windows 10 doesn’t boast only with major features and improvements compared to older Windows versions, but also with many smaller improvements that are not noticeable at first. We hope you enjoyed our list of less known features and, if you know others, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments section. What little Windows 10 improvements are your favorites?
