Ditch the Slow Ring! Get on the Windows 10 Fast Ring or step away from the previews

Windows 10 is a major departure from the norm for Microsoft. This is not only the first time Windows has been made available as a free upgrade, but the first time that users have been able to get actively involved in the development process. The existence of the public previews for Windows Insiders has made this one of the most transparent development programs to come out of Redmond.

Broken down into the Fast Ring and the Slow Ring, Microsoft has explained how the Windows 10 development process works, saying that the former is for those who want to be on the bleeding edge, the latter for those who want to play it safer. Ultimately, however, you should be either in or out, and this leads us to the question: what's the point of the Windows 10 Slow Ring?

While there have been a number of preview builds released, the rate at which releases have hit the two rings has been markedly different. Anyone waiting for the 'more stable' builds to reach the Slow Ring has certainly had their patience tested. Things have been slightly better for those happy to take the risk of working with Fast Ring builds, but most people would have been happier with a somewhat accelerated release schedule.

Part of the reason for the existence of the Slow Ring is that it is home to builds that have already gone through various phases of testing -- the Fast Ring included. Any show-stopping bugs should have been ironed out, but the release schedule is far slower.

But Microsoft warns that none of the preview builds -- and some would argue the same warning should apply to the RTM build -- should not be installed on a machine that is mission-critical. If you're interested in seeing the development process of Windows 10 and want to check out the latest features and fixes ahead of official updates, you're going to be sensible about it and run the operating system on a second machine or virtual machine, or be competent enough to sort problems out if things go wrong. If an operating system screw-up scares you, you shouldn't be using the preview builds in the first place.

Both the Slow and Fast Rings are home to builds that would be generally considered unfinished and unstable, so what’s the point in both? Neither are meant for use on main machines, so why compromise and settle for fewer, slower releases? If you're a Windows Insider with an interest in the preview builds, you should either be in or out. Fast or nothing.

The Slow Ring is a half-hearted pandering to those who feel like sort of taking part. Ditch it this instant. Get on the Fast Ring right now. And, Microsoft -- speed things up! We can take it. We don’t mind wobbly builds -- we just want more. We know you're beavering away on things, so let's see it faster.

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