Joe Belfiore talks with Microsoft Insiders at a launch event in Bellevue.
Joe Belfiore talks (center) with Microsoft Insiders at a launch event in Bellevue.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Windows 10 may be new to the average user after it launched yesterday, but Microsoft vice president Joe Belfiore — and about 5 million Windows Insiders — have been playing with early builds of the software for months as the company ironed out all the kinks.

Now that everything is out in the open, GeekWire caught up with Belfiore, who oversees the Windows experience for phones, tablets and PCs, to talk about how he’s been using the new operating system himself.

We spoke at a launch event at Microsoft’s Bellevue store, right before Belfiore and executive vice president Terry Myerson headed out to volunteer as part of Microsoft’s Upgrade Your World campaign.

GeekWire: How has Windows 10 changed your workflow?

Belfiore: “I’ve really started to get into using small tablets for work tasks. … I got [an HP Stream 8] to try out and upgraded it to Windows 10. I found that I was starting to use it to do work email. I was on a camping trip and I chose to bring that instead of a bigger device because I wanted to be on a camping trip, I didn’t want to be doing work. But I was sitting in a lawn chair out in Eastern Washington going through email because the convertibility of the tablet experience was sufficiently good. I found that I could carry this portable device. It was a little better for doing heavy work tasks than my phone. And so I’m finding that the range of devices is giving me a choice that fits the scenario I’m in and letting me be more productive than I was before.”

GeekWire: If you only had time to show someone brand new to Microsoft one Windows 10 feature, what would it be?

Belfiore: “If I was going to show somebody one feature that represents what Windows 10 is about, I would first show Continuum because such a big part of Windows 10 is the idea of making your computing devices able to transform and convert. So I would pick that first. And if you gave me 10 more seconds I would show Cortana. Because our PCs are the only ones you can talk to that get to know you personally and deliver this natural experience.”

GeekWire: What do you use Cortana for usually?

Belfiore: “For me personally, Cortana probably gets the most use in proactive notifications. Here’s the sports score for the Mariners, here’s the time to leave because you need to get somewhere. Second, I like getting quick answers to questions. And then probably third is reminders.”

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