Microsoft To Provide Free Upgrades To Windows 10

[zappaDPJ]

Update: Microsoft promised a new build of Windows 10 next week, and also confirmed previous rumors that the first build of the operating system for smartphones will be released in February.

If you are on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows Phone 8.1, you will be eligible for a free upgrade inside the first year of Windows 10. Microsoft made the announcement this morning at an event on its corporate campus outside of Seattle.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/21/microsoft-to-provide-free-upgrades-to-windows-10/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook

So as nothing comes for free it's obvious where this is going.

[Clive]

Not sure I would want to trade perfectly stable versions of Windows 7 for some new M$ cr@p.  Seriously thinking of going back to Macs if M$ intend renting their OS and software in future. 

[zappaDPJ]

From what I've seen and I've seen a lot, Windows 10 looks rather good, certainly something I'd want to use. While I've never been a fan of subscription software it's without a doubt what we'll be seeing in the future so I'm learning to adapt to it. There's really no choice of me.

[Clive]

Like Tesco, there seems no end to their greed.   

[Technical Ben]

It's finally hit that wall... it never was an OS they were selling you. They were selling you into their system and products. Now they realise more money is made on secondary sales and/or services and adverts (same as Google and Apple etc), they offer the software or "tasters" for free.

Might just go fully "free" with Linux next time then. As if I'm not paying for a service, I'm not expecting my requirement to be met, but the owners/payers to be aimed for (in this case advertisers and MS themselves).

At least with Google Search (and by extension the phones OS) I'm happy for the adds in part as that is what I'm using the device for, to search for things, shops etc. (For example noticed a nice search via barcode ability in Andriod camera apps and Google Goggles).

PS, they are not going to rent the OS, well, not unless other companies follow suit so it will be a few decades before that happens. Though they already do close to that with the Office suite.

[zappaDPJ]

Well... somewhat surprisingly, to me at least, Windows 10 will not be sold as a subscription.

At its press event today, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users during its first year of availability. There was some confusion, however, when Microsoft's Terry Myerson started talking about Windows 10 "as a service." Did that mean that after that first year of free availability, Windows 10 would cost an annual fee? I asked Myerson for clarification after the presentation, and he confirmed that there will be no additional fees attached to Windows 10, whenever you buy it.

Myerson clarified that Windows 10 users will still get free updates and support for the lifetime of the OS, exactly like past versions of Windows (like XP and Windows 7's Service Packs, for example). There's no subscription model for updates or support or continuing to use the OS. Myerson's reference to Windows "as a service" simply meant that Microsoft plans to update the OS with smaller, more regular updates rather than the big, chunky updates of past Service Packs.

A year after Windows 10 is first available, it will no longer be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8 users. Microsoft will then sell Windows 10 the same way it has sold past versions of Windows. MS hasn't set a specific price yet, but Myerson said the price will likely be comparable to past versions of Windows. Windows 8 costs $120 on Amazon, for instance.

Update: It seems there's still confusion. It is very clear from this post that for the first year it's available, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free if you have Windows 7 or 8. You will not pay for it. After that year is up, nothing will happen to your Windows 10 license. If you do not upgrade within that year, however, you will have to pay for an upgrade. The offer expires after a year, not the upgrade.

http://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-windows-10-will-not-be-sold-as-a-subscription/

[Gary]

Not sure I would want to trade perfectly stable versions of Windows 7 for some new M$ cr@p.  Seriously thinking of going back to Macs if M$ intend renting their OS and software in future. 

I wouldn't, since Apple went to yearly releases of a new OS for free the quality of software has gone down hill fast

[Simon]

I wouldn't, since Apple went to yearly releases of a new OS for free the quality of software has gone down hill fast

So, will the post-year paid version of W10 be better / different to the free one? 

[Gary]

So, will the post-year paid version of W10 be better / different to the free one? 

I think the days of quality software have gone for now, greed and the need for one one-upmanship has pushed us into Alpha testers and we just settle in to having buggy stuff. The last two top tier routers from Asus and Netgear are horrible buggy things (RT-AC87 and the R7500) Both pushed out to be first on the block with wave 2 AC specs and both are horrible buggy disasters. The problem is people will keep buying this stuff and the companies will keep churning it out, after all we all have deep pockets don't we, so v2 will always be better 

[Clive]

Well that puts a different light on things.     But I wouldn't consider upgrading because I have no issues with Windows 7.  When I buy a new machine that will be different.  Thanks for the Mac advice Gary - I wouldn't have bought one without asking you guys of questions first!     It's been a long time since we last owned one but it's apparently still going strong.  Probably 15 years old now!

[Steve]

I disagree to some extent with Gary's advice, I think the current OS Yosemite is excellent in fact on a par with Snow Leopard in my hands and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. iOS on not so old hardware is my annoyance.

[Clive]

We had a G3 and then a G4 which was upgraded to Tiger not long before we sold it for a few farthings.   

[Gary]

I disagree to some extent with Gary's advice, I think the current OS Yosemite is excellent in fact on a par with Snow Leopard in my hands and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. iOS on not so old hardware is my annoyance.

i take it the slow scrolling and general lag issues and then there's the buggy wifi and Bluetooth the black screens on wake up lack of email notification sounds also the spotlight and other notification issues also the forgetting of settings etc aren't annoying you like a lot of people who have gone back to Mavericks! Also didn't you say you hardly touch your Mac now? Hmm

[Steve]

I 've used my MacBook Pro a lot since the beginning of November largely due to the fact that my 2 year old iPad has become an item of ridicule. In some ways Gary I find your tone personally insulting almost implying I'm being less than economical with the truth which I resent. I would not hesitate to condemn Yosemite if I could but I can't and neither can my wife who uses it on a very elderly Macbook and also an iMac, neither of these machines I use but any issues I would hear of.

[Den]

I'm still trying to find major problems with Windows 8.1 on my three machines and think it's streets better that Windows 7.

[Technical Ben]

I said it before and I'll say it again. Windows 8 as an OS was the best, as a GUI (buttons and menus) it could be the worse.

Previous Windows generally worked or crashed. Windows 8 does not crash, but did remove a lot of the button and menu options people both used and were use to.

Which is why some (even the majority at times) find it fine and dandy. It's the other half use to using things the other way, that feel like their being squeezed into a seat that does not fit! 

Which is no reason to fight and complain, but is a reason to notice we are different and do have different needs! (Just imagine how hard it might be to use Windows 8 with visual impalement if charms keep opening up over website when trying to use a screen reader etc... not helpful!)