Windows 10: The next chapter - 21st Jan Live event Discussion

[Brink]

Join the discussion at:

Windows 10: The next chapter - 21st Jan Live event Discussion

 

[RogerR]

Not to diss the M$ fanboys unnecessarily, but if 10 is subscription-based it will flop worse than 8. Their mission of re-engaging app developers to the Windows ecosystem to regain preeminence in the OS environment is fundamentally incompatible with the rental model. You can't compete with free.

 

[z3r010]

It's not, and you can upgrade from windows 7 & 8.1 for free in the first 12 months of release.

 

[ThrashZone]

Pretty cool stuff
ie11 only crashed three or four times not bad for win-8.1

 

[groze]

It's not, and you can upgrade from windows 7 & 8.1 for free in the first 12 months of release.

z3r010

Are you saying there will be no subscription fee for windows 10 at all? Some posters are saying free for the first year, then a renewal fee for each year after that.

 

[z3r010]

I dunno now, the more I look at the slide about free upgrade the more it's suggesting subscription after the first year.

 

[z3r010]

Here we go, from the transcript...

Delivering Windows as a Service and a Free Upgrade to Windows 10

Today was a monumental day for us on the Windows team because we shared our desire to redefine the relationship we have with you – our customers. We announced that a free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year after launch.*


This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet.


And just like any Internet service, the idea of asking “What version are you on?” will cease to make sense – which is great news for our Windows developers. With universal Windows apps that work across the entire device family, developers can build one app that targets the broadest range of devices – including the PC, tablet, phone, Xbox, the Internet of Things, and more.
For our enterprise customers, we’ll continue to support the way many of them work today, with long-term servicing for their mission critical environments. With Windows 10, a best practice we recommend for many enterprise devices is to connect to Windows Update and be kept up-to-date with the latest security and productivity improvements as soon as they are available. You can learn more about our commitment to enterprises here, with much more to come in the following months.


Everything about Windows 10 – the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade – means ongoing value to all our customers. The new generation of Windows is a commitment—a commitment to liberate people from technology and enable them to do great things.

More - The next generation of Windows: Windows 10

 

[Seffrid]

The free upgrade is a decent move, provided the product itself is decent. I wouldn't have upgraded from 7 to 8 even if it had been free. I won't even consider upgrading from 7 to 10 until well through the one year offer period, and will only then go for it if I can see real benefit in doing so.

 

[sandravlado]

This is great! I can upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 and 8.1 for free. But I can feel that there is a catch somewhere
It is good to be true.

 

[Wordsworth]

It sounds like a pretty good deal. The only caveat being "the supported lifetime of the device." So if Windows 10 goes RTM this October and I download it to this machine, then upgrade to a new motherboard in November, that was the "lifetime of the device" and I will need to purchase a new Windows 10 license. In other words, the free 10 would be tied to this machine like an OEM.

 

[DavidE]

And who defines the "the supported lifetime of the device" ?
Is it as long as I have the PC and the motherboard keeps working ?
Or, could MS decide "that PC is 5 years old" so it's at the end of it's supported lifetime ?

 

[cabbage]

I just saw this thread!!
In Brink's post on Windows 10 : The following statement is put out by MS
This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge

Now does that mean no further payment from second year onwards. It does say Lifetime of the device.

I ask this because the earlier replies here seem to suggest MS may introduce annual fees to use Win 10. If that is the case I will stay with my Win 7 x64 Ultimate and my MS Office enterprise (non subscription version)

 

[z3r010]

I would assume that lifetime of the device means that like Windows 8/8.1 there is no retail/transferable version only OEM which lives and dies with a product (PC/laptop/tablet etc)

 

[Wordsworth]

And who defines the "the supported lifetime of the device" ?
Is it as long as I have the PC and the motherboard keeps working ?
Or, could MS decide "that PC is 5 years old" so it's at the end of it's supported lifetime ?

I think this is tentative and we all still have questions, but yes I take it as long as the PC works. The second part concerning the motherboard continuing to work, could be problematic. If I build a new system next month and install Windows 7, then get the free upgrade to 10 in October, and the next month a power outage occurs destroying my motherboard, well then it'd appear I'd be paying for the next download of Win 10 since the free upgrade was tied to the previous system. I think in that case I'd be calling Microsoft, but....

 

[whs]

I dunno now, the more I look at the slide about free upgrade the more it's suggesting subscription after the first year.

If that's what they say, it is well hidden. Not good for people like me who have 7 PCs plus an 8.1 tablet and a W8Phone. Could be a heavy bill each year. Linux looks better every day - plus one virtual Win10 to share between the PSc. But that's in the distant future. Right now all my PCs have well running operating systems.

 

[z3r010]

It's not, read the post after that one.

 

[groze]

Here is even more details on this.

Microsoft: Windows 10 will not be sold as a subscription - PC Gamer

 

[Kaktussoft]

It's not, and you can upgrade from windows 7 & 8.1 for free in the first 12 months of release.

What happens after a year if I upgrade for free?

 

[groze]

Microsoft: Windows 10 will not be sold as a subscription

Microsoft: Windows 10 will not be sold as a subscription - PC Gamer

I thought this deserved it own thread. This should clear things up.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Source: Microsoft: Windows 10 will not be sold as a subscription - PC Gamer

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.