Windows 10 to be a free upgrade from 7 and 8

[ArtemusComputerTechnology]

This would be great. I installed 10 on one of laptops as a VM and i really like the interface. Lets see how the rest of the world likes it.

 

[ccritchie]

Almost any system with an SSD and 8GB of RAM will perform well...what about for the consumer with an older hard drive, and 2GB of RAM?

My point was that it won't run any slower than what they currently have, and it runs significantly better than Windows 7 pro did on this same system with all of the same hardware. Also, there will always be some variance in performance on older systems such as you describe. People install different software & use the computers in different ways. Someone who complains that his system is dog slow & attributes it to the OS may be attempting to multitask multiple apps on a system w/ little RAM & standard hard drive.

 

[Krilus]

For the people have have been in business for a while, do you see this as potentialy a boom in business? Alot of home users will want the shiny new OS installed on their computer. I could see how this could be alot of business for local computer shops.

 

[ccritchie]

I think that there are a lot of unanswered questions at this point, but it could be a boon for us. I can imagine offering a "free upgrade to Windows 10" promo & charging my standard OS install fee to upgrade their machines to Win10.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I think so. I posted on my facebook page about this and had a client ask if she should do it. I had to disappoint her and tell her that it wasn't out yet. FREE is always a good marketing ploy.

 

[Bigtek1]

Well many moons ago I worked for a large Computer company. I once sat in on a meeting and the Windows road map was the discussion topic. On this map was a OS labeled Windows 10 and referred to as a subscription OS.
Now if you take the time to watch the 2 hour video they released with this news announcement which I did watch today it was referred to as windows as a service. He clearly starts at about 13:00 into the 2 hrs he starts with the for the first year it will be a free upgrade. And then moves into the Windows as a service statement. He also reused the windows as a service again at 15:00 in the video. Also at 17:30 he starts to state again windows as a service. Check it out first 20 minutes is all you need to watch.
http://news.microsoft.com/windows10story/

 

[nlinecomputers]

Yes but Windows as a service <> pay subscription fee every year.

 

[coffee]

So if windows is a pay subscription every year then the 'upgrades' are not exactly free are they? I also get the idea that what they might do is lock out anyone from installing anything unless it comes from their app store.

Just my thoughts but I never have trusted M$.

coffee

 

[cypress]

I don't use Mac computers but I do have the iPhone and iPad. When they they come out with the new OSX do they not charge an upgrade fee each year? Was that missed this past year with Mavericks or were users still charged? I rather pay the upgrade fee and not deal with any subscription fee, than get it free initially an end up paying in the end. Of course I am looking at this from a consumer point of view.

 

[Krynn72]

Mavericks was a free upgrade, as is Yosemite now. But its obvious why they can do that while MS can't (they profit on the hardware instead).

I really don't think Windows 10 will go subscription based. Even if thats what they're intending to do right now. Its probably going to be the pre-release Xbox One fiasco all over again, with MS being blatant money grubbers at every opportunity, then backtracking when the community uproar makes their ears bleed.

 

[nlinecomputers]

"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 cost. 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."

Windows 10 is the last version of windows. The cost will be factored into the cost of your computer, which is expected to be more disposable than ever before. Think tablets and phones. Only techs and high end users ever really consider what OS they are running.

Source for the quote: http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-as-a-service-the-pros-and-cons/

 

[JohnKennex]

Mo money mo upgrades. windows 8 got vista'd.

 

[Bigtek1]

If I remember right the big discussion in the meeting was about a Daas type of service. However the big hold up on much of that was the internet speed of many of American. Microsoft has been quietly building big Azure data centers across America. And Office has already moved into the 365 subscription model.
Then there was the argument that many or most would simply not be willing to pay a monthly subscription for Windows. However Microsoft was determined to move this direction to limit piracy and increase their profits. The Apple model was brought up in the discussion and it revolved around how a smaller os upgrade fee on a semi-annual or annual fee would probably go over better if the hardware did not have to be replaced as often.
Now this discussion was happening back in the Days after the Vista debacle. So this is not a new development. My job went to China many moons ago and I opened my own small business IT shop. So I know much changed over time and the last time I was updated in that discussion was 2007 so I can not speak as to their plans to implement but I can tell you this was planned long before windows 7 was even finished.

 

[bitznpcz]

I spoke to a Microsoft employee today at a trade show in London. He confirmed that if you install Windows 10 during it's first year it is free forever. If you install after then, you will have to pay. There is small print and you have to meet certain requirements however.

He did say they are looking at SaaS but that's a future plan...

 

[Bigtek1]

In the meetings I attended Windows 9 was supposed to release in 2016 and Windows 10 in 2019 to be ready for the windows 7 EOL of 1-14-2020.
Windows 9 was called the last Desktop OS and Windows 10 was listed as cloud. Now it is obvious that the current timeline and the road map has changed some, but my guess is they are already building the infrastructure and it will be here in the coming upgrades after everyone who qualifies makes that free upgrade.
I think most of what will be cloud based is the advanced features of windows, such as office 365 and software as a service. I think from what I am reading and seeing they have adopted a model much like the Apple OS model. Small and regular OS upgrades at a reasonable price.
I am not a software wiz by any means of the word, so much of what was said was over my head as to the kernel and other parts of the software lingo. I was there because I was involved in storage testing. I was already working with SSD manufactures and doing performance testing and reliability studies.
So this started my personal serious use of Linux. I did not want to be unprepared in the event Windows would no longer meet my needs for work and personal use. I found it interesting when Steam started working on a Linux client I would recommend a search and look at what they had to say about windows future.
I am not an expert and no longer have active knowledge of anyone's road maps. I can only speak to what I saw and heard in the past.
I saw the discussion on the forums and just wanted to convey what I knew on the matter. How this plays out over time is something we will all have to wait for as they announce it.
I personally appreciate all of the input and information here on the forums as it has been a great help and resource for me and my business. I would like to say Thank you to everyone who is active here.

 

[pceinc]

Almost any system with an SSD and 8GB of RAM will perform well...what about for the consumer with an older hard drive, and 2GB of RAM?

I loaded it on a Core 2 E8400 with 4GB ram and an SSD and it runs great. SSD's can revive any crapper of a system.

 

[sapphirescales]

Has anyone thought about how they're going to roll out this "free" upgrade? There's no Windows Store in Windows 7. I seriously doubt any normal user is going to download an ISO and burn it to upgrade their system. I suppose they could offer a direct download from their website. But Microsoft REALLY wants to get people away from Windows 7. And what about Windows 8 users? Is every user going to get a pop-up asking if they want to visit the store to download the "free" upgrade?

The next issue is licensing. Is Microsoft going to tie the original W7 and W8 keys to the W10 free upgrade keys? In other words, if the HDD goes bad and you reinstall W7/W8, will installing the upgrade after the 1 year window allow you to upgrade for free again?

I assume Microsoft is still going to embed the license key for Windows 10 in the BIOS. Not including it on the COA is a big mistake in my opinion. It's a huge pain in the butt. I've been able to retrieve the keys directly from the BIOS using RWeverything. But maybe in the future the keys will be tied to your Microsoft account. I wonder how much of a pain this is going to be in the future?

I can imagine I'm going to have to demand the email address and password of every client's Microsoft account in the future both to access their computer and restore their apps after a reinstall. But if Microsoft detects so many Microsoft accounts being accessed from a single IP (mine), that might cause a problem. Not to mention I don't want to be liable for so many people's Microsoft accounts. *Sigh* Microsoft is making my job shittier every day.

 

[bertie40]

I suspect a win 10 upgrade (and possibly a clean install) will insist on the creation of a Microsoft account.

I suspect that the windows updates will feed "special offers" alongside bug and security fixes.

I think Microsoft is attacking the app market more vigorously.

In essence, I suspect windows 10 will be funded by targeted advertising.

....... And the first person to mention linnuxx gets shot

 

[glennd]

for the supported lifetime of the device

i wanna know what this means?

 

[bertie40]

i wanna know what this means?

It's whatever they want it to mean.
It's deliberately ambiguous.

The use of the word "lifetime" is an agelong sales tactic to make it sound like a one-off deal.