Explaining Windows 10's free upgrade offer: Who'll get it, who won't?

[Jad Chaar]

I wish MS would go the Apple Path and make the upgrade free no matter what. I am looking to build a new PC this summer and was hoping I could get 10 for free.

 

[chip igmo]

I don't think windows OS will become a 'subscription service' unless google android does it first. The money from Android (and hopefully Windows OS) will come from store transactions and targeted advertisements. Windows users may now pay MS to get rid of ads (adblock-like payment scheme?).

 

[Peter Farkas]

They say Windows 10 will be Windows 10 for life. This is the stupidest idea anyone has ever tried to promote. Along with a constantly morphing operating system. Who wants that seriously? I wanna know that what my operating system did 6 months ago, that its going to be able to do that today, and that its going to be able to do that 6 months into the future. Train wreck coming, complete and total disaster ahead.

So, the only way they could justify the silly name change from 8 to 10 was to feed us this marketing hype that it's the last version ever. That's the only reason they did it.

The reason Microsoft is allowing pirates to keep Windows 10 on their system in limited form or fashion is because they want to use those pirates as guinea pigs to boost their statistics at launch. Leaving a "crippled" version of Windows 10 on a massive amount of pirate machines will get Microsoft to their "Windows 10 .... Now are over 1 billion devices....fine print: half-a-billion of these devices are running a crippled version of Windows 10". The crippled version of Windows 10 can greet with "Ahoy Matey!" instead of "Welcome".

I have 3 PCs I use. 2 with Windows 7 and 1 with Windows 10. I will probably take advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10 on at least 1 machine. However, in spite of the fact that Microsoft has finally shifted their focus back to making Windows 10 more user-friendly to desktops, I don't trust them at this point. There is too much change going on. Windows-as-a-service is just ahead which makes us all even more dependent on an operating system that has now become...literally...a moving target...you have no idea what its going to be capable of from one day to the next. "So stay in the slow ring...you don't have to upgrade right away". What if we like a version of Windows 10 and we don't EVER wanna upgrade from that version? Can I get security updates without losing/adding anything else? I hope so.

Yeah Windows 10 for life...just like my Gold's Gym lifetime membership that lasted until they filed bankruptcy. Windows 10 for the next 3 years is my prediction until they wanna separate themselves from it again.

Is Windows 10 gonna be free because it is not the product anymore? Is it because we, the users, have become the product in the form of data and Win 10 is just the platform to access that data?
I mean if you think any multi-billion dollar corporation is giving you something for free, you will likely be seriously mistaken.

 

[Teko03]

O-M-G .........People STILL don't get it?

Here is a perfect example of people always looking for something for nothing but don't want to do anything to get it.

Bottom line people ..... if you are STILL on Windows XP or Vista and refuse to upgrade to AT LEAST Windows 7, then Windows 10 WILL NOT be free for you, want it free? then PAY for the upgrade to 7 / 8 or 8.1 like the rest of us did. If you are running Windows 7 / 8 or 8.1, Windows 10 will be a free upgrade to you but only for the first year it's out after it's release, if you don't get it within the first year you will have to pay for it afterwards.


Windows 10 will be Microsoft's last and final operating system, much like Apples OS 10 this one will be added onto with new features and will be serviced with security updates for the rest of your life, so ....... sooner or later you will have to upgrade, there really is no avoiding it, so ..... get it free when it comes out or ...... pay for it later, it's ALL your choice.
Windows Insiders such as moi who have been testing Windows 10 and providing Microsoft valuable feed back and bug information to make this OS what it is and what everyone has been wanting will get free copies also.

Those with Pirated or hacked copies of Windows 7 / 8 or 8.1 will get a free upgrade also, only thing is your copy will upgraded as "non genuine" until you pay for the upgrade. I would assume that the upgrade will come with all the hassles like not being able to get patches and Windows Updates and so on and nags for you to buy it courtesy of Microsoft, if you are running a pirated or hacked version of Windows, one may want to think about upgrading through a tunnel or VPN and not their main IP for obvious reasons.

The ONLY thing Microsoft has not made clear yet is how much Windows 10 will cost for those that will have to pay for it ..... if you don't get it within the free upgrade period.

But don't whine because it's not being offered to you for free because you chose to use a pirated copy or didn't want contribute or just did not want to keep up with technology, it's not becoming, if you haven't bought an upgrade or OS since Windows XP then you need to pay your dues like the rest of us have. Microsoft has made every effort for everyone to upgrade to each operating system affordably, everyone had the chance to upgrade from Vista to 7 on the cheap, everyone had the chance to upgrade from 7 to 8 for $40, everyone had the chance to upgrade from 8 to 8.1 for free, if you didn't take advantage of it when it was made available then, honestly, it's on you.

Everything you said is correct BUT, the part about Windows Insiders. Insiders are still required to have a valid Windows 7 or 8.x license to make the Technical Preview to RTM update a valid copy of Windows 10.

 

[Teko03]

2) What will happen after the first year? What is the model Microsoft will pursue? We don't know either and it's possible than even Microsoft will evaluate their options during the first year of free Windows 10 upgrades before taking a longer term choice.

You pay a one time license like previous version of Microsoft. Microsoft isn't taking Windows to a subscription based model, at least not in it's current state, which is them desperate to win back consumers.

Compare this to the $39 special upgrade pricing from Windows 7 to Windows 8.

2012
-Have Windows 7? Upgrade To Windows 8 for $39.99
-Recently buy a PC with Windows 7? Upgrade to Windows 8 for $14.99

Offers ran until January 31, 2013 --- then pricing returned to it's normal price for a single license.

2015
-Have Windows 7, 8.0 or 8.1? Upgrade to Windows 10 for $0.00 (FREE).

Offers will run until 365 days after Windows 10 release --- then pricing returns to it's normal price for a single license.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

Is Windows 10 gonna be free because it is not the product anymore? Is it because we, the users, have become the product in the form of data and Win 10 is just the platform to access that data?
I mean if you think any multi-billion dollar corporation is giving you something for free, you will likely be seriously mistaken.

You make good points. I like to think of Windows 10 as a gateway shopping application that infects and hi-jacks your entire system. As much as Microsoft appears to be catering more to the traditional desktop user(but not to a satisfactory level at this point for me personally) I am not all that hopeful that I can ever jump ship to Windows 10 and lay Windows 7 to rest. I don't feel comfortable doing that at this point. And I probably won't be comfortable doing that in 3 months. As long as the underlying philosophy remains the same, that is to turn powerful PCs back into dumb terminals, then I will probably never feel comfortable jumping ship to any current or future Microsoft OS.

Microsoft has shifted way too much power away from the desktop and back into their server and cloud. It's ironic. Home PCs grow more powerful daily while Microsoft tries to render all that power irrelevant by creating heavy dependencies on their servers.

So, even if Windows 10's look and feel was eventually brought back, I'm keeping one foot on a solid foundation for a very long time. That is Windows 7.

I like Seagates new offerings. Personal Cloud Storage devices. I can set one up in my house and access my data from anywhere. I don't need Microsoft to do it for me or anybody else.

"Absolute power corrupts...absolutely". And Microsoft has way too much in Windows 10.

 

[Teko03]

Is Windows 10 gonna be free because it is not the product anymore? Is it because we, the users, have become the product in the form of data and Win 10 is just the platform to access that data?
I mean if you think any multi-billion dollar corporation is giving you something for free, you will likely be seriously mistaken.

Microsoft will gain revenue through app purchases, advertisements and services (Office 365, Music, Video, etc). They are simply changing along with the times, as no one pays for an operating system anymore --- Android, OS X & iOS are all "free" with security & feature updates. There is no hidden angenda here. Google & Apple simply forced Microsoft to adapt to a different business model.

 

[Teko03]

Is Windows 10 gonna be free because it is not the product anymore? Is it because we, the users, have become the product in the form of data and Win 10 is just the platform to access that data?
I mean if you think any multi-billion dollar corporation is giving you something for free, you will likely be seriously mistaken.

You make good points. I like to think of Windows 10 as a gateway shopping application that infects and hi-jacks your entire system. As much as Microsoft appears to be catering more to the traditional desktop user(but not to a satisfactory level at this point for me personally) I am not all that hopeful that I can ever jump ship to Windows 10 and lay Windows 7 to rest. I don't feel comfortable doing that at this point. And I probably won't be comfortable doing that in 3 months. As long as the underlying philosophy remains the same, that is to turn powerful PCs back into dumb terminals, then I will probably never feel comfortable jumping ship to any current or future Microsoft OS.

Microsoft has shifted way too much power away from the desktop and back into their server and cloud. It's ironic. Home PCs grow more powerful daily while Microsoft tries to render all that power irrelevant by creating heavy dependencies on their servers.

So, even if Windows 10's look and feel was eventually brought back, I'm keeping one foot on a solid foundation for a very long time. That is Windows 7.

I like Seagates new offerings. Personal Cloud Storage devices. I can set one up in my house and access my data from anywhere. I don't need Microsoft to do it for me or anybody else.

"Absolute power corrupts...absolutely". And Microsoft has way too much in Windows 10.

The cloud is not only about "storage" and they aren't forcing you to store sensitive information on OneDrive. Microsoft's cloud infrastructure platform, Azure is raking in billions for a reason. With the cloud Microsoft is moving towards a Windows where you can logon to any Windows PC and have the SAME user experience as if you're at your home PC -- settings, apps, backgrounds, themes are all managed in the cloud. Devices integrate seamlessly & interact in real-time because of the cloud. They're tracking information to recommend apps (based off current app usage). Any other data being collected, such as how you use Windows, will likely be an optional feature come for the RTM version.

 

[deemon]

If MS introduces subscription, I will go for SteamOS

 

[Peter Farkas]

So for people like me who build their own rigs, what we do?

Back in the days I bought Vista DVD. I used that one for all my builds & upgrades (so 1 personal machine - not multiple machines at the same time)
then when 8 came, I used the license # of Vista to upgrade to 8 (for 30 buks) and free to go to 8.1;

so if I go with 10 now on this machine and later I re-install or build new one, what happens?
according to this quote:
"Once a device is upgraded to Windows 10, it’ll be supported for the lifetime of the device."
not good idea? meaning buying new license?

Now that's an interesting point. Will I have to pay for a Win10 license if I change my motherboard or storage? or let's say even after a CPU/GPU upgrade?

 

[infiltrator]

Honestly, I don't care if I have to pay to get a license or buy a copy of the Windows 10. I am not cheap and who cares, if it is free or not. People need to learn that not everything in life is free. Stop crying like a baby and harden the F***** up.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

The cloud is not only about "storage" and they aren't forcing you to store sensitive information on OneDrive. Microsoft's cloud infrastructure platform, Azure is raking in billions for a reason. With the cloud Microsoft is moving towards a Windows where you can logon to any Windows PC and have the SAME user experience as if you're at your home PC -- settings, apps, backgrounds, themes are all managed in the cloud. Devices integrate seamlessly & interact in real-time because of the cloud. They're tracking information to recommend apps (based off current app usage). Any other data being collected, such as how you use Windows, will likely be an optional feature come for the RTM version.

Honestly, I don't care if I have to pay to get a license or buy a copy of the Windows 10. I am not cheap and who cares, if it is free or not. People need to learn that not everything in life is free. Stop crying like a baby and harden the F***** up.

LOL. It's not about hardening up. Windows isn't what it used to be. You have to compare it to all the FREE operating systems as Teko03 states. I am not crying because somebody is trying to sell a product. But because they are trying to sell something that doesn't even make sense to try and sell. A shopping application masquerading as an operating system. Of course, that crap should be free.

Does a shopping mall charge you to enter the building? Does a restaurant charge you to get in the door? Absolutely not. You shouldn't have to pay any money for the ability to spend money. I never did understand why people paid $50 for World of Warcraft so that they could spend $20 more a month just to play. But people do these things. I guess it's about membership and how badly you want in.

Sony takes a loss on every sale of their consoles because they know they are gonna make it up through game sales and licensing fees. Microsoft are just some greedy thugs. They want Windows 10 on 1 billion devices but can't bring themselves to make a final decision on the cost. Microsoft should be named "House of Pancackes" - where they serve waffles daily.

 

[gunste]

As Windows OS changes more frequently, it says to me, that they have trouble getting it right. Of all the OSs I have used since DOS 2.1, half of them were duds or outright disasters.98, 2000, and XP were good.

 

[Geek Hillbilly]

What Microsoft will wind up doing is driving away an already disillusioned bunch of users.The Windows By Subscription(which is what this scheme is) will flop on its face big time.Feature rich Windows 10 may be,but either pay up or get your expensive computer bricked won't be an option for most people.

As for me,I have already migrated to Linux,having left the buggy world of Windows far behind.After the first year when they start demanding $ for Windows 10 or get your computer bricked (which runs afoul of some state hacking laws.Check it out.I did),I watch for a huge migration to Linux and any other alternate OS.

 

[Peter Farkas]

Good luck with Linux bro!
I have used it for 3 years, and eventually switched back to Windows. Linux is just not there yet for the average folks like me and we are the majority.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

Good luck with Linux bro!
I have used it for 3 years, and eventually switched back to Windows. Linux is just not there yet for the average folks like me and we are the majority.

Which version of Linux were you running...what did you use it for primarily...3 years experience and your just throwing it all away? What was the straw that broke the camels back? You are representing "average folks" like you but you that seems far fetched considering the fact that you actually used Linux for 3 years before you decided to give it up. What's even more strange, is that during the past 3 years...one of the most amazing moments in Linux history occured...and that was the release and endorsement of the Steam platform for Linux by none other than Valve themselves.

I imagine the "average" person who doesn't really care about all the ins-and-outs of how something works probably just buys a game console. They don't bother with Linux or Windows.

Your post just seems like science fiction to me.

 

[WangDangDoodle]

You'd really have to be a fool to think Microsoft would give you Windows 10 for free.

 

[Peter Farkas]

Which version of Linux were you running...what did you use it for primarily...3 years experience and your just throwing it all away? What was the straw that broke the camels back? You are representing "average folks" like you but you that seems far fetched considering the fact that you actually used Linux for 3 years before you decided to give it up. What's even more strange, is that during the past 3 years...one of the most amazing moments in Linux history occured...and that was the release and endorsement of the Steam platform for Linux by none other than Valve themselves.

I imagine the "average" person who doesn't really care about all the ins-and-outs of how something works probably just buys a game console. They don't bother with Linux or Windows.

Your post just seems like science fiction to me.

Well then you are living in science fiction mate. As I said, good luck with Linux.
You probably forgot how much compromise you made by using Linux.

Steam is not a game changer on Linux if the game you are buying is not running on Linux...

I understand your enthusiasm for Linux, but it is just NOT there yet! Whether you like it or not.

Peace

 

[Guest]

Stop with the interwebs autism.
There is no "annual subscription" for Win X.

Cogitate much ?

 

[Guest]

Now I just want to know what the "lifetime of the device" means. If I upgrade my retail copy of Windows 7 or 8 I should get a retail license for 10 in return. It should still be good even if I build myself a new computer. I don't like this lifetime of the device wording, sounds like they are tying it to your machine instead of giving you a key. If that is the case they can go jump in a lake.

 

[Guest]

Also it says pirates running 7 won't get a genuine upgrade, but guess what. Pirated versions of Windows 7 show up as completely genuine, Microsoft can't tell the difference. So how will they avoid giving the pirates free upgrades?

/Oh and I hate these stupid captchas, tired of clicking on cats and hamburgers.

 

[cliffordcooley]

/Oh and I hate these stupid captchas, tired of clicking on cats and hamburgers.

There is an easy solution to that issue.

 

[Guest]

Seriously if you are running Windows XP just stop it and pay for Windows 10.

13 years XP has been out..... people stating that it was the last good OS reminds of my old IT teacher in high school saying the same thing about Windows 95......... Generally they are going to be left behind as any "learner" / "educator" / "IT person" should know to embrace change.

We has Pentium 4 processors when Windows XP came out......my phone is now faster. (Windows XP should stay in the past)

 

[spectrenad]

The cloud is not only about "storage" and they aren't forcing you to store sensitive information on OneDrive. Microsoft's cloud infrastructure platform, Azure is raking in billions for a reason. With the cloud Microsoft is moving towards a Windows where you can logon to any Windows PC and have the SAME user experience as if you're at your home PC -- settings, apps, backgrounds, themes are all managed in the cloud. Devices integrate seamlessly & interact in real-time because of the cloud. They're tracking information to recommend apps (based off current app usage). Any other data being collected, such as how you use Windows, will likely be an optional feature come for the RTM version.

Honestly, I don't care if I have to pay to get a license or buy a copy of the Windows 10. I am not cheap and who cares, if it is free or not. People need to learn that not everything in life is free. Stop crying like a baby and harden the F***** up.

LOL. It's not about hardening up. Windows isn't what it used to be. You have to compare it to all the FREE operating systems as Teko03 states. I am not crying because somebody is trying to sell a product. But because they are trying to sell something that doesn't even make sense to try and sell. A shopping application masquerading as an operating system. Of course, that crap should be free.

Does a shopping mall charge you to enter the building? Does a restaurant charge you to get in the door? Absolutely not. You shouldn't have to pay any money for the ability to spend money. I never did understand why people paid $50 for World of Warcraft so that they could spend $20 more a month just to play. But people do these things. I guess it's about membership and how badly you want in.

Sony takes a loss on every sale of their consoles because they know they are gonna make it up through game sales and licensing fees. Microsoft are just some greedy thugs. They want Windows 10 on 1 billion devices but can't bring themselves to make a final decision on the cost. Microsoft should be named "House of Pancackes" - where they serve waffles daily.

Win10 will have an initial cost for large devices (mostly laptops/computers) because they have a strong foot in that market and because alternatives aren't appealing for most people (Apple sells you an overpriced locked down system and make their money that way, while Linux is developped without the cohesion of a deticated full fledged team). Think about it :

- Laptops and computers are not good platforms for a dedicated app store, therefore MS needs another way to cash in money : selling licenses ;
- Laptops and computers cost more than phones and tablets, so buying a license for those systems doesn't seem as significant ;
- Small devices OS will pay themselves by app sales through their store.

Also, I very much doubt Win10 will ever turn subscription based as most people, including myself, would turn their backs on them right away. I would even dare to say it's bloody impossible. Nobody wants their whole computer locked down or vulnerable to new exploits because they stopped paying their subscription for reason A or B. It's not a single program, it's the whole thing that gets hit. So yeah, won't happen.

But in short, MS are just trying to make profit like every other company out there. They aren't the Evil Overlords of this world like depicted in every single post of yours. Take it easy man.

 

[Guest]

@spectrenad...... Thankyou, don't why everyone is comparing a phone with a laptop.

The phone OS is free which is what people wanted......... So many people hating without reading first.