Window 10 - Microsoft Qualifies The Term Free

[TheGardener]

Is it a con job? Or is it your fault you didn't hire an attorney to explain to you what free means?

[Free for the] ‘Device life’ is the key phrase here. Microsoft has already stated revenue earned from Windows 10 must be deferred because of the free upgrade model (cash isn’t taken upfront), but it repeatedly stressed Windows 10 owners can expect to get free updates for the “supported lifetime of the device”.

The problem is Microsoft hadn’t defined how long the ‘supported lifetime of the device’ will be and now we see it: “two to four years”.

Interpretation is that you may be charged for a subscription after 2 to 4 years of using Windows 10.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk...arges/?utm_campaign=yahootix&partner=yahootix


My Windows 7 will be supported for critical updates until 2020. That should last me for the life of my laptop.

 

[quikah]

There is so much FUD over this. This is simply talking about how they are deferring the revenue recognition because they are changing the software distribution model. There is ZERO information about how long they will support a device with updates. That part is pure speculation.

 

[Ketchup]

I was a bit disapoointed with this story. "Suggests"? This article is nothing more than what people are speculating in the forums: "I heard this from this person, who heard so-and-so mention this when he was talking to some one at lunch. You put this and this together, it has to mean this."

 

[Puffnstuff]

If you have questions you should go directly to the microsoft windows 10 site and read the faq on it. I did so I could confirm that they are in fact allowing people to download and burn a windows 10 iso for future clean installs with a pc specific key built into it.

 

[Shamrock]

Did I read that right? I know its speculation, but daaannggg!

2 years for home users, and 4 years for pro?

 

[escrow4]

Its inevitable that Windows 365 is coming - the latest Windows with the latest Office for a price per year depending on how many licences you want. No pay, no more updates till you do. Frozen updates until you do, not only security but all updates. Everything is moving to the cloud, like it or not.

 

[owensdj]

escrow4 you can still buy Office outright.

 

[sweenish]

I kind of wish people would use their brains.

But then I'd be deprived of my online entertainment.

 

[lxskllr]

Debian qualifies the term free...

Debian will remain 100% free

We provide the guidelines that we use to determine if a work is "free" in the document entitled "The Debian Free Software Guidelines". We promise that the Debian system and all its components will be free according to these guidelines. We will support people who create or use both free and non-free works on Debian. We will never make the system require the use of a non-free component.
We will give back to the free software community

When we write new components of the Debian system, we will license them in a manner consistent with the Debian Free Software Guidelines. We will make the best system we can, so that free works will be widely distributed and used. We will communicate things such as bug fixes, improvements and user requests to the "upstream" authors of works included in our system.
We will not hide problems

We will keep our entire bug report database open for public view at all times. Reports that people file online will promptly become visible to others.
Our priorities are our users and free software

We will be guided by the needs of our users and the free software community. We will place their interests first in our priorities. We will support the needs of our users for operation in many different kinds of computing environments. We will not object to non-free works that are intended to be used on Debian systems, or attempt to charge a fee to people who create or use such works. We will allow others to create distributions containing both the Debian system and other works, without any fee from us. In furtherance of these goals, we will provide an integrated system of high-quality materials with no legal restrictions that would prevent such uses of the system.
Works that do not meet our free software standards

We acknowledge that some of our users require the use of works that do not conform to the Debian Free Software Guidelines. We have created "contrib" and "non-free" areas in our archive for these works. The packages in these areas are not part of the Debian system, although they have been configured for use with Debian. We encourage CD manufacturers to read the licenses of the packages in these areas and determine if they can distribute the packages on their CDs. Thus, although non-free works are not a part of Debian, we support their use and provide infrastructure for non-free packages (such as our bug tracking system and mailing lists).

Free Redistribution

The license of a Debian component may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license may not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.

Source Code

The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form.

Derived Works

The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.

Integrity of The Author's Source Code

The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time. The license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified source code. The license may require derived works to carry a different name or version number from the original software. (This is a compromise. The Debian group encourages all authors not to restrict any files, source or binary, from being modified.)

No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.

No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor

The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research.

Distribution of License

The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties.

License Must Not Be Specific to Debian

The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a Debian system. If the program is extracted from Debian and used or distributed without Debian but otherwise within the terms of the program's license, all parties to whom the program is redistributed should have the same rights as those that are granted in conjunction with the Debian system.

License Must Not Contaminate Other Software

The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium must be free software.

Example Licenses

The "GPL", "BSD", and "Artistic" licenses are examples of licenses that we consider "free".

https://www.debian.org/social_contract

Crystal clear. Why would anyone choose something else?

 

[escrow4]

escrow4 you can still buy Office outright.

Of course, but isn't Office 365 selling? Selling a whole pile?

 

[Ketchup]

I do find it a bit irritating that Microsoft continues to make things so vague here. Much like they did with the Insider program. Are they still trying to figure out what they are doing?

It leaves room for articles like the one linked in the OP to get people excited.

 

[matricks]

All free upgrades to 10 will be from existing devices, i.e. devices where some of the lifetime already has passed (not counting people stocking up unused 7/8.1 licenses for their future systems). Microsoft might reason that most of those existing devices will be replaced by new devices in two to four years. This will mean users buy new licenses (or subscription, whatever will be required), since the majority of free upgrades will be from non-transferable OEM licenses.

Case in point: I have a laptop I bought five years ago, it came with a W7 Pro OEM license that qualifies the device to be upgraded. Is it likely that I will replace it before it turns 9 years old, four years from W10 release? Yes, and I cannot legally take the W10 license with me to a new device.

I'm not saying that it is a correct guess to make, I'm just saying this might be (part of) the reasoning for these words. There are still large parts of this open to interpretation, there is no literal statement that Microsoft will timebomb all free upgrades. And yes, Microsoft has done some really poor PR with the W10 release process.

 

[JackMDS]

No, Windows 10 Won’t Require a Subscription: Here’s How Microsoft Plans on Making Money Instead.

http://www.howtogeek.com/220957/no-windows-10-won%E2%80%99t-require-a-subscription-heres-how-microsoft-plans-on-making-money-instead/

 

[daveybrat]

No, Windows 10 Won’t Require a Subscription: Here’s How Microsoft Plans on Making Money Instead.

http://www.howtogeek.com/220957/no-windows-10-won%E2%80%99t-require-a-subscription-heres-how-microsoft-plans-on-making-money-instead/

Thanks, good read and pretty informative.

 

[stockwiz]

Basically they want to get people who get a new phone or computer to have a new license and not carry them over from machine to machine if possible. I don't really see this being much of an issue anymore given how few people custom build their pcs, much less buy a PC from a box store with windows already on it... also the phone you buy is going to have something on it already.. people aren't going to pay less for a blank phone and pirate windows phone onto it...

They really need to clarify exactly what they mean and what their terms are. I suspect they simply haven't made up their mind yet and are going to test the waters to see what they can get away with.

 

[matricks]

No, Windows 10 Won’t Require a Subscription: Here’s How Microsoft Plans on Making Money Instead.

http://www.howtogeek.com/220957/no-...-how-microsoft-plans-on-making-money-instead/

This lines up well with my thoughts on the two-to-four-year timeframe being a strictly financial perspective (expected turnaround of devices), and not a technical perspective (how long devices will receive updates).

 

[vailr]

The publicity guy in charge of Windows 10, Gabe Aul, once clearly stated that registered Insiders could opt to remain registered as "Insiders" and thereby obtain a fully activated copy of Windows 10 at no cost for one particular machine, even without having shown proof of owning a prior Windows version. In other words: free Windows 10 for one particular machine, as long as you stay as a registered Insider, accepting new beta builds before general release.
However, there may have been objections to this policy, since Microsoft is a publicly traded stock company.

 

[chimaxi83]

Debian qualifies the term free...





https://www.debian.org/social_contract

Crystal clear. Why would anyone choose something else?

Do you game on a PC at all? How is Linux gaming?

 

[lxskllr]

Do you game on a PC at all? How is Linux gaming?

Not much anymore. There's some fun games on GNU/Linux, but it isn't Windows. Yet... Give it five years. If Steam takes off, GNU/Linux could be a viable gaming platform. Not every big title I'm sure, but it could be similar to Xbox vs Playstation, where you don't get everything you want on your chosen platform, but you get a lot to choose from.

 

[ElFenix]

No, Windows 10 Won’t Require a Subscription: Here’s How Microsoft Plans on Making Money Instead.

http://www.howtogeek.com/220957/no-windows-10-won%E2%80%99t-require-a-subscription-heres-how-microsoft-plans-on-making-money-instead/

much ado about nothing.

The publicity guy in charge of Windows 10, Gabe Aul, once clearly stated that registered Insiders could opt to remain registered as "Insiders" and thereby obtain a fully activated copy of Windows 10 at no cost for one particular machine, even without having shown proof of owning a prior Windows version. In other words: free Windows 10 for one particular machine, as long as you stay as a registered Insider, accepting new beta builds before general release.
However, there may have been objections to this policy, since Microsoft is a publicly traded stock company.

not really.

Tony Yuen ?@win10fan May 10

@GabeAul Will you be able to upgrade to the #Win10 RTM version for free with #insiders preview?

Gabriel Aul ?@GabeAul May 10

@tao_huan Yes

well, yeah, the RTM will get rolled out to windows insiders for trial, i would assume.

which then lead to this:

DirtyWindows ?@DirtyWindows_ May 11

@GabeAul @tao_huan Please make it clear. Do you mean free licence and activation or just free to upgrade?

Gabriel Aul ?@GabeAul May 11

@DirtyWindows_ @tao_huan You'll have to be upgrading from a system with a valid license for 7 or 8.x

 

[vailr]

@ElFenix: What was clearly stated by Mr. Aul, was that there would be an exception for registered "Insiders" who continue to stay in that category after Windows 10 is officially released on July 29. If the person subsequently discontinued their participation as an "Insider", their copy of Windows 10 would then automatically become de-activated.
Your above quotes still leave "wiggle room" for what I'm reporting as being the stated policy, as also being accurate.
Mr. Aul could quite possibly further change that stated policy, however. Under pressure from other factions within Microsoft.

 

[ninaholic37]

There is probably a setting in Windows 10 that measures how much you have bought from Windows Store, and if you didn't match a certain amount after a certain time, they install an update that destroys your motherboard / hard drive / screen / etc. to end the "life of the device". My bicycles used to start conveniently falling apart right after the 1-year warranty was over like that...

 

[JEDIYoda]

Is it a con job? Or is it your fault you didn't hire an attorney to explain to you what free means?


Quote:
[Free for the] ‘Device life’ is the key phrase here. Microsoft has already stated revenue earned from Windows 10 must be deferred because of the free upgrade model (cash isn’t taken upfront), but it repeatedly stressed Windows 10 owners can expect to get free updates for the “supported lifetime of the device”.

The problem is Microsoft hadn’t defined how long the ‘supported lifetime of the device’ will be and now we see it: “two to four years”.

Interpretation is that you may be charged for a subscription after 2 to 4 years of using Windows 10.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonke...rtner=yahootix

you need to not react to every little bit of fud you read!!

 

[Ketchup]

I went to play a song after the latest update (build 10166) and Groove Music came up. The home screen looks like one big sales pitch. I think it's a good example of the ways Microsoft is looking to make money in the future, beyond this one-time upgrade offer.

Most people wouldn't upgrade their existing machines for a new OS anyway, so at least this way MS has a chance to get folks on an OS that will generate some money, if they choose to do so.

 

[Mushkins]

Not much anymore. There's some fun games on GNU/Linux, but it isn't Windows. Yet... Give it five years. If Steam takes off, GNU/Linux could be a viable gaming platform. Not every big title I'm sure, but it could be similar to Xbox vs Playstation, where you don't get everything you want on your chosen platform, but you get a lot to choose from.

Linux enthusiasts have been saying that exact same thing for nearly two decades.

"But if *this* takes off"
"Just give it a few more years"

Linux has plenty of good things going for it, but a platform for widespread gaming it is not, nor will it be. There's not enough home PC adoption for developers to deem it a worthwhile investment of their time and money, when Windows is on the majority of PCs and they've been working with DirectX forever. The market is already cornered on this one.

Anyway, back on topic. The OP is trusting a random Forbes blogger to regurgitate rumors. It's nonsense with no foundation.

Your free upgrade to windows 10 lasts exactly as long as the base license terms of what you upgraded from. If you're upgrading an OEM key, it's tied to the "life of that system" just like the original OEM key was. If you're upgrading a retail copy, you're good as long as they continue to support Windows 10 on whatever PC you choose to move that license to. If you're upgrading an Academic Alliance/Dreamspark/Technet key, you're bound by the exact same terms as that key originally had. It's honestly not that confusing.