Windows 10 free for all Windows 8.1 and 7 users for first year after release

[lifeblood]

This kinda pisses me off. I paid money to go to Win8 on my two PC's. I could have kept them both a Win7 and get Win10 for free. MS is punishing those who drank the cool-aid and upgraded.

I bet people get Win10 free for a year, then have to switch to a subscription model.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I can't think of a single reason I would want to move from windows 7 ultimate to 10 on my desktop.

 

[Mem]

I can't think of a single reason I would want to move from windows 7 ultimate to 10 on my desktop.

Funny,I can't think of a single reason why I would go back to an old OS like Win7.

Having said all that I'm still curious on Win10 pricing especially after the first year.

 

[Printer Bandit]

why upgrade from win xp? seems to work fine.

 

[escrow4]

I can't think of a single reason I would want to move from windows 7 ultimate to 10 on my desktop.

-> Actual proper USB 3 driver support (although in fairness USB 3 can still be wonky anyway)

-> New DX, new WDDM.

-> Updated file copying where pause and resume actually works well

-> Updated kernel bits and pieces especially security (like heap updates)

-> OS which MS actually cares about, 7 is in the old folks home, security updates only

-> Runs just that little bit faster/slicker

-> If you have a Windows Phone, the whole ecosystem/Continuum.

-> Its actually free for once (although I hope its a clean fresh install free, I don't do upgrades).

 

[escrow4]

why upgrade from win xp? seems to work fine.

Is that a serious question? XP is an obsolete insecure dog of an OS. It came out back when VHS was still in fashion and is just horrific compared to 8.1.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Funny,I can't think of a single reason why I would go back to an old OS like Win7.

I'm not suggesting you should. I have a system which has been running without trouble for a long time and I haven't come across any software it won't run. The old saying applies- "If it ain't broke don't fix it". When the day arrives that I need to change I will.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Is that a serious question? XP is an obsolete insecure dog of an OS. It came out back when VHS was still in fashion and is just horrific compared to 8.1.

I think he was mocking me.

 

[Mem]

I'm not suggesting you should. I have a system which has been running without trouble for a long time and I haven't come across any software it won't run. The old saying applies- "If it ain't broke don't fix it". When the day arrives that I need to change I will.

Then why bother posting in this thread if you have no intention of using or trying Win10?

Btw I always welcome the new features Microsoft add to each new OS,improved security etc as a PC gamer myself looking forward to DX12 etc in games down the road.

Software wise all relative,companies always offer newer versions for latest OS,personally never had any software issues,you could argue its all down to cost but then that's the price you pay for PC software and hardware,especially in my case as a PC gamer,if I want free and no hassle software then I use Linux,but then I do use Linux anyway.

 

[RampantAndroid]

If it is anything like the past, then win 7 owners need to clean install, and win 8.x will have in-place upgrade.

They really, really don't want people to use win 7/8.x it seems.

Hmm.

Subscription model ?

Why would Win7 need a fresh install? You can upgrade from Win7 to the Windows 10 preview right now, so I don't see why that would change?

 

[Mem]

Why would Win7 need a fresh install? You can upgrade from Win7 to the Windows 10 preview right now, so I don't see why that would change?

You know Microsoft they might not make it simple,I hope they have learned from their mistakes ie Win8 to 8.1 upgrade was not exactly smooth sailing for some users.

 

[lupi]

I had to swap my full 64gb od ssd that had 7 on it with the 128gb that I already had (and loaded previously with 8 on it to get wmc free), so just kep 8 on it and upgraded to 8.1 vice installing 7 from fresh. At tthis point, other than the bo start menu, I find more good than bad and am happy with 8. There are a couple other wonky things when setting up the home network and such, but those are more because you know how it used to work vice how it sets up now. Lack of start menu still sucks so I just pin everything I want to use to menu bar or desktop.

Assuming how easy it would be to restore, may load up 10 on the netbook just to give it a look (which reminds me, that's actually 5 win 7 keys I have along with the 2 8s).

 

[Mem]

Lack of start menu still sucks so I just pin everything I want to use to menu bar or desktop.

Assuming how easy it would be to restore, may load up 10 on the netbook just to give it a look (which reminds me, that's actually 5 win 7 keys I have along with the 2 8s).

I got use to Win8/8.1 without Start menu then Win10 came along so I decided to get use to using it again,you probably know there are plenty of free/paid alternative Start menus for Win8/8.1,end of the day I can use it either way,probably stick with it now due to Win10 having it back,bit like Linux distros in some ways ie some have it and others don't.

Win10 is a lot like Win8.1 plus Start menu with some new features etc,be very easy for any Win8/8.1 user to adapt to it,even Win7 users should have no problem.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I can't wait myself and will move my primary, secondary and laptop to it when they offer it.

 

[postmortemIA]

great, MS does not want to put anything to a chance for Windows 10 success. And they should do this for every release. It will cost them less to support fewer versions of OS. This way, they can always focus on the latest.

This does not mean windows 7 will die. I have a "Vista capable" laptop that will run Windows 7 great, but since I didn't have license for it, it was on Vista. Now all these free Windows 7 licenses will get their use.

and yeah, free will be only upgrade version, which means per EULA you are forfeiting Windows 7/8 version.

 

[cmdrdredd]

This makes perfect sense to me. Especially the idea that Windows has versions will cease to exist.

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.

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.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I bet people get Win10 free for a year, then have to switch to a subscription model.

No, it's a one time upgrade. See here

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/

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

Windows as a Service means they continue to offer updates and features as they are available. Windows "versions" go out the window. Everyone is on Windows 10 and everyone can get all the latest updates as long as they own the device that is licensed.

 

[Thor86]

I for one welcome or Spartan and Cortana overlords.

/S

 

[xSauronx]

No, it's a one time upgrade. See here

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/

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

Windows as a Service means they continue to offer updates and features as they are available. Windows "versions" go out the window. Everyone is on Windows 10 and everyone can get all the latest updates as long as they own the device that is licensed.

also worth pointing out is the new update model, where you can more easily get only security updates, but regulate other types of updates, or mix your environments.

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/windows-10s-very-different-way-of-updating/

I work for a manufacturing company and we replaced all but a handful of XP PCs recently. We are working on a few more, and will have 3 or 4 we cannot rid ourselves of until they die, at the earliest.

 

[tsupersonic]

I paid $15 for my Win. 8 upgrade (from Win. 7). I am glad this is free, even if it's only for a year. I plan to upgrade my desktop and Surface Pro shortly after the release.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I'll upgrade in 2020. Subscription, forget it. It's still flat and ugly anyway. Don't care about under the hood improvements, don't care about gaming either if they hold a gun to my head to do it. Will get a new hobby like knitting or maybe re-gifting.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I'll upgrade in 2020. Subscription, forget it. It's still flat and ugly anyway. Don't care about under the hood improvements, don't care about gaming either if they hold a gun to my head to do it. Will get a new hobby like knitting or maybe re-gifting.

...you do know they specifically said "no subscription" yes?

 

[ninaholic37]

...you do know they specifically said "no subscription" yes?

I thought what happens after a year wasn't known yet. Did I miss something?

 

[RampantAndroid]

I thought what happens after a year wasn't known yet. Did I miss something?

Yeah, there's two parts here: the upgrade from an older Windows version (7 through 8.1). That is free for the first year to upgrade; after the year, it's unknown (as in, MS hasn't decided.)

The second part is this:

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.

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/

 

[Chocu1a]

I thought what happens after a year wasn't known yet. Did I miss something?

I believe that was referring to pricing.

"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."
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