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

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Eug said:
IMO Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Basic shouldn't exist, esp. Windows 7 Starter. Stupidest OS version ever.
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I found that Windows 7 Starter had everything I needed, without the things I didn't need. To me it was a great idea to make an even cheaper/lighter OS version for netbooks.
 
ninaholic37 said:
I found that Windows 7 Starter had everything I needed, without the things I didn't need. To me it was a great idea to make an even cheaper/lighter OS version for netbooks.
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It did have one redeeming trait. Windows 7 Starter on a machine was a big red flag saying "Don't buy me, because I'm probably junk".
 
The OS subscription model concerns me. What happens when a newer version of Windows comes out, and for whatever reason I want to keep using the one that I currently have? At some point will I be forced to upgrade? Will my version of the OS stop working when MS decides to stop selling it as a service?
 
Eug said:
It did have one redeeming trait. Windows 7 Starter on a machine was a big red flag saying "Don't buy me, because I'm probably junk".
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Ahhh, I fell in love with those Windows 7 Starter netbooks. In fact, the only reason I joined this forum was because I wanted to learn more about future netbooks and talk about mine, then in 2012 the whole fad just faded away, and my interest in new technology fell apart with it. The world has never been the same for me since. I wonder if I'll ever find true love with a computer again. 🙁
 
ninaholic37 said:
Ahhh, I fell in love with those Windows 7 Starter netbooks. In fact, the only reason I joined this forum was because I wanted to learn more about future netbooks and talk about mine, then in 2012 the whole fad just faded away, and my interest in new technology fell apart with it. The world has never been the same for me since. I wonder if I'll ever find true love with a computer again. 🙁
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Bay trail brought them back. HP Stream. Display is meh but still.
 
ArisVer said:
Interesting link. Sign up to get an email for the free upgrade offer. Pressing the link brings me back to the same page, not sure if it's working.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about


What makes me wonder is why they have this one year only offer. It shouldn't make any difference to them, unless they want users on one version for easier maintenance.
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Link seems to be working for me, but when I click the sign up button I cannot get any further without a Microsoft/Live account (which I deleted many years ago on account of the fact that Hotmail was a horrendous email experience and that my friends and I had long-abandoned Messenger).

As to why it's only a one year offer: I assume they want to ensure a much faster and more significant uptake in the early months compared to what happened with Windows 8. Higher uptake means more customer experience data to identify and fix bugs early, and it also means that developers have more incentive to actually develop software around the new OS.
 
Link doesn't seem to work for me, it opens a new tab then closes. Maybe I am signed up.

Interesting that they are excluding Windows RT devices.
 
gsaldivar said:
The OS subscription model concerns me. What happens when a newer version of Windows comes out, and for whatever reason I want to keep using the one that I currently have? At some point will I be forced to upgrade? Will my version of the OS stop working when MS decides to stop selling it as a service?
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Any answers on this one?
 
gsaldivar said:
The OS subscription model concerns me. What happens when a newer version of Windows comes out, and for whatever reason I want to keep using the one that I currently have? At some point will I be forced to upgrade? Will my version of the OS stop working when MS decides to stop selling it as a service?
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That's what I've been wondering with Office 365.
 
gmaster456 said:
With the direction MS is going, I don't think you'll be subscribing to the OS itself, just the services like office, onedrive etc. Much like it is now with Windows 8.1. I don't see it being too much different.
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I concur, MSFT could change their minds but it seems like they are really trying to be consumer friendly.
 
JimKiler said:
I concur, MSFT could change their minds but it seems like they are really trying to be consumer friendly.
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They have to be. Not only was W8 a massive flop, but Android/ChromeOS and iOS/OSX took advantage of that to make further inroads. When Microsoft released Windows 8.1 with Bing, I had a hunch that the next OS would be free - or at least significantly cheaper.

Microsoft's enterprise and OEM business has always dwarfed direct consumer sales, with the exception of its Xbox brand. A free OS that makes it easier to consume Microsoft products will be a huge win for them.
 
therealnickdanger said:
They have to be. Not only was W8 a massive flop, but Android/ChromeOS and iOS/OSX took advantage of that to make further inroads. When Microsoft released Windows 8.1 with Bing, I had a hunch that the next OS would be free - or at least significantly cheaper.

Microsoft's enterprise and OEM business has always dwarfed direct consumer sales, with the exception of its Xbox brand. A free OS that makes it easier to consume Microsoft products will be a huge win for them.
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It is funny to think a company with near desktop dominance is now the underdog, but they are really doing things because their marketshare/business model is in jepoardy.
 
Another good question is what the OEM manufacturers will say about this and if they will support the free upgrade. I am thinking of driver compatibility issues.


Cortana reminds me of Dr Watson....
 
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Black Octagon said:
Link seems to be working for me, but when I click the sign up button I cannot get any further without a Microsoft/Live account (which I deleted many years ago on account of the fact that Hotmail was a horrendous email experience and that my friends and I had long-abandoned Messenger).
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I use a Gmail address to get an MS Live account.
 
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