How will Microsoft Distribute Non-Upgrade Non-OEM Windows 10?

Wynona · 14 Apr 2015

Gary said:

A boot-able Flash Drive would be nice.

Sure would. :)

NickTh · 14 Apr 2015

Wynona said:

How about it, Nick? :)

OK, how about this? I build my own computers. The last one I had croaked and I can no longer get onto the Internet. How in the Sam Hill do I now install Windows 10? :)

Yeah, it's one of those things . . . what if I'm not willing to go to Fry's and buy a new Windows 10 computer? I wanna build my own!

You should be able to download the ISO (again) from another PC (friend's PC ? ) or you should have take care of a bootable DVD/USB from the first time.

The only reason the conjecture I made will likely fail, is what Winuser said. Lot of people still have slow Internet connection or expensive Internet connection. So, probably Windows will go the usual way, with available DVDs (maybe USBs as well) in the market.

I'm imagine a cloud OS , somewhere far in the future. Cloud OS I said, meaning the whole OS stored in the cloud, sign in to your Microsoft account and (depending on your Internet speed) you have the OS up and running on your machine(any machine, thanks to convergence).

Mark Phelps · 16 Apr 2015

I know we're all guessing here, but my guess is that MS will NOT make Win10 available in "box" form. Why?

Because MS has implied that this is the last OS they are going to sell, which also means (if this is true), that they need to make the most revenue they can from this OS. And, packaging, distribution, retail sales -- all these cost money. Adding another ISO to the many they already store on their server farms costs next to nothing. You pay for access to the ISO. You pay for the bandwidth to download that ISO to your local PC. You pay for the bootable media -- USB stick or DVD.

If I were to choose where MS invests their Windows 10 money, instead of providing physical retail product, I would invest it in developing an extremely accurate installation analyzer front-end to their installer that would tell customers IN ADVANCE, exactly what on their PC is not going to work after an Win10 upgrade is made.

Why? Because most of the Windows population out here is running Win7, not Win8. And, many of those machines are "ancient" in comparison to what you get today with a new Win8.1 PC. IF you're MS, the last thing you want is millions of Win7 customers suddenly ending up with nonfunctional PCs because they unwittingly charged ahead into a Win10 upgrade, not knowing that it would end up crippling or trashing their PCs.

That's my 2-cents.

Vladimir · 16 Apr 2015

MS is going to have to have a DVD for sale for new PCs. I just can't see it not happening.

I think you will be able to buy a Windows 10 DVD. It may also be available as a download.

MS is going to have to have a DVD for sale for new PCs. I just can't see it not happening.

I don't see Windows 10 being download only. This would hurt people with slow or limited data internet connections.

I totally agree ! I guess we'll have both DVD and download options.

A boot-able Flash Drive would be nice.

This can be done with Rufus after getting the ISO.

Boozad · 16 Apr 2015

A download will suit me just fine but a hard copy will be a must for thousands of users. If MS turn their back on hard copies (I really, really doubt they will) they'll be dropping a massive clanger.

paulsalter · 16 Apr 2015

I can see it changing over to download only at some point soon, I just don't think companies care anymore about users with slow BB or they try to forget them
recently we have had with MS
Xbox One games, some are getting well over 10GB in patches on release day so unpractical to play
Xbox Music, now requires your music on Onedrive to stream it

I hope I am proved wrong, but if you have slow BB, like me, then tough

BunnyJ · 16 Apr 2015

Boozad said:

A download will suit me just fine but a hard copy will be a must for thousands of users. If MS turn their back on hard copies (I really, really doubt they will) they'll be dropping a massive clanger.

If I build my next PC and want a copy of the OS.. I would have to get a DVD copy.. wouldn't I??

Boozad · 16 Apr 2015

BunnyJ said:

If I build my next PC and want a copy of the OS.. I would have to get a DVD copy.. wouldn't I??

Theoretically I suppose Jeff, but it's a rare occurrence these days when none of us know someone whose PC we could borrow for an hour or two, even if only to download an ISO. But yeah, your point stands, some people will need a hard copy, I'd be amazed if you can't go and buy W10 over the counter.

Winuser · 16 Apr 2015

MS wants as many people to use Windows 10 as they can get. I don't think they will leave out the people who can't download Windows 10 from the internet. I also think the price will be very reasonable. In time we'll know for sure.

BunnyJ · 16 Apr 2015

Boozad said:

Theoretically I suppose Jeff, but it's a rare occurrence these days when none of us know someone whose PC we could borrow for an hour or two, even if only to download an ISO. But yeah, your point stands, some people will need a hard copy, I'd be amazed if you can't go and buy W10 over the counter.

I for one don't know someone with internet access that I can download an ISO.. so I would need to purchase a DVD.