After Windows10, consumers won't pay for updates or upgra

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    After Windows10, consumers won't pay for updates or upgra

    After Windows10, consumers won't pay for updates or upgra


    Posted: 11 Oct 2014

    Free at last: After Windows 10, consumers won't pay for updates or upgrades


    By Gregg Keizer
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    Computerworld | Oct 10, 2014 12:30 PM PT


    Microsoft will have no choice but to give consumers free Windows upgrades once it launches Windows 10 and kicks off its fast-fast-fast tempo, an analyst asserted.
    Windows 10

    "If Microsoft wants consumers to update and keep up to date, it really means that Microsoft is going to have to give those consumers those updates for free. There's really no other way to do it," said Michael Silver of Gartner at the research firm's annual technology conference.
    "A consumer isn't going to give Microsoft a credit card and say, 'Charge me for a new release whenever one comes out,'" Silver added. "It's very likely that consumer releases will be free."
    That will affect Microsoft's bottom line: With Windows 10 expected to be the nameplate for the OS for years longer than the usual three-year cycle between major upgrades -- from Windows 7 to Windows 8, say -- free means that consumers will never again have to pay to upgrade their PC's OS.
    More at:
    Free at last: After Windows 10, consumers won't pay for updates or upgrades | Computerworld
    CountMike's Avatar Posted By: CountMike
    11 Oct 2014


  1. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
       #1

    It'll be nice if its free but I don't mind paying, I don't expect anything for free so why Windows. I build my own machines and a copy of Windows is just an extra part of building the machine, which is only around $100. I only paid $39 for the Windows 8 upgrade, so I bought 4. My machines last me around 5 years now, so around $100 every 5 years is pretty cheap.
    Last edited by BillyBob; 11 Oct 2014 at 15:51.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 54
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit upgrade
       #2

    I believe that Microsoft will go the subscription route as they have done with Office 365
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #3

    Free? I don't think so Tim. I'm with Nuccii, subscription maybe but not totally free. If they do stick to a rapid release cycle it makes more sense to charge a monthly fee than to keep asking consumers to pony up a lump sum for the latest and greatest. It also means that "most" people will update/upgrade to the latest version. Eventually everybody will be running the "one" current version of Windows. They won't have to patch multiple versions like they do now.
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  4. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    One important thing to keep in mind is that this "news" does not come from Microsoft. It is an opinion of a researcher and analyst working for a research company, presented at a conference organized by his employer.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 19,516
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Kari said:
    One important thing to keep in mind is that this "news" does not come from Microsoft. It is an opinion of a researcher and analyst working for a research company, presented at a conference organized by his employer.
    Not much actually comes from MS these days, either they don't know what they want or like to drop bombshells.
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  6. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
       #6

    Why would Microsoft comment, the world's media hate them, old time Windows users hate them, they're better off just keeping quiet, let the press speculate.
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  7. Posts : 1,909
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
       #7

    People would like them better, if they would provide free no cost upgrades like Apple.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    jessejamestw23 said:
    People would like them better, if they would provide free no cost upgrades like Apple.
    Since when has OSX been a free, no cost upgrade?

    If you're referring to iOS, they actually did charge for new versions back in the early days.. but they found people got really mad that they had spent a premium on the hardware and then got nickeled and dimed over the OS.
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  9. Posts : 1,909
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
       #9

    Mystere said:
    Since when has OSX been a free, no cost upgrade?

    If you're referring to iOS, they actually did charge for new versions back in the early days.. but they found people got really mad that they had spent a premium on the hardware and then got nickeled and dimed over the OS.
    No, I am not referring to iOS. I have an iPhone. I've been told that people get software upgrades on Apple computers for free. Now, they need to provide 10 as a free update, for users who are not computer smart and who want their start menus back. I think they should leave the metro start screen as is, but also include the regular Windows start menu on the desktop.
      My Computers


 

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