New
#221
So it will be a free upgrade for the lifetime for the device. Now the question is ... what "the device" means. Will it be treated as an OEM license for the upgrades??
In that case I will upgrade my hardware before having the OS upgrade.
It does seem to indicate as mentioned. Something similar to the free WMC upgrade offer, but spead across multiple editions and devices.
I suppose it will have to continue the OEM licence as MS will not be able to support those as well.
For those wondering about subscription..........
Full post here - The next generation of Windows: Windows 10Delivering Windows as a Service and a Free Upgrade to Windows 10
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.
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.
Everything about Windows 10 – the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade – means ongoing value to all our customers. The new generation of Windows is a commitment—a commitment to liberate people from technology and enable them to do great things.
Can I just point out - I have noticed a lot of people here have said that the next build will come "next week", however the phrasing is "in the next week". I take this to mean if it is ready, it could still be released any time within the next 7 days, including the end of this week:
In Closing
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A special thank-you to our Windows Insiders – we couldn’t build Windows 10 without you. In the next week, we will release the latest build for Windows Insiders running the Windows 10 Technical Preview on PCs and expand availability to 25 more languages. And later in February, we’ll release our first technical preview for phones.
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I also remember a remark about a lot of the new features are still under development and would be released in future Technical Previews over the next 3-5 Months. So looks like a while before it is ready for RC status. But it did sound "Awesome" to me and looking forward on its development.
Not enough information yet on the details of the Free upgrades but still have plenty of time for all the questions to be answered.
Can you do a clean install or only update?
Can you transfer the OS to a replacement PC in the future or is it locked to the PC you upgrade?
Inquiring minds want to know.
I had planed to upgrade the wife from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 but I think I will wait and upgrade to Windows 10 when it is released. That way only one training headache.
Jim