Future version of Windows?

Olive · 05 Jul 2017

I have read many confusing things about the future of Windows. Windows 10 should be the latest version of Windows, with no Windows 11. On the other hand, Microsoft announces the end of mainstream support for Windows 10 for October 13, 2020 and the end of extended support for October 14 2025 (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...cle-fact-sheet). What is supposed to happen afterward? After October 13, 2020 what will be the Windows version that will be mainstream supported? This new policy of Microsoft seems very confusing for me. What will happen with no longer supported devices? Will you be able to run them without updates as was the case for prior versions of Windows?

AddRAM · 05 Jul 2017

How can Microsoft eventually end support of the last OS they say they will ever make ?

swarfega · 05 Jul 2017

What they're announcing is the end of the initial build support for 10240. Windows 10 has changed a fair bit since its initial release.

Microsoft have stated that Windows 10 will be the last version of Windows as its now become Windows as a service and a rolling release rather than monolithic new updates.

Olive · 05 Jul 2017

@swarfega On the page I link; they say the "latest update or service pack" is Version 1703 (the creators update released a few month ago) and they announce the "end of support" (mainstream and extended) in the two columns just next to it. Nowhere is the initial build 10240 mentioned. Or is it the end of support for the build version 1703 that they announce? Why then they announce nothing for the previous builds?

It seems that the different build versions are just the equivalent of monolithic releases like before. The only thing that has changed is that you have less control of the update process, at least for the home version (you can control updates just like before with the group policy editor in the professional version).

It seems that Microsoft has stated many contradictory things... Why are there not able to communicate in a clear way.

Mystere · 05 Jul 2017

Version 1703 has the end of life stated in the article. There is a new version set to be released in the fall, called the Fall Creators Release (or Redstone 3). That will get a new end of life once it's released. These are more like service packs than full new releases.

There won't be a Windows 11, but there will be continuing Windows 10 releases, just like Apple has OS X, with various releases.

Barman58 · 05 Jul 2017

There are conflicting interpretations of the long term status of Windows (10)

There has been an end of life date stated, for Windows 10, in the same way and calculation as all previous recent versions based on a 10 Year cycle. This is I believe a legal "requirement", (Microsoft is quoted on the stock markets so have to comply with certain conventions), but as is obvious from the situation with Windows XP the initial life cycle is the Minimum and is not chiseled in stone

I expect that at some time in the, (near?), Future Windows 10 will morph into Windows which would in a way convert it into a "Service" (Pay once use forever type as has been stated by Microsoft

), rather than a Product Version which by it's nature needs an expiry date. Obviously a rolling update model for an operating system will necessitate changes in hardware support - The Windows OS current in Five Years time may not support the Hardware currently supported (this is stated in the fine print for the current version). You will also be required to keep the system updated to continue support (60Day Grace period)

The latest Information I have for actual dates for current and recent past Windows Versions is ...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...cle-fact-sheet

swarfega · 05 Jul 2017

It would make sense to drop the 10 moniker.
@Olive thanks for pointing that out.

Makio9 · 08 Jul 2017

There will always be another edition of Windows after the current one. If you look at how mobile operating systems work, the new hardware found in newer devices cannot run the older operating systems. Windows can keep rolling out over the air updates, but it would become very confusing for people what versions of Windows they are running -- say, if you wanted to troubleshoot something. A new name solves that problem and is the logical solution.

alphanumeric · 08 Jul 2017

I'm surprised hey haven't dropped the 10 already. It's the build number that matters these days. Anytime somebody has an issue one of the first questions is what build are you running. Saying I'm running Windows 10 just doesn't cut it anymore.

TairikuOkami · 08 Jul 2017

alphanumeric said:

I'm surprised hey haven't dropped the 10 already.

I am sure they will eventually, but 10 will have to reach at least 90% and it is far from it, so they need 10 to distinguish it from other Windows. I estimate 3-4 years. XP-7 will become obsolete without driver support.