Bad news for insiders they will have to give up a key for the RTM.

sgage said:

Who is going to be an Insider that doesn't already run Windows?

I know at least couple of them.

groze said:

insider shouldn't have to be required to have a valid license from w7 or 8 license to keep testing 10 for Microsoft after the rtm is released.

Was that written in the EULA?
We shouldn't expect too much. It's MS we are talking about here.

As I understand it, Windows Insider program will continue and the W7+ license requirement will be for getting a W10 license (for free for 1 year). Windows Insider membership does not and will not give you a W10 license. It grants you access to more or less buggy being-worked-on builds of future W10 updates, which will all eventually expire.

If Microsoft was to give everybody that clean installed the preview a free upgrade to the RTM they may as well just give out Windows 10 to anybody that wants it. It would amount to the same thing. Everybody and their dog would sign up just to get Windows 10 for free. And for those that think Microsoft owes them something for being a tester, they gave you access to the OS before anybody else. They don't owe you anything. Also, you volunteered in the first place, nobody forced you to do it? This free isn't free enough stuff is getting old.

Winuser said:

They gave us access to the OS before anyone else so the could see what would be accepted and what wouldn't. They also wanted to have more user testing to work out as many bugs as possible. Windows 8 was not the success the thought it would be and the lack of sales was costing them money. We did them a favor by testing the OS so it could be a success and sales would be up and so would their profits. I think we did MS a bigger favor then they did for us and we did it for free. Do I expect MS to give me the OS for free? No because I volunteered. If they do decide to give us a free license I'll gladly except it and if they don't no big deal. Once 10 goes final the only way I'll dual boot is if MS decides to keep a test OS for us to keep on testing.

I totally agree, there is give and take. It just irks me when people make out like they are getting ripped off because they didn't get a totally free ride.


My point is, if Microsoft were to announce officially, that any and all Preview testers (even those that clean installed) were going to get a free upgrade to the RTM, guess what is going to happen. Why would you even need to worry about having a valid Windows 7 or 8 License to take them up on the free upgrade. Just download and install the Preview, and then upgrade to the RTM totally free with no need for any prior OS. Hey, if they did do it for preview testers it would be great. Just don't expect to see it announced in big bold letters anywhere. Not until the last minute anyway. And likely only open to people that signed up before a certain date. Just my 2 cents. I don't know any more than anybody else here. I don't have any super secret insider info etc. I'm gust guessing like everybody else.