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[Computerworld] Free Windows 10 is not an upgrade … it's marketing

9K views 109 replies 55 participants last post by  Aparition 
#1 ·
"Windows 10 is not a free upgrade, Microsoft said last week. It's a "marketing and promotional activity."

The odd nomenclature appeared in Microsoft's 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that highlighted the company's first quarter financial numbers."

Source
 
#3 ·
wat
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by swiftypoison View Post

I will still get the full retail. I dont like having an expiration date.
This.
 
#11 ·
Of course it is marketing, all giveaways are. They want people to migrate to make W10 the defacto standard, especially after the relatively low acceptance of Win8/8.1. It is a good marketing move, and it is a "cost" to the business. This is just good accounting.

Whether or not this will accelerate to migration to W10 compared to the way they have marketed Windows in the past remains to be seen.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
For the moment, all that's clear is that the Windows 10 free upgrade is not an upgrade: It's a marketing and promotional activity.

Keep that in mind when Windows 10 boots for the first time.
(Part in bold for emphasis)

Wise advice right there.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by cravinmild View Post

I see "Upgrade" pop up on my screen all the time but as my PC is aging Im afraid my older components wont have proper drivers/drivers ever and because of that Im holding off Win10 for as long as those components still function.
well your board has windows 8.1 drivers so it should work with windows 10 as you can use 8.1 drivers with 10 not really " proper" but it should work if you wanted to do a test drive

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgrwng View Post

as long as it stays free for the first year, i am happy. how they do their books/accounting is beyond my comprehension.
knowing Microsoft they will probably make it subscription based after a year like they did with office
:rolleyes:
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by swiftypoison View Post

I will still get the full retail. I dont like having an expiration date.
There is no expiration date. Any device upgraded to 10 will have 10 updates for the duration of 10's support cycle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woundingchaney View Post

I was under the impression that the upgrade will be offered for free for one year, not those that upgrade receive the product for one year for free.
This. It's offered for one year. Not lasts only one year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozlay View Post

knowing Microsoft they will probably make it subscription based after a year like they did with office
Because Office 2013 and 2016 don't exist... oh wait.
 
#16 ·
The amount of confusion around Win10 really is astounding.

No, Win10 is not free. You have to buy the upgrade. Except, Microsoft is having a promotion, and allowing people to not have to pay for it if they upgrade within a year of Win10's launch.

The promotion expires after a year.
The product does not expire after a year.

If you have Win7 or Win8, and two years from now want to upgrade, you have to pay up. But at that point, you're completely indistinguishable from a Win7 or Win8 user who upgraded for free during the promotion.

Any Win10 device is entitled to updates for the life of the device. There is no expiration outside of the eventual end-of-life of Win10 itself.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mand12 View Post

The amount of confusion around Win10 really is astounding.

No, Win10 is not free. You have to buy the upgrade. Except, Microsoft is having a promotion, and allowing people to not have to pay for it if they upgrade within a year of Win10's launch.

The promotion expires after a year.
The product does not expire after a year.

If you have Win7 or Win8, and two years from now want to upgrade, you have to pay up. But at that point, you're completely indistinguishable from a Win7 or Win8 user who upgraded for free during the promotion.

Any Win10 device is entitled to updates for the life of the device. There is no expiration outside of the eventual end-of-life of Win10 itself.
This.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woundingchaney View Post

I was under the impression that the upgrade will be offered for free for one year, not those that upgrade receive the product for one year for free.
You are correct.
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mand12 View Post

promotion.

Any Win10 device is entitled to updates for the life of the device. There is no expiration outside of the eventual end-of-life of Win10 itself.
TBH, this is my only sticking point with their "free upgrade" offer. In the past, I have not liked how MS has defined "the device". I doubt I will like their limitations this time either.
 
#24 ·
I'm a little surprised as to how misinformed everyone is here.

1.) The Win 10 upgrade from Win 7 and 8 is free and will always be free as long as you upgrade within the first year. Period. It doesn't have an expiration date, just the time to redeem the free upgrade is limited.

2.) This is solely an accounting designation. How exactly do you write off a free operating system? Kind of tricky if you've ever taken a business course you'll understand.

Lots of paranoia floating around.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lacrossewacker View Post

maybe, maybe not - we'll see what happens...

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8241023/windows-10-free-for-software-pirates
Microsoft already clarified.
Quote:
Update: Microsoft has clarified that even though pirates will be able to auto-upgrade to Windows 10, the version they get will still be considered unlicensed.

"Although non-Genuine PCs might be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license. This applies across geographies. Customers that are improperly licensed before the upgrade will be improperly licensed after the upgrade. We will provide a mechanism for non-genuine Windows 10 PC devices to "get genuine" via the new Windows Store, whether they are upgraded versions of Windows or purchased. We will have details on this as we get closer to launch."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/03/19/why-microsoft-is-giving-away-windows-10-to-pirates/

If you're getting annoying popups before you upgrade, you'll continue to get them after unless you pony up $
 
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