Windows 10 free for all Windows 8.1 and 7 users for first year after release

[DjoeN]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015...ndows-8-1-and-windows-7-users-for-first-year/

Microsoft has just announced the first pricing information for Windows 10 at itspreview event today. The biggest news is that the new OS will be completely free for current Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users for its first year of availability—after that time period has expired, OS upgrades will presumably need to be paid for as they are currently (though Microsoft was less than clear on this point, it made no mention of a paid, Office 365-style subscription for Windows upgrades). The Windows 10 upgrade for Windows Phone 8.1 users will also be free.
"Once a device is upgraded to Windows 10, we'll be keeping it current for the supported lifetime of the device," said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems Group. "With Windows 10, we think of Windows as a service... The question 'what version are you running' will cease to make sense."
Windows 7 and Windows 8.x collectively run on well over half of the world's Windows PCs, meaning that a wide swath of existing Windows users will be able to make the jump to Windows 10 free of charge. A larger user base, especially in the first year after Windows 10's official release, increases the chances that developers will target Windows 10 and its new APIs.

[EDIT]
I just wonder what will happen if you need to reïnstall after a year?
- First install your Windows 7/8.1, then upgrade?
- Or will you be able to download an iso with a new code generated so you can reïnstall later whenever you want?

 

[WiiCube_2013]

Wow, this is pretty nice.

I should purchase a new tower because the one I'm using right now uses Pentium 4 and lags sometimes (on YouTube mainly), plus new towers aren't too expensive for standard use.

 

[yusuo]

Yes but they chose their words very carefully. Its not actually sign up within a year and get it for free, its signup and get a years license. once that license expires in a year it locks down tighter than a nuns vagina and you have to pay for a full license

 

[DjoeN]

Yes but they chose their words very carefully. Its not actually sign up within a year and get it for free, its signup and get a years license. once that license expires in a year it locks down tighter than a nuns vagina and you have to pay for a full license

Yeah was thinking the same (except for the nun and v****a stuff )

Think i have to speak with my boss about getting to use there VLC license on it then (Like it is now for Windows 8.1) , 90% of work i do on my pc is for work

 

[WiiCube_2013]

Yes but they chose their words very carefully. Its not actually sign up within a year and get it for free, its signup and get a years license. once that license expires in a year it locks down tighter than a nuns vagina and you have to pay for a full license

Oh, that's not really a great deal then. :-/

Microsoft giving an OS upgrade free for a lifetime? Dunno why I expected that.

 

[Arras]

Yes but they chose their words very carefully. Its not actually sign up within a year and get it for free, its signup and get a years license. once that license expires in a year it locks down tighter than a nuns vagina and you have to pay for a full license

Once a device is upgraded to Windows 10, we'll be keeping it current for the supported lifetime of the device

I doubt it. Also, for Win7->8 there was this whole temporary 20$ upgrade deal. This is probably the same thing, but a bit more extreme.

 

[duffmmann]

This isn't new news. They already explained this would be the case when Windows 10 was first announced. Having Windows 8.1, I definitely intend to make the update though.

 

[Kioku]

Sounds completely free to me. After the first year any upgrades from 7 or 8.1 will cost to some degree. That's what I've picked out of it. I'm not seeing anything anywhere about subscription. It's not looking to be an extended 1-year trial then pay to use.

 

[xBleedingSoulx]

I think Arras as is right, I got Windows 8 Upgrade for £25 with the offer on release, not just a years trial, can't see this being any different.

 

[yusuo]

I doubt it. Also, for Win7->8 there was this whole temporary 20$ upgrade deal. This is probably the same thing, but a bit more extreme.

Doubt it all you like but I did watch the keynote, anyway where would the business sense be in spending 100's of thousands if not millions on a product and then just giving it away for free.

No company in their right mind would do this, the only people who would pay for a license would be OEM's or people still rocking vista or xp, seeing as the majority of users now have windows 7 or above this would make absolutely no sense from a buisness point of view and although wouldnt bankrupt them would put a big dent in their stock price which wouldn't impress the shareholders very much and at the end of the day all buisness just want to keep their share holders happy.

I'm sure it will probably be discounted after the first year, but I guarantee from what I saw you have to pay something

Use your brain before you speak.

 

[Digital.One.Entity]

At least they is Integrating XboxOne Games across Devices.........yay Windows Phone

 

[Kioku]

Doubt it all you like but I did watch the keynote, anyway where would the business sense be in spending 100's of thousands if not millions on a product and then just giving it away for free.

No company in their right mind would do this, the only people who would pay for a license would be OEM's or people still rocking vista or xp, seeing as the majority of users now have windows 7 or above this would make absolutely no sense from a buisness point of view and although wouldnt bankrupt them would put a big dent in their stock price which wouldn't impress the shareholders very much and at the end of the day all buisness just want to keep their share holders happy.

If sure it will probably be discounted after the first year, but I guarantee from what I saw you have to pay something

Use your brain before you speak.

So, you're going to belittle someone? Why? He just pointed something out. It just contradicted your statement. Wasn't any sort of insult.

Given what we can read, it looks to be completely free. No mention of what you've claimed.

As it's written it claims the upgrade is free for 7/8.1 users for the first year. After that any upgrades from the previous generation will likely cost.

 

[yusuo]

So, you're going to belittle someone? Why? He just pointed something out. It just contradicted your statement. Wasn't any sort of insult.

Given what we can read, it looks to be completely free. No mention of what you've claimed.

Touche, I apologise for the belittling it was uncalled for

 

[xBleedingSoulx]

Doubt it all you like but I did watch the keynote, anyway where would the business sense be in spending 100's of thousands if not millions on a product and then just giving it away for free.

No company in their right mind would do this, the only people who would pay for a license would be OEM's or people still rocking vista or xp, seeing as the majority of users now have windows 7 or above this would make absolutely no sense from a buisness point of view and although wouldnt bankrupt them would put a big dent in their stock price which wouldn't impress the shareholders very much and at the end of the day all buisness just want to keep their share holders happy.

I'm sure it will probably be discounted after the first year, but I guarantee from what I saw you have to pay something

Use your brain before you speak.

To be honest, you are wrong.

Microsoft's chief blogger Brandon LeBlanc also confirmed that Microsoft will support those who scored a free upgrade to Windows 10 with security and system updates for the lifetime of those Windows 8.1 devices.

 

[yusuo]

To be honest, you are wrong.

Microsoft's chief blogger Brandon LeBlanc also confirmed that Microsoft will support those who scored a free upgrade to Windows 10 with security and system updates for the lifetime of those Windows 8.1 devices.

If I am wrong then I will put my hand up and admit im wrong, but the way they described it in the conference was that it would only be free for the first year not the lifetime,

 

[xBleedingSoulx]

If I am wrong then I will put my hand up and admit im wrong, but the way they described it in the conference was that it would only be free for the first year not the lifetime,

The way I heard it was that it's free to upgrade for anyone on Windows 8.1 in the first year after the Windows 10 release, once that year is up, anyone wishing to upgrade has to pay. The quote from Brandon LeBlanc just seems to confirm that.

 

[Kioku]

If I am wrong then I will put my hand up and admit im wrong, but the way they described it in the conference was that it would only be free for the first year not the lifetime,

The upgrade for 7/8.1 users. Yes. Once you acquire the upgrade, you will have full access to 10 for the lifetime of the device. Not the first year. The claim is that the first year is for the upgrade to be free.

 

[Subtle Demise]

It'll probably still be pirated by millions all over the world anyway, so whether it's a one-year trial or not shouldn't hurt them too much.

 

[VashTS]

windows 10 loader incoming

 

[Joe88]

windows 10 loader incoming

daz cracked everything else so windows 10 should be no problem