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  • #1

    Win10 will be free to users of Win7/8/8.1

    Ars Technica, among others, reports that MS will make Win10 free if you upgrade from a legit version of 7~8.1 within one year of 10's release date -- chances are, Fall 2015. They have also specified that this will NOT be a subscription model or anything; in other words, the free upgrade is just like buying a retail copy (aside from the cost ), so you will get any and all future updates and Service Packs.

    I just hope that app/game/utility developers are able to update their code within a reasonable amount of time to account for this, assuming that 10 is actually running on a new codebase that would cause backwards-compatability issues. On the upside for gamers, DirectX 12 support will be built-in. Time for another round of graphics card wars, boys and girls!
    "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
    "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
    "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
    "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
    "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
    "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
    Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
    "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me
    Tags: None
  • #2
    This is cool, i actually do have a legit version of Win7

    Running on a Mac, but sure

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    • #3
      With so little info pertaining to this and the fact that the Windows OS platform is essentially Microsoft's bread and butter I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.
      I AM the evil bastard!
      A+ Certified IT Technician

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      • #4
        I currently have Win 7, but I'm not that eager to upgrade, considering what a crapshoot getting a good OS out of MS is. I'm satisfied with this, but I remember upgrading to Vista way back when, and hating it with a passion, so I'm going to wait and see.
        The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away.

        Comment

        • #5
          Well, yeah, same here. Worst case scenario, I'll register for the free upgrade and download an ISO from microsoft a month or so before the promotion expires, and just not install it until SP1 hits.

          As for why they're doing this? Simple: It's the old Gillette method. Give away the razors for free and people will buy blades. Windows may be their bread and butter, but people will want the latest and greatest MS Office, Visual Studio (at least one recent version of which is now legally free for individual use, including commercial use, I believe), and the like. Also, the inclusion of DirectX 12 will likely spur innovation in video cards and games, and what OS has 90+% of all games exclusive to it? That's right, Windows. MS has game studios, and it would not surprise me if they have financial interest in the major video card chip makers. 10 integrates with the XBONE over the network in some way, as well, so there's some synergy there.

          More to the point, this is basically a form of advertising, so they can just write it off against their taxes. People are talking about it, it's serving as hype for Windows 10, most people getting the free upgrade will probably not have the high-end edition (and we all know they'll have upgrades available); we don't even know if the version will be retained over the transfer -- we could all be getting w10 Crappy Home edition, for all we know, even if we had w7 Enterprise before. This will help to establish a userbase for Win10 for years to come, and market share is very important. They will likely make up for the loss pretty quickly.
          "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
          "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
          "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
          "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
          "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
          "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
          Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
          "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

          Comment

          • #6
            I just bought a new computer with Windows 7 64 bit. Windows 10 will have to get some pretty good reviews before I consider upgrading to it, even if it is a free upgrade. Even now I'm finding older programs that I used in Windows 7 32 bit will not work in the new computer. How much worse will it be for Windows 10?
            "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

            Comment

            • #7
              That's more a factor of the 64 bittishness than the engine, tho I have had few issues, and I have found that XP programs usually behave reasonably. I am assuming that 10 will be a whole new engine, and that backwards compatibility will be an issue.

              As I mentioned, I'm gonna grab a license for it before the free time expires, then just sit on it until the OS is more mature; I'll install it later, unless the freebie program forces my hand.

              Note, if you have 7 Pro or higher, there is a virtual machine thing in w7 that includes its own, fully-licensed, virtual copy of Windows XP Pro built into it. If you have older progs you just can't live without, and cannot find a workaround, this may be a solution.
              "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
              "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
              "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
              "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
              "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
              "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
              Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
              "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

              Comment

              • #8
                No way. I like 7 too much to do this shit. Likes others, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like what if it's another Vista?
                My Guide to Oblivion

                "I resent the implication that I've gone mad, Sprocket."

                Comment

                • #9
                  Quoth EricKei View Post
                  Note, if you have 7 Pro or higher, there is a virtual machine thing in w7 that includes its own, fully-licensed, virtual copy of Windows XP Pro built into it. If you have older progs you just can't live without, and cannot find a workaround, this may be a solution.
                  Is that the compatibility setting in properties? Or a separate program?

                  I tried the compatibility settings, but it doesn't like 16 bit programs.
                  "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I decided to test it out when they launch 10. I'm not crazy enough to 'upgrade' any of my good computers though. I just found a cheap copy of 8 and I'm going to build a computer out of some spare parts I have.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      XP virtual mode info here. Note that XP support has been sunsetted, so there's no guarantee that you will be able to get OS updates. They even recommend running it offline, or just make sure that your NIC is disabled in the XP settings.

                      16-bit? Yeah, deffo an issue. This thing is not the same thing as compatibility mode. This is literally a separate copy of Windows, seen as if it were a separate computer running within win7 -- If you're familiar with BootCamp or something similar on Macs, this is the same idea. If you have a specific prog you reaaaaly wanna run within the 7 environment, yer best bet is to literally google "How to get programname running in windows 7 64 bit" or something similar, and see what comes up.

                      Like what if it's another Vista?
                      Knock on wood when you say that! O_O
                      "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                      "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                      "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                      "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                      "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                      "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                      Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                      "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Well my plan is to see how the upgrade will be handled. If I have to sacrifice my Win 7 registration for it that's definitely a no go (one of the possible "shoe drops" that could happen) If that's not the case and I can roll back to Win 7 then I'll grab it and give it a shot and see how it fares. Beyond that I'll play it by ear (there's 3 systems that are eligible in my house and the primary users of the other two machines aren't as tech savy so I use my rig as a guinea pig in most situations.

                        I haven't decided one way or the other so far and am largely waiting and seeing how things go.
                        I AM the evil bastard!
                        A+ Certified IT Technician

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Quoth EricKei View Post
                          XP virtual mode info here. Note that XP support has been sunsetted, so there's no guarantee that you will be able to get OS updates. They even recommend running it offline, or just make sure that your NIC is disabled in the XP settings.
                          Thank you. I will certainly try that approach.
                          "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Quoth EricKei View Post
                            XP virtual mode info here.
                            I installed it, and it works very well. I am very happy. Thanks again.
                            "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

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                            • #15
                              Woo-hoo! ^_^ No problem; I'm glad I could help!
                              "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                              "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                              "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                              "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                              "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                              "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                              Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                              "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

                              Comment

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