Windows 10: After Windows10, consumers won't pay for updates or upgra

Well, they at least need to offer 10 as a free upgrade to 8.1 users. It seems as if they are with the Insider Program and the Technical Preview. But, I could be wrong. You never know! It would be silly to let users try out the TP, and then charge them for the upgrade.

 

if you want the free OSX updates all you have to do is buy a computer for a couple of thousand or more, or you can buy a much cheaper Windows machine and maybe pay for some upgrades now and then.
I suppose Microsoft could give away everything they do but then they'd go broke and you'd end up with Apple. I don't know what they're going to do with 10, but if I have to pay, I'll pay like I've always done.

 

People with Windows 7 (or Vista or XP) could try the previews of Windows 8 for free, but had to pay to get the released version, so it could be the same again with Windows 10.

 

At the moment MS must spend a lot of money patching, fixing backwards compatibilty issues, issuing specialised security fixes, etc, for older versions of Windows.
The guy from Gartner must be looking at that, and I imagine it's an enormous expense, off their bottom line.
If they upgraded everyone to W10, they would have a level playing field, lose the nightmare of complaining XP users, and so on.
They could then remove a lot of the functionality, and put it into the app store. You would then pay for apps.
This would provide a revenue stream, just like MS Office does. Enterprise apps could be made more costly, or on subscription.
This seems workable to me, and it would please both users, and the Monopolies Commission etc.
Users would be happy, as they would not have to clutter up their systems with functionality they never use.
Apple make their own hardware, as has been said. They must save money by not having to worry about hardware compatibility issues.
Microsoft cannot do this, but they could avoid having to do it for several, different, OS versions.

 

Hi there

GARTNER is absolute rubbish - anything they say could be predicted with the same accuracy by pure GUESSWORK -- I'm still surprised anybody is still listening to them.

Actually the FREE updates don't necessarily mean a loss of revenue for Ms --It has HUGE corporate continuing licenses and probably by offering an update FREE for consumers would wash away the ugly test (whether wrongly or rightly) that Windows 8 left in the mouths of many people.

Ms is going towards the idea of paid apps from the store, the cloud and above all subscription based software.

It's not a direction I personally like but others seem to be OK with it - and the Markets seem to agree with it. In spite of last week's carnage on Wall St the Ms stock is holding up reasonably well so they must be doing something right.

The Surface Pro 3 is doing quite well too -- It's almost impossible to find these at the moment in spite of their seemingly high price - but as an Apple user posted for similar grade equipment people can pay nearly 4,000 USD and there's still a market for THAT gear.

I don't think people should write off Ms just yet. There's plenty of life in it still. Also all those XP and W7 users need to be encouraged to move off those OS'es too.

Incidentally I notice Ms is actually offering the VHD's of W10 - so people can get an already pre configured VM to try without having to do the install. Ms is making it really easy now for people to try this.

Cheers
jimbo

 

MS is probably last large company in the world I would fear for it's continuing existence.

 

We buy Microsoft, because Apple is too expensive and I would say stingy with their computers. Also, a lot of people don't want to purchase a software upgrade to buy. Like smartphones, every computer should offer free software upgrades as well. All people want now a days is money.

 

I would not go to Apple even if I was a millionaire, with a lot of money I would build a super duper Windows PC.

 

I would! But, not if I have to pay $3,000 to $4,000 for it. Plus, many say that Apple computers never crash or have problems. That is not true! I've heard of many Apple computers crashing and having problems. My Windows 7 laptop is 2 or 3 years old, and has never crashed. It did blue screen a few times because of a hardware problem. But, I went on Sevenforums.com, they told me what to do and my problem was instantly fixed. No more blue screening. It has never crashed due to a virus or bug. My mom's old Vista did, but Vista was no good from the start.

 

Give me 4 grand and I'll make you a computer that's going to blow any factory made, including Apple out of water.

 

the new OSX Maverick will on newer PC's, and future versions I bet will also run on PCs. So, at $200 a pop as compared to $30, I could see a lot of Windows converters.

Why wouldn't they switch? Apple and Android own the smartphone and apps world. I said it before and I will say it again, I think Microsoft's headaches are just beginning. I have an Office subscription,but am thinking of dropping it, it isn't worth it. I certainly would not buy a Windows subscription, and if Microsoft did that, it would be about as popular as Windows 8.

I think Windows exists today only because of the over 50's crowd, whats happens when they all die?

 

@jessejamestw23, pardon the pun but your comparing apples and oranges. If you buy an Apple PC you pay a premium price and the OS is included. Apple makes its money off of the hardware sales. It's no big deal to offer free updates to those that paid that premium price in the first place. Microsoft makes most of its revenue from software sales. They also sell hardware but that's not where the money comes from. They can't continuously give Windows away and make profits and stay in business. Limited time offers sure, that happens, and may happen again.

Just because the Tech Preview is free and your running it, doesn't mean you'll get to move on to the final release for free. If that were true all you would need to do was build a new PC and install the Tech Preview, to get Windows for free. Not going to happen. That's why the Tech Preview has an expiry date. At some point your more than likely going to have to prove you own a qualifying past version of Windows to get a free upgrade, if offered.

 

The Corporate World, where Microsoft makes most of its money, is a completely different ball of wax compared to the consumer market. If you have to buy hundreds or maybe even thousands of PC's for your company, cost matters big time. Why pay a premium for hardware that has an OS that won't run your custom software? Like it or not Windows is entrenched in the corporate world and isn't going anywhere any time soon. That trickles down to the consumer market. Most people run the same OS and programs at home that they do at work. It just makes life easier.

Everybody has different needs and wants. It sounds like you have a big dislike for Microsoft? Maybe you should just byte the bullet and go completely Apple? Then see how far that gets you.

 

Computer manufacturers need to go the route of smartphones. For example, the iPhone 4 went through 3 OS updates until iOS 8. Windows 10 needs to be free for 8.1 users at least and go the similar route as iOS. If OSx doesn't do that, then it needs to as well. I can assure you, there will still be people buying computers. Simply, because a lot of people have to have the latest device.

 

You still don't get it? Microsoft can't follow the same business model as Apple. Apple makes the hardware and the software on that hardware. They control both. Microsoft only produces the software. They can't give it away and stay in business. The OEM's who make the hardware buy the software from Microsoft. They aren't going to buy it from Microsoft and then just give it away? They want you to buy new hardware to get the new OS.