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Microsoft thinks device lifetimes range from 2 to 4 years and will base Windows 10 free support on t
"Two years free support on a PC is garbage. It would see Windows 10 free support expire in 2017 while Windows 7 and Windows 8 free support doesn’t expire until January 2020 and 2023 respectively. Could this really happen? Again without Microsoft spelling it out we can’t say."
"What’s more it also opens up an even bigger question:what follows the expiry of free support?"
"Revenue allocated is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated period the software upgrades are expected to be provided by estimated device life," the most pertinent slide stated. "[The estimated device life] can range from two to four years."
Microsoft will determine the device lifetime -- and thus the support stretch -- by "customer type."
"With the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft will provide new features and functionality over time," another slide in the short PowerPoint presentation said. "We will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device. We think of Windows as a Service -- continuous updates over time." (my emphasis)
"In the slide deck, Microsoft said that the support lifetime would be calculated "primarily ... by customer type," different language than it used in May, when it said support would be determined by "form factor," a way of saying the kind of device.
Customer type, on the other hand, hints at separating consumer and business device owners. Microsoft may use the edition of Windows 10 running on the device to make that determination. If that's the case, free upgrades for Windows 10 Home, say, could be different -- delivered for a shorter stretch, perhaps -- than for Windows 10 Pro, the more expensive SKU (stock-keeping unit) aimed at power users, small businesses and corporations."
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/me
Windows 10 Home and Pro will also force updates. You will not be able to pick and choose or even delay their installation. Windows 10 Home will be updated whenever Microsoft decides it will be. Your company's network administrators can no longer decide what gets installed and what doesn't. If you want to pick and choose you'll have to go with Windows 10 Enterprise.
Supporting link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/06/26/free-windows-10-upgrades-danger/
"This revelation comes as Microsoft drip feeds nuggets of information ahead of Windows 10’s July 29th release and it is sure to spark anger and frustration as awareness grows. In a nutshell all upgraders to Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro (whether free or paid) will be forced to install every feature, patch and fix Microsoft throws at them or have their security updates cut off."
"Interestingly Windows 10 Pro users (primarily businesses and some enthusiasts) are also stuck. They are put on the ‘Current Branch for Business’ (CBB) upgrade route but it only allows for a delay of up to four months from the Slow ring release before updates are then forcibly installed. This can be extended by another four months if Windows Pro users opt to use Microsoft’s ‘Windows Server Update Service’ (WSUS) instead of CBB, but it’s still only a delay."
Comments
They can't be so stupid that they'd stop security updates after only 2-4 years, can they?
I think everyone expects them to try to make the money from all the free updates they offer in some way, but if they're planning to start charging money for fixing security holes in their own product that's a new low.
In the Windows as a service scenario, updates could theoretically be part of a paid service for a nominal monthly or yearly subscription. There are probably several areas where they can monetise the platform.
Personally i'll be waiting to see how the launch progresses, and whether or not Third Party antivirus/firewalls are all that well supported in Win10, i've never yet seen a version of Windows that did not need a credible replacement for the built in firewalls etc, that comes with Windows.
There is no such thing as free, I'm puzzled why people would be alarmed by the news there may be some sort of revenue model tied to the distribution of Windows 10 as a "free" download at some point down the road.
It could be as simple as if you continue to use Windows 10 on a device longer than two years you will have to pay a subscription fee to continue updates on that device.
I think Microsoft is subtly warming people up to the idea all the while getting as many base installs secured as possible via free distribution ahead of any possible competition to this market sector.
A short term and long term Windows marketing strategy of one of their core products.
The firewall in Windows is fine. It isn't as easy or automatic to configure as third-party firewalls, but direct network attacks against individual computers are almost never a threat when behind a NAT. The virus and malware protection in Windows is probably what you should have been referring to. They assumed you will obtain third-party virus and malware protection from Windows XP onward. Security flaws aren't intentionally left in. They are found and exploited, then patched if possible. When it isn't possible, malware protection has to cover the gaps.
The estimate of 2-4 years is about right for business computers. By that time, laptops are worn out or the business is looking to their next model line to upgrade to. For consumers, 2-4 years is slightly underestimating, but that depends heavily on the consumer.
I think the situation of them turning Windows into a software-as-a-service scheme is a gamble. If you don't pay for updates (assuming that's what you pay for) then you leave your computer vulnerable to malware. If Microsoft doesn't provide incentive to pay other than providing security patches, there is a good chance a lot of consumers will ignore the security updates. If the situation gets bad enough, they may have to give in and provide security updates for free and re-think their business model.
Keep in mind they haven't announced exactly what you'll be paying for.
Another thought I have on this is that their forced changes are similar to the forced changes in Windows 8 and Office 2010 (or was it 2007?). People were not happy with the UI changes in either. Changing core updating functions and requirements like this just puts another nail in the Microsoft coffin. Eventually, businesses and consumers will stop tolerating this and we can only hope something like a good Linux-based OS swoops in to replace Windows.
From what I have read, WX will support devices as long as they are current. The way I have have read this is to mean that handheld phones running on WX will stay current as long as the phones are considered current. As to PC's and such, it only means that components will be supported for as long as components are current. WX does not have "shelf life" like previous Windows products. MS has said that WX will be the last OS they will publish and that updating WX and keeping it current will be the main focus.
Let's party like it is 1863!
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
I don't think it will be an issue - NightHaveN has the right of it I think. I don't think MS is necessarily saying your hardware will only last 2-4 years, but rather the OS upgrade cycle will be decreased to 2-4 years. XP->Vista was a very, very long time. Way too long, by all standards. OSX is releasing on an almost annual basis. Most major Linux distros are on annual or biannual major update schedules.
In Microsoft's defense, XP->Vista was overly long. And since Vista they have been keeping to a 2-3 year schedule for major releases. It's just that every other release has stunk, so many users here went from XP -> Windows 7, and many are staying away from Windows 8 again, and that still "feels" like Microsoft is on a 5+ year update cycle from that perspective.
For Windows to be running 5+ years on perceived update cycles is ... bad, and they know it. They need to come out with a way to get people to do updates, they are important, and to stay on the latest branch of the software so they can evolve the technology under the hood (and more importantly, get developers to support said evolved technology). Apple seems to have figured that out, with free updates, a frequent release cycle, and rather than huge changes and overhauls (like the jump from Win7->Win8 was) performing changes in stages over releases. OSX is evolving to be more like iOS (for better or worse), but they didn't just dump 10.13 out there and make it identical to iOS (they could have) - they are introducing small changes in each release that moves more towards where they want to go, and gives users a chance to get used to the changes, provide feedback, and figure out what works (and what doesn't).
Medical, financial, retail, government and military institutions across the world still use Windows XP They will until they must rewrite their proprietary applications.
They're not. Forbes and Computerworld are two traditional magazines desperate for revenue. They're clickbait articles.
They want to go subscription model. I had originally heard they wanted one OS and charge for software based on various package pricing points.
Epic Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAigCvelkhQ&list=PLo9FRw1AkDuQLEz7Gvvaz3ideB2NpFtT1
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos?&sort=-downloads&page=1
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you playing an MMORPG?"
Worst thing of all is that Mickey$oft still think that they have the superior OS, while Linux and OSX are steadily gaining on them Though both still have a very small portion of the market (~5% combined), bad decisions like this might push more and more customers away. With SteamOS also around the corner and more and games on Steam (even the big AAA titles) to run on SteamOS, Linux in general might finally become a big thing.
An the other hand, as indie game developer WinX might be a a MUST for me for DirectX 12 and the easier connection to XBOX ONE through the MS Store. But if WinX comes at a price like this, I'd much rather skip that ship and keep my games for DX9/11 instead. Not that DX12 will be a big thing for the coming 2-3 years because only the most recent GPUs will support it...
Same here. Right now I'm running Linux from a 4Gb USB stick to get used to it and looking through my library what games and tools are running under Linux. Also a good thing that unity only recently announced that they're porting the engine to Linux as well. I guess when Unity will be available, it's time to install Linux in dual-boot with my Win7.
Proves nothing except that lost are too cheap to upgrade the many stations they have in their network.
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
Been an issue for me as well. I've asked on the Mickey$oft forums and there a MSrep said that if your original Win7/8.1 is no OEM you should be able to update your hardware without too much trouble (other than calling MS to reset the key for the new hardware) and the updated WinX copy will be locked to the new machine again.
Personally I don't have that much faith in Mickey$oft to keep their word on it though...
More on the hardware upgrade topic...
Considering Windows 10 is supposed to be "the last Windows" release and considering that when people upgrade from 7 to 10 their serial key is "consumed" with debated rollback procedures, chances are it could be a complicated process to rollback if system becomes corrupted and the fact that by the time Windows 7 expires you will probably buy a Windows 10 PC, the fact that you will have to pay to have multiple PC's "updated" to me says everyone better not upgrade from Windows 7 and just hold onto it and don't do the free upgrade until you buy a new PC with 10 built in.
When everything is taken into consideration, the free upgrade really doesn't seem like such a good idea, i'll just hang onto my 7 so I can always have a PC to use that I don't have to pay to upgrade/update.
I've actually had to call M$ tech support for a Win7 key being over-used due to hardware upgrades. No questions asked the rep gave me a new activation key. /shrug
Clearly you have no clue what you are talking about. Did you actually write a line of code ever? Did you ever look at compilers/engines and their directives when it comes to platforms?
Yes, one platform might make things easier for porting, but that's about it. Every platform that WinX will support has a need of it's own set of commands for the specific platform. A windows PC needs mouse/keyboard input commands, while XBOX ONE (which is also included in the WinX updates) needs XBOX controller inputs where the tablets and phones need touchscreen input.
With that, looking at Unity (which I am using as development platform), it's already extremely easy to port my codes from one platform to the next. Just add a couple compiler directives (to diverse input as described above) and done.
There's not a single thing there that WinX really would make easier for developers to make things easier to port their games. The only thing that might make it easier is the MS Store where all games are supposedly to be compatible, but if things are as compatible as they were in the past (Windows 8.1 should run Windows Phone 8.1), things will not change a bit.
Personally I think this whole WinX thing is called into life to make a new store platform much like iTunes is for Apple and Google Play for Android. Get as much people on your product and grab a piece of the sales generated from the store. Why else you think that Mickey$oft is trying to shove WinX for 'free' to the current users of Win7/8.1?
Couple of banks in The Netherlands are even still running OS/2 and AS400 systems for their administration and ATMs. And why not? As long as it's working and in a closed system it's not a real big deal...
I might not mind annual fee if they were honest and open about it. Right now the largest problem is that they aren't. We're being asked to reserve our free update copies of Windows 10, but have no idea what using that free copy might or might not cost us in the future.
Proves nothing except that lost are too cheap to upgrade the many stations they have in their network.
Couple of banks in The Netherlands are even still running OS/2 and AS400 systems for their administration and ATMs. And why not? As long as it's working and in a closed system it's not a real big deal...
There are a lot of ATMs running OS2 still world-wide, it was very popular ATM software in the 90's/early 2000's.
I agree, in a closed system - who cares. Airline in-flight entertainment systems that still run Windows 3.1. We still use DOS on one generator control system, and Windows 2000 on another, at work. Those are closed systems that don't interface with anything else other than what they were originally designed for, and as long as the hardware underneath can be replaced in-kind (which is getting iffy outside of Ebay and Computer Museums), then it's no harm to anything else.
But anything connected to the Internet in any way at all - that needs to stay updated.
ATMs, I don't know how all of them connect. Some use the internet, some use a dedicated dial-up line. Some may use dedicated comm lines to the bank. If it's running OS/2 using a dedicated line that's completely isolated and just between the ATM and bank - then yeah, who cares. But if it touches the internet at any point, that opens a huge can of worms. And that's the reason why Microsoft is putting so much emphasis on maintaining software up to date: they get blamed and it's bad press when someone hacks a Windows system, regardless of if they have already provided a fix for it or not and the end-user just hasn't installed it yet.
It won't cost you anything.
If/when MS moves to a subscription model, or releases an updated version of Windows 10.1 (or whatever they call it) - you will then have the option to purchase it, or not. Just like if you bought Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1, and then when the next version released, you had the option to upgrade, or not. And at some point, they will stop publishing patches and updates, just like they have for XP, and will do soon for Vista and 7, and at that point you still have the choice to keep on running your existing system, or upgrade to a newer system.
Not true. After the security updates have stopped, you can not keep using that OS to connect to internet. It's not secure enough for that purpose any more.
At that point you'll either have to pay for those security updates or stop using the computer.
People still use XP, it doesn't get updates any more, it still connects to the internet - they haven't been forced into paying anything.