OS is a platform that applications like Photoshop , Inventor, ... will utilize latest technologies to perform faster and better thanks to new advances in new CPUs and hardware. Socialism doesn't help much in technology progress though.
I have a hard time believing Windows 7 users will get it for free, but it does make sense and I can see why they would do that, if they did. I think maybe for Windows 7 users that we may be in for the cheapest price point ever seen for a upgrade path, which may entice just as many people if it is for free. If Pro is just $19.95 or even $29.95 I wouldn't hesitate, even though I own 10 technet licenses of 7 Ultimate and 10 of 7 Pro already, I just always want to be on the latest technology period. So, here's to hoping we at least get an announcement of the cheapest cost for a major Microsoft OS yet. Not to rain on any of the free is better crap, but I think Microsoft should charge for it, even if only $9.95, or at least enough to cover the development costs.
They are not confirmations that Microsoft is going to give out Windows 10 free for old Windows versions users per se. Microsoft possibly developed those features just to make migration easier for those who are currently running Windows 7 and Windows 8 or 8.1 . I think that is the right thing to do. The easier for people to migrate from their previous Windows Operating Systems the better for them to get quickly acquainted with the new features in Windows 10.
My father purchased Windows 8 for his laptop, so I also wonder about that. It was an upgrade version to 7 so I am not even sure if he had a free update to 8.1 that he missed or not. He is very eager to upgrade as he hates 8.
Every Windows 8 installation can be upgraded via the Store to Windows 8.1. Even if you don't do it manually, there are several updates released that do it in the background.
The "installer" basically creates the following registry key: Code: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAl_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\WindowsTechnicalPreview] "Signup"="924EADEB-2472-490D-9203-5D0A1FD5CC73" I guess you could try doing that if the installer fails, but remember: The installer fails for a reason Also, these are the supported languages in the installer: Spoiler en-us zn-cn pt-br en-gb ja-jp ru-ru de-de fr-fr ko-kr it-it es-es zh-tw sv-se fi-fi tr-tr ar-sa nl-nl cs-cz pl-pl th-th The installer is only meant to work when a preview build matching the current OS language will be available, ergo ipso facto the January Preview will be released in these 20 languages.
I actually read softpedia every day I find it my best site for Windows news, rumours and opinions But yes you are right that is pure speculation and if Microsoft made Windows 8.1 for free (for Windows 8 users) and with no ads why would it be different in Windows 10 EDIT: I will add this possible fact though and that is if Windows 10 is not free it would be more cheaper to buy that Windows 8 or Windows 7 was, not 100% confirming that though.