It means that users with Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 but not necessarily for free. There may be a reduced price for upgrading. As I recall, when Windows 8 first came out, I was able to purchase 3 upgrade licenses for $15.00 each. The full version cost much more.
I'll agree that's what I got from reading the page. You can upgrade Your OS to Win TP right now. Problem of course is that You Can't roll back to Your previous OS without a re-install.
Because why on earth would Microsoft release these updates? Think about it, it makes it much easier for "normal" people to upgrade to W10, they clearly want to spread the Preview to more people by making it "noob friendly" but spreading it like this would be utterly retarded and backfire if they are not going to give people a license, you are losing your W7/W8.1 Installation when you install the preview... so these "nooby" people would endup with a unlicensed version of Windows or well a Windows with a f**king timebomb. They didn't need to release these updates, we know how to use a ISO. Also, that it's a free upgrade for windows 8 is certain (WP10 is free, Xbox update is free, ios updates are free, osx updates are free, linux is free... free... free yeah you know, hard to compete with a paid upgrade), the "7" part was questionable but has been rumored for a while. There are plenty of reasons why W10 needs to be free, sure that means Microsoft is going to earn less money from it but... look at these f**king benefits for where it matters, Microsoft needs more Apps and Users, ofc they also need money but they can easily compensate the lack of money gained from upgrades (not big anyway, people don't upgrade..), OEM's already pay pretty much f**king nothing so why screw Consumers in such a way that only reduces the amount of people using Microsofts newest s**t. Developers suddenly finally get a relevant market (w8.1 isn't small, but it's not big and the maority doesn't use the metro apps because yeah either s**t or because bothersome to use in fullscreen), sure not straight away but i can easily see W10 taking 200-300M within the first months if free, overly optmistic? yeah... very, for this to happen they actually need to rollout a update to W7/W8.1 that regulary has a pop up and reminds you that there you can upgrade to W10, nobody wants or should be silently enforced to W10 by a automatic installation so there needs to be regular reminder (weekly? disable over group policy only?). Gamers, f**king Gamers, DirectX12 would be in every new game instantly because that's where the people are. Apps will finally matter on Windows, Windows Phone would finally get Apps because yeah.. there are no Windows 10 Phone Apps, Apps matter and we all know that, and Apps will matter on Windows 10 because way more people will start using them now that they pretty much work like you'd expect from Windows, the Store (beta) app on the leaked build is also showing big promise, the Store App on W8 is f**king terrible... such a crap. All WP8 Phones will get a update to Windows 10 for free, all Xbox One Users will get their "Xbox version Windows 10" update for free, why should Microsoft cripple their own market by not releasing Windows 10 for free to 7/8 users? Heck best case scenario: download it straight from Microsoft website, free of charge, no license required but this would mean that W7/W8 users need to be updated to W10 Pro otherwise it wouln't be fair TL;DR Because they make it "too easy" to upgrade to the TP in January (Consumer preview), said update does not install current build (not having consumery features), there is no indication on the website that you are losing your license either. Microsoft has lots to lose if they charge us for Windows 10, but tons to gain if it's free. Microsoft can afford earning no money with W10 Upgrades, there is still plenty of money to make... they never made a large amount from upgrades anyway, no idea how this would affect their stock though... negativly or highly positivly?
All fixed...I think... @Shenj - We will each draw our own conclusions based on our own assumptions. As I have said 432 times before, until it is on my machine, I don't believe it.
They will announce it in January, thats when you can start believing! Of course im not 100% sure it's going to be free, but Microsoft would seriously screw themself just to get a little bit extra instant cash if they don't
I hope you are right. History has proven the old saying "Don't count your chicks before they're hatched" is a good one to follow. All in favor of Windows 9, raise your hands..............
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.