Until recently, the main source of income for Microsoft was the sale of licensed copies of Windows operating systems. However, a few days ago, the Redmond company almost shocked everyone with its statement that its new Windows 10 operating system would be free. Is it really so? Unfortunately, not everything is as simple as it seemed.
At the Microsoft presentation, Vice President Terry Myerson announced that the latest Windows 10 operating system, which will offer a number of truly new and interesting features, will be completely free. True, with two reservations. First, it will be free only for owners of licensed copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8 (8.1); secondly, free Windows 10 will be only within the first 12 months from the moment of release of its final version.
"Windows 10 will change the rules of the game and redefine the relationship between us and our customers," Myerson said at the presentation, pointing out that everyone will be able to upgrade to the latest operating system without having to pay a single penny.
During the presentation, the executive of Microsoft also heard phrases about the importance of customer feedback.
“Your support and feedback really help us create the future of Windows. Everything we do, we do thanks to our customers and for our customers. Because they are our customers, not our product. ”
Unfortunately, during the presentation, Terry Myerson did not talk about how the further distribution model of Windows 10 will be built after the first year of the free upgrade opportunity. Most likely, all those who did not have time to have to buy a licensed copy of the new OS. However, information about the cost of a licensed copy of Windows 10 has not yet been provided.
After his speech, already behind the scenes, Myerson “suggested” in a conversation with journalists that with Windows 10, the company may finally be able to abandon the distribution model of different versions of the same operating system and instead choose a different strategy, the key idea of which to be a major update release.
Now, the user will not have unnecessary questions in favor of choosing one or another version of the operating system. The operating system will be unified, and new functions will be added with its regular updates.
“The concept of“ which version of Windows do you work on? ”Will no longer make sense. This will be great news for developers of Windows applications. With a universal Windows database, it will be possible to create universal applications that will work on all devices running Window 10. This solution will allow application developers to cover a much larger market of devices, be it PCs, tablets, smartphones, Xbox or Internet of Things. ”
It would seem that here it is - happiness! Free upgrade, cross-platform and huge ecosystem. However, not everyone is so optimistic about the further development of the Windows-direction.
The Digitimes portal, citing anonymous sources close to the chain of the laptop market, states that the market effect of the free upgrade to Windows 10 will become noticeable in the third quarter of this year, in the autumn when the release of the new operating system takes place.
The same report indicates that, in the opinion of all the same anonymous sources, the free update will not become an accumulating factor in the growth of sales of laptops. The reason for this is very commonplace. Buyers are no longer interested in laptops and personal computers, they would rather buy a new smartphone or tablet. However, in fairness, it would also be worth noting that Windows 10 will cover all these device markets, and, in addition to the PC and laptop market, the new operating system will be available on smartphones and tablets, offering features promising a similar experience of using all platforms at once.
As noted above, Microsoft did not report when Windows 10 will be released. However, according to sources close to the company, the RTM version of the new operating system may appear this summer, and a full release of Windows 10 will most likely take place in September. or this October. Most likely in October, since exactly three years have passed since the release of Windwos 8.
The article is based on materials .
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