It's Official: Windows 10 Free For Many Users

It's official: Microsoft says that Windows 10 will be free of charge -- but the offer comes with limitations and caveats.

The free upgrade offer is part of what could be the biggest change to the Windows business model, ever. Microsoft's comments at a launch event this week have been interpreted by some analysts as meaning Windows 10 may also be the last major release of the operating system. Instead, Windows may receive more frequent, but less substantial updates in the future.

The Windows 10 free upgrade deal will only apply to consumer versions of Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) and Windows 8 (with Windows 8.1 installed). In order to get the free offer, users will have to upgrade their current operating system within the first year of the official Windows 10 release. After that, there will most likely be a charge, though it's not yet known what fees are involved.

Pricing for business users will be revealed later.

Windows 10 Free Updates Could Run For Years

Microsoft says that with the free upgrade to Windows 10, users will also receive Windows updates for the "supported lifetime" of the device. While the full details of this offer are not yet revealed, it appears to imply that updates will continue for a fixed period of time, or until the user replaces the device -- whichever happens first. (Source: microsoft.com)

It's also suggested that Windows 10 update support goes well beyond Microsoft's previous practice of issuing Windows updates for approximately 5 years after an operating system's initial release. In theory, it could mean that people who upgrade to Windows 10 would be eligible for free upgrades to any future editions of Windows, including Windows 11, for example.

Windows 10 "As a Service"

Perhaps the most speculation about Windows 10 is in regard to its successor.

Microsoft operating system chief Terry Myerson says that "we think of Windows 10 as a service." That statement has has prompted wide speculation from analysts, suggesting that there may never be a successor to Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft may simply roll out minor updates to its operating system in a way many developers do with applications, such as Google's Chrome Browser. (Source: pcworld.com)

That would be a revolutionary change for Microsoft as, coupled with recent reports that manufacturers may pay little if any fees to install Windows 10, it's likely Microsoft's revenue from sales of Windows will plummet in future years.

Instead, it's suggested that Microsoft will concentrate on making its money from business users, subscriptions to online editions of its applications such as Office, and from commission from sales through the Windows app store. That would bring its PC business much closer to the model used in tablets and smartphone, particularly that of Apple.

What's Your Opinion?

Will you be taking advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10? How long do you expect the "supported lifetime" offer to last? Has Microsoft made a smart move by heavily downplaying sales revenue from Windows?