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Free (Gratis) Version of Windows Could Be a Reality Soon

Posted by timothy on from the insert-coin-to-continue dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft is exploring whether to release a free version of Windows to increase the number of computers using the latest operating system. Currently the company seems to be testing a new version of the OS called 'Windows 8.1 with Bing', which will include Microsoft's key modern apps and services."

21 of 392 comments (clear)

  1. Kinda funny by Runaway1956 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I remember when Bill Gates said that if software were being pirated, he would prefer that it was HIS software being pirated. He wanted to hook them now, so that he could charge them later.

    I guess there aren't enough pirates being hooked, so now they have to give it away gratis.

    --
    "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    1. Re:Kinda funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      he would prefer that it was HIS software being pirated

      It's not gratis - you have to use Bing. This is about "just fucking killing Google", not about replacing pirated versions.

      This thread will be full of Microsofties telling you to use Windows Bing version for all your porn surfing needs. It's their one remaining niche, aparently.

    2. Re:Kinda funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      With all of the horrible changes Google has been making to its services, Bing is actually the better search engine now. I used to be able to find the most obscure shit easily with Google, but those days are gone. Now it returns results for loads of stuff I'm not looking for and automatically tries to "correct" any kind of advanced search terms.

      Bing didn't become better than Google, Google became worse than Bing.

    3. Re:Kinda funny by Luckyo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Oh, there are more then enough pirates today, simply because there was a period for last couple of years when it was so hard to get win7. It got pirated to heaven and back during this period. Take a look at TPB, you'll find 7 in all possible flavors you could ever desire.

      Win8 on the other hand, I'd pay not to get with my new computer, which is what many today are doing by paying up to win8 pro license so they can upgrade the machine to windows 7.

      So it makes sense to give basic 8 away for free. No one who can help it is buying it anyway.

  2. Is Win 8.1 that bad? by Advocatus+Diaboli · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Given the history of MS trying to squeeze every last cent out of their captive audience, a free version of Win 8.1 (even one bundled with bing') sounds like desperation.

    1. Re:Is Win 8.1 that bad? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 3, Insightful

      YES!

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    2. Re:Is Win 8.1 that bad? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And what if even the free version is a failure? Can't give it away...

      That's the thing. When I hear people complaining about Windows 8, it's *never* about the price. Lots of people just flat out hate the product.

      I really doubt making it free is going to significantly impact adoption rates.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re:Is Win 8.1 that bad? by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And what if even the free version is a failure? Can't give it away...

      That's the thing. When I hear people complaining about Windows 8, it's *never* about the price. Lots of people just flat out hate the product.

      I really doubt making it free is going to significantly impact adoption rates.

      If their first impression is based on trying a friends computer running "Windows 8.1 + Adware", it will probably make them hate it even more

      --
      -1 Uncomfortable Truth
    4. Re:Is Win 8.1 that bad? by Progman3K · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Ironic, isn't it? After saying that linux was free because it was worthless, microsoft finally admits its own os is worthless by giving it away in hopes of losing no further shares to linux because people have come to realize linux is priceless

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
  3. Ugly Stuff by rtb61 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Windows with Bing, super invasive, super troll advertising, super restrictions on what applications you can install and super restrictions on where you can source content. You just know M$ will go wildly over the top in that regard, so xbox in a computer with compulsory M$ bling 'er' bing. Except you have paid full price for the hardware and by taking free you are actually shifting ownership and control of that device from yourself to M$.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    1. Re:Ugly Stuff by Luckyo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'd argue the opposite. Classic microsoft was "just pay us and we don't care what you do with it".

      Contrasted with Google's "we'll data mine everything you ever do until we know that you're gay before you do" and apple's manic desire to control how their OS looks and interacts with the user, I'd argue that in this particular aspect, microsoft is (was?) definitely the best of those three consumer OS giants.

  4. Windows 8 isnt Terrible Enough? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, Windows 8 isn't bad enough? Now they want to make it worse by turning it into an ad supported monstrosity?

    I'd be impressed with the level of idiocy if it wasn't so pathetic.

  5. How about selling something consumers want? by JDG1980 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Funny, but I never remember hearing about Microsoft having to give away Windows XP or Windows 7. (Sure, there was stuff like educational licenses, but those were for specific and clear marketing purposes.) If Microsoft has to literally give away Windows 8 to get people to use it, isn't that a blatant admission of failure? Why do they feel the need to keep digging themselves deeper into this hole?

  6. I could use it by Billly+Gates · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If I had aero and the option to disable Metro or at least have it as a desktop where the desktop treats a metro app like any win32 app then ok.

    I need Windows to run apps. Sorry slashdotters I really did try to live a linux only life. I need MS VS, MS expressions web, ventrillo, star wars the old republic, and yes sadly office as my resume won't be formatted correctly with any other package.

    Windows 7 is old and aging and is not mobile friendly compared to Windows 8, iOS, and Android with its api's sucking battery life from apps utilizing win32. But I find hte disney colors of even the Windows 8 desktop madening!

    I really did try Windows 8.1. I find it so damn ugly compared to Windows 7 where I have a sigh of relife. I thought I was old and afraid of change like those on neowin.net say we are.

    I guess I can use it for occasional use like Windows Server 2012 where I setup it once and run just one app at a time and then go back to my desk and use MMC to do the real work.

    But until I have my colors back and life (talking about Office 2013 too) it seems MS is extremist where they want all white, gray, and no color, and all minimalism = anti skuemorphism in that very strict interpretation.

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
    1. Re:I could use it by mcrbids · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I tried. Really. I read your post three times. I still have no idea what point you are making. Is it that Linux sucks? Win 7 sucks? Win 8 sucks? Truth: They all suck, in their own ways. Pick the type of poison you like best. You don't have to pick just one!

      I use Red Hat Linux to get "real work" done, where "real work" consists of serving ridiculous amounts of complex data to tens of thousands of users with numerous nines of uptime. I use Windows to play video games and watch cat videos. I use Android to send texts or find the nearest hotel when traveling.

      As with most things, pick the right tool for the job.

      --
      I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
    2. Re:I could use it by Air-conditioned+cowh · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I need MS VS, MS expressions web, ventrillo, star wars the old republic, and yes sadly office as my resume won't be formatted correctly with any other package.

      Office works very well with under Wine. I use it myself on Linux. Also, why would you send a resume in an editable format? Do you want them to see your editing history? PDF would be better. The page format doesn't slide around and it's universal.

  7. It might work... by Virtucon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Clearly a strategy to erode the Chrome book. With Google clamping down now within Chrome, it won't be too long before they have a hefty market share and lock in with their Chrome Web Store. Recent releases of chrome now deactivate extensions from third parties that don't come from their Web Store, so they're corralling ISVs into their BS Walled Garden strategy which is bad for Chrome but great for Google. I can see Microsoft wanting to play in that arena as well, Bing based browser with the Microsoft Store that still doesn't allow you delete your apps though.

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  8. There's no such thing as free with Microsoft by oscrivellodds · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The real cost of a Microsoft OS is the hours you'll spend waiting for reboots due to "updates" and just trying to keep it running.

    My time is worth more than that.

  9. The Inferior Windows Hook by ikhider · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Windows has multiple versions of their OS, from low-end, to 'pro', to 'ultimate'. Windows deliberately makes lesser versions inferior in the hope users will pay for a better version. It is a pity they do not bother to make and offer the best version. One of the many reasons proprietary OS' must be done away with.

    --
    "SO we bide our time, waiting for a purer kick to bloom and the future is still bleak, uncertain and beautiful" -GSYBE
  10. Re:Just take the DRM out... by funwithBSD · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If the service is free, then you are the "product".

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
  11. Re:It's an old method ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I've never had a dealer offer me anything for free.