Windows 10 Will Be Free To Users Who Test It

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft has been making a big push to change its business model for Windows — likely due to the low/no cost updates you can get for competing operating systems. The company surprised everyone when it said legit copies of Windows 7 and 8 would be supplied with free upgrades, but now they're extending that even further: anyone who tests the Windows 10 Technical Preview will get a free upgrade to the full version of Windows 10 when it comes out. In a blog post, Microsoft's Gabe Aul said, "As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the [Microsoft account] you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated. Once you have successfully installed this build and activated, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh."

Comments

Re:Ha-ha. No.

[ArcadeMan]

A small price to pay to get a free OS for my gaming PC that won't be used for anything else.

Re: So that means it's free to everyone

[ArmoredDragon]

I don't think Microsoft is giving 10 away to appease users of 8. I think they want to avoid 7 turning into another XP where a crapload of users stick with it so it is hard for them to ditch it, and they end up having to support it for 14 years. That will ROYALLY screw up their "Windows 10 is the final Windows" plan, which I *think* means they plan to charge an annual fee for it (the other shoe for Windows' future licensing model has yet to drop, and I think they expect that most people will hate it, but that they'll hate it only after it's already too late.)

However it would be silly to give it to users of Windows 7 but not users of Windows 8, so they're just giving it to both.

Re:So that means it's free to everyone

[wvmarle]

Maybe it's about time for you guys to consider alternatives to Windows? It sounds like it's not exactly the right tool for the job.