Microsoft: Windows 10 Will Remain Free For People With Accessibility Needs (betanews.com)

Reader Mark Wilson writes: The free ride is coming to an end. Windows 10 was always going to be free for the first year after release, and this year is up on 29 July. There are, of course, still ways to get your hands on Windows 10 for free beyond this date. One way is to buy a new PC with Windows 10 installed, although not many people would regard this as a free upgrade. But Microsoft has also confirmed that people with accessibility needs will still be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free after the deadline. Writing on its Accessibility Blog, Microsoft points out that the 29 July cut-off point does not apply to people with accessibility needs.From Microsoft's blog post: As you may have heard, the free Windows 10 upgrade offer for customers running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is set to end on July 29, but we want to clarify that that deadline will not apply to customers who use assistive technologies. We are continuing to deliver on our previously-shared vision for accessibility for Windows 10 and we are committed to ensuring that users of assistive technologies have the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10 for free as we do so.

Comments

Win 10 Upgrade is NOT free.

[Anonymous Coward]

The Windows 10 upgrade is NOT free. This is just basic economics. It requires that you trade in a license of win 7, 8, 8.1, which means that the upgrade costs you the current market value of the OS you are trading. If a Win 7 Pro license currently sells for $50, then upgrading to Win10 costs you $50, even though no money leaves your bank account. If you went into a car dealership and traded in your old car for a newer car of equal value, the dealer did NOT give you a free car. You paid for it with your old one. Understand?

Stop buying into marketing lies. Waiving the additional fee for the upgrade may be a benefit, but it does not make it free.

Re:Interested to know the mechanism

[ezelkow1]

I dont think they are really leaving a loophole, its because they dont want to have to backport features. There are a huge amount of accessibility requirements that came down from the FCC for all manner of electronics and software that has to be implemented by the end of this year (thats why there have been multiple accessibility articles as of late, companies using this for free good press as they push out their solutions). So Im guessing MS does not want to have to backport features to win7/8/etc to keep those who need them happy and would rather they just upgrade for free

Re:Translation:

[LVSlushdat]

Yup... I've taken to calling Windows 10 a CTD, think STD for computers... I retired in 2010 from supporting/using MS products starting in 1991, and decided I was done with using MS products on my home systems. After seeing what a privacy nightmare 10 is, I couldn't be happier with my decision.. Since I'm retired, I have become the defacto "tech support" for my neighborhood, and recommend those who ask, and are running Windows 7 or 8/8.1 to STAY where they are, and I provide that wonderful little "GWX Toolbox" to jam up the forced "upgrade" to Windows 10 for those who take my advice (to stay on 7/8/8.1)... I've had quite a bit of success in moving quite a few folks over to Ubuntu, including several people who bought new systems and found it had 10 on it.. Every one I've upgraded to Linux has been happy with the improved response of their system and the lack of need for an AV..