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Windows 10 Pro Is a Dead End For the Enterprise, Gartner Says (computerworld.com)

A prominent Gartner analyst argues that Windows 10 Pro is a dead end for enterprises, citing recent changes by Microsoft to the Windows 10 support schedule. "[We] predict that Microsoft will continue positioning Windows [10] Pro as a release that is not appropriate for enterprises by reducing [...] support and limiting access to enterprise management features," Stephen Kleynhans, a research vice president at Gartner and one of the research firm's resident Windows experts, said in a report he co-authored. Computerworld reports: Last year, the Redmond, Wash. developer announced a six-month support extension for Windows 10 1511, the November 2015 feature upgrade, "to help some early enterprise adopters that are still finishing their transition to Windows as a service." In February, Microsoft added versions 1609, 1703 and 1709 -- released in mid-2016, and in April and October of 2017, respectively -- to the extended support list, giving each 24 months of support, not the usual 18. There was a catch: Only Windows 10 Enterprise (and Windows 10 Education, a similar version for public and private school districts and universities) qualified for the extra six months of support. Users running Windows 10 Pro were still required to upgrade to a successor SKU (stock-keeping unit) within 18 months to continue receiving security patches and other bug fixes.

Another component of Microsoft's current Windows 10 support strategy, something the company has labeled "paid supplemental servicing," was also out of bounds for those running Windows 10 Pro. The extra support, which Microsoft will sell at an undisclosed price, is available only to Enterprise and Education customers. Paid supplemental servicing adds 12 months to the 18 months provided free of charge.

2 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. Pro vs Enterprise by jonnythan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows 10 Pro is a dead end for enterprise?

    Luckily there is a version of Windows called Windows 10 Enterprise!

    Crisis averted!

  2. Paid support for Windows 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's not true, Windows is still offering paid support for Windows 10. I just got off the phone with one of their friendly tech experts who's number I Binged. He took me to this black technical looking screen and showed me all the viruses I had. He fixed me up for free! All I had to do was input my credit card number in case I needed his services again! Count me as another super satisfied Windows 10 user!!!!