Windows 10

[Lokisama]

Yeah i just updated it I only got those extra updates left and I checked the list and none of them mentions anything with windows 10

[Zplinter]

There seems to be some confusion here. This what Microsoft Solution Providers are being told today:
1. If you have a registered version of windows 7, 8, 8.1 then you will qualify for a free upgrade/migration to the appropriate windows 10 version for the first year of release. After this period a user will have to buy a retail copy to upgrade. (note: Vista was not listed and we have not received and answer about if it is under the umbrella, XP clearly is NOT.)
2. If you have an unregistered version and you upgrade then you will have a watermark on the desktop until your copy of windows becomes a registered version.
3. Support for the life of the computer: If you have bought your PC from a company like Dell or HP then you have an OEM version of Windows that is tied directly to that computer. This means that if you build a new computer you can NOT take the copy of Windows from the old pre-built computer and use it on your new computer. If you have a self built computer with a registered copy of Windows then you can moved that license to the new computer (you might have to call MS in this case).
4. There will not be any sort of charge for updates to the OS, nor will there be advertising.

Currently I can tell you that on Insider Preview build 10130 is running Final Fantasy on:
Desktop: core i7, 8gb ram and a NVidia 750 video
laptop: HP probook 4730s
Lenovo Yoga 2 Thinkpad

In all three cases the game client has been stable with no crashes save when MS decided to push new build (go figure)

[Gramul]

No point in holding off, it works great, been running it for nearly a nine months. Every little update has added something new and it's shaping up to be great.
when it's releases it will be ready for prime time. I can't wait for it to roll out so I can start deploying it at work to shut up the win 8 complaints.

Like I said. I just don't trust them right now. I'm going to be very cautious moving forward.

I appreciate that it looks like they're trying to listen to their customers. But after 8, the phone (Which I am still stuck with), and the initial XBONE plans, I'm extremely wary of what they're doing.

[Waliel]

I haven't gotten the prompt to reserve my windows 10 yet I'm running windows 7 with SP1 and my windows updates are on, I wonder if the European countries get it later (Finland here)

Being from Finland myself, everyone I know of and I got the prompt this morning. It will just quitely sit next to your clock.

[Haibel]

Most money from the windows division comes from people buying new PCs (OEMs) and businesses who run the enterprise version which doesn't get the free upgrade. Very little comes from upgrade editions.

In enterprise deployments like I run, we pay for usage licenses. the version doesn't matter. While it's not free, we already paid for it each year. we can freely change to whatever version we want at anytime.

[worldofneil]

Vista was not listed and we have not received and answer about if it is under the umbrella

It's not. Only Windows 7 and 8.1 customers are eligble (customers with 8 need to upgrade to the free 8.1 first)

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq

If you have a self built computer with a registered copy of Windows then you can moved that license to the new computer

Not necessarily and I personally want to lean more towards probably not. It depends what version of Windows they bought when they built their computer. I obviously can't speak for everyone else, but I personally believe most people building their computers will have actually bought the OEM version of Windows (as they're cheaper than retail!) but it's then tied to that specific hardware, not moveable to something else.

If someone built their computer and bought/used a retail version of Windows on it then yes I agree it can be moved, but if they bought and used the OEM version then it doesn't matter if they built it themselves or not, the licence is tied to that machine.

[silverhope]

idk about you guys but have you seen the movie Kingsman... never take free things like this.. it feels like a set up lol

[Zplinter]

It's not. Only Windows 7 and 8.1 customers are eligble (customers with 8 need to upgrade to the free 8.1 first)

I was typing verbatim from a document sent to the company. Technically since the upgrade path of 8 to 8.1 to 10 is all free the statement the gave us is accurate.
We had a small business that we support ask about Vista (trust me I would love to get them off of Vista) to Windows 10. That is why included that bit.

Not necessarily and I personally want to lean more towards probably not. It depends what version of Windows they bought when they built If someone built their computer and bought/used a retail version of Windows on it then yes I agree it can be moved, but if they bought and used the OEM version then it doesn't matter if they built it themselves or not, the licence is tied to that machine.

You are very correct IF you are using an OEM copy that is not moveable period. I was mostly speaking to the members of our community that have bought pre-built computers, that my not be aware that the OS is tied to the computer. Especially in the vague "life of the computer" term used by MS. I should have been clearer on that for the more technically inclined.

Thank you for catching that.

[Delily]

idk about you guys but have you seen the movie Kingsman... never take free things like this.. it feels like a set up lol

The PC market is in decline, while tablets and phones are on the rise. Making money from OS sales is not a viable long term strategy.

[Nadirah]

Life of the device is from the manufacturer's perspective, not yours. If your PC broke, and you fixed it, clearly you could use the original license you had. If you had to buy a new PC, you'd probably get Windows 10 preloaded and the license fee would be included in the cost. This is more like iOS and iPhone versions. Since iOS8 only works on the 4S and higher, anything 4 and below is end of life.

Or you build a new machine and reuse the existing license.