Windows 10 is "the last version of Windows," says Microsoft dev

[HEXUS]

Because it is to become a service with a constant stream of improvements and updates.

Read more.

[shaithis]

I am wondering how this will work in a corporate environment? Sounds like something that will not work, especially when talking about server editions.....

[Biscuit]

There is only one possible way they can make money off this... subscriptionnnnnnnn

[aidanjt]

There is only one possible way they can make money off this... subscriptionnnnnnnn

Or MUI ads? I hope so, anyway, no way am I paying a Windows subscription.

[Luke7]

I imagine they will do something similar to chromeos. For example by Samsung chromebook will not receive updates after a certain year (I think 2016/17) which means if I want the latest version of chromeos, I'll need to buy a new device..

[LSG501]

um.... how is this going to be funded, how will this work in a business environment where testing etc is needed.

I won't be paying for a subscription to an OS that's for sure and honestly how would that actually work when buying say a new laptop... Hi welcome to your store of choice, oh you'd like this laptop that's £299 but you'll need to pay £10+ a month to use it... oh that will really help oems and ms lol. It works with mobile phones because you're spreading the cost of the phone, it's not going to work on a pc.

I don't mind the idea of the basics of the OS being free and then you pay for extra 'features', say like media features or server features etc but there is no way I will ever pay for just the OS, I'll go over to linux before that happens.

[crossy]

I am wondering how this will work in a corporate environment? Sounds like something that will not work, especially when talking about server editions.....

I strongly suspect that corporates won't see much in the way of change. Being snippy, if they annoy corporates then that's their business toasted.

There is only one possible way they can make money off this... subscriptionnnnnnnn

Pay to use? No thanks, watch the flood of folks moving across to other OS's - MacOSX or Linux. Annual subscription I'd be more amenable to, depending on how it's implemented. So if a failure to renew means no updates, but I can continue to use then I'd be okay with that. On the other hand if a lack of subscription means limitations on use or continued "you need to activate a new subscription" then they can stuff that.

Or MUI ads? I hope so, anyway, no way am I paying a Windows subscription.

MUI ads would last only until someone figures out a blocker app for them, then a whole lot of people would opt-out. Me being one.

If Windows is "continually improving" then how the heck are you supposed to deal with reprovisioning? That is, supposing my machine breaks and I've to reinstall the OS, I'm going to be less than happy if I then have to download and install umpteen months worth of updates - especially since that'd invariably mean multiple reboots too. They (MS) go down this continual improvement route then I'd want to see some way for a machine to generate a slipstreamed install DVD, (or flash drive).

[cheesemp]

If Windows is "continually improving" then how the heck are you supposed to deal with reprovisioning? That is, supposing my machine breaks and I've to reinstall the OS, I'm going to be less than happy if I then have to download and install umpteen months worth of updates - especially since that'd invariably mean multiple reboots too. They (MS) go down this continual improvement route then I'd want to see some way for a machine to generate a slipstreamed install DVD, (or flash drive).

I imagine MS will provide regular updated media to download. Only option that makes sense. As for corporates - they already rent Windows/Office so its no change for them. For individuals I imagine you'll have free/cheap Windows Starter edition with Bing and have Pro etc available as an addon (Similar thing for media?).

[Phage]

um.... how is this going to be funded, how will this work in a business environment where testing etc is needed.

I won't be paying for a subscription to an OS that's for sure and honestly how would that actually work when buying say a new laptop... Hi welcome to your store of choice, oh you'd like this laptop that's £299 but you'll need to pay £10+ a month to use it... oh that will really help oems and ms lol. It works with mobile phones because you're spreading the cost of the phone, it's not going to work on a pc.

I don't mind the idea of the basics of the OS being free and then you pay for extra 'features', say like media features or server features etc but there is no way I will ever pay for just the OS, I'll go over to linux before that happens.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02...s_is_too_many/

[shaithis]

The problem with this and corporates, is not a subscription model (IF that's where it goes), it's going to be patches that change fundamental underlying functionality.

At the moment, server upgrade can be a fickle beast, with patches essentially "upgrading" the OS, it's going to be a nightmare.

[yeeeeman]

Windows is such a big and complicated piece of software, that this weekly, monthly schedule of adding features is not feasible or much more prone to error than the last scheme. Learn from Apple, Microsoft, they did not unified all the platforms like you wanted to do, they did not introduced a stupid schedule. Really, what is wrong with Microsoft in the last few years? If ain't broken why fix it?

[ik9000]

Really, what is wrong with Microsoft in the last few years? If ain't broken why fix it?

Cos they cocked it up with windows 8 and office 2013 and lost revenue due to that and declining PC sales. Instead of realising lots of us didn't get office2013 due its restrictive and limiting licences compared to 2010, and learning from it, they are going for a money-grabbing subscription gravy train and think that everyone will just suck it up. I left photoshop at CS6, Autocad at 2011 and I will do the same with windows if it comes to subscription models.

[Corky34]

I am wondering how this will work in a corporate environment? Sounds like something that will not work, especially when talking about server editions.....

I can't find the link ATM but i remember reading that when W10 is released Microsoft is going to retain the fast and slow release rings, the fast ring is going to be for consumers and the slow for the corporate market.

Basically the fast ring (consumers) are going to get the newest features first so that any bugs or problems can be identified and hopefully fixed before rolling the update out to the slow ring (corporate market) with an option for them to delay the update while further testing is done.

EDIT: Found the link

[crossy]

I can't find the link ATM but i remember reading that when W10 is released Microsoft is going to retain the fast and slow release rings, the fast ring is going to be for consumers and the slow for the corporate market.

Basically the fast ring (consumers) are going to get the newest features first so that any bugs or problems can be identified and hopefully fixed before rolling the update out to the slow ring (corporate market) with an option for them to delay the update while further testing is done.

So that last bit basically means that fee-paying consumers are being used as beta testers for the corporates... oh wonderful!

Actually the slow/fast rings are given in the article itself:

PC World reports that there will be both fast and slow-ring security patch options for users – just like how Windows 10 insiders currently choose to get updated. Whether the fast-slow preferences extend to features is not known at this time. Meanwhile business users will be allowed to update at their own pace thanks to Windows Update for Business, free for Windows Pro and Windows Enterprise devices. Various 'distribution rings' can be set up to specify when/what/if updates should and shouldn't occur.

[GuidoLS]

This is not all that different to how Red Hat does business. There's the Fedora distro, which is the version for the masses, and there's Red Hat, the professional, paid version. And that's probably the biggest knock against Red Hat - they've taken a product that was initially free, and made a successful company out of it that actually rivals the other major server software companies. It's a rather desperate knock, but there you go.

And let's be real, people. Patch Tuesday says we've been beta testing for a product we've paid for for over a decade now.

The biggest problem with MS is they have PR people that describe things like a politician does - they have a way of making anything good sound like you have to take cod liver oil for dessert every night, and everything not super good sound like the end of the world. For the average consumer, there will be little if any change. Upgrade now for free, or after a year, pay for it. Build a new machine? Either buy a new license, or remove it from the old machine. Buy a box store machine? Same as it ever was. But to believe this is the 'last' version of Windows is naive at best, and willfully stupid at worst. It may be the last name change, but that's a far different thing. And there's no company in the world that gives free tech support forever for any product.

Oh, and to drive a final nail in things, Media Center, as last presented in Windows 7, is officially dead. There will be no revival, resurrection or voodoo zombie ritual. There will be, however, native DVD playback. You will still have to buy a product that does blue-ray play back. For reasons stated in a different post, this does NOT make me a happy camper. But much like the 'defunct' games explorer (hint - learn shell commands and copy/paste shortcuts), I will either find a functional kludge, or succumb to the need of using Happague software (which you have to buy new versions of each time an OS upgrades... intentionally...)

[Defiant]

Not a hope in hell I'm paying them a subscription for this OS. Microsoft can F off, I think piracy of the OS will start seeing a spike again with this kind of crap.

Steam and co must be laughing as well at this statement.