Microsoft Announces Free Upgrade to Windows 10 for Consumers Running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1

On January 23, 2015

If you weren’t already impressed by all the free stuff Microsoft gives away, you will now. Microsoft will offer free Windows 10 upgrade to consumers (not the businesses) at no charge. The free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers who are currently running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1, as long as they upgrade in the first year after Windows 10 is launched.

According to Microsoft:

“This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no cost. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet.
And just like any Internet service, the idea of asking “What version are you on?” will cease to make sense – which is great news for our Windows developers. With universal Windows apps that work across the entire device family, developers can build one app that targets the broadest range of devices – including the PC, tablet, phone, Xbox, the Internet of Things, and more.”

You can read more about this offer on Microsoft’s Web site: The next generation of Windows: Windows 10.

I think the idea is pretty cool but a bit scary at the same time. This has never been done before. Obviously, Microsoft is confident enough to gamble with Windows 10. Will it be a hero or a zero? Only time will tell. I have been using Windows 10 Preview since the day it became available last year and I haven’t really found any major issues with the product. I use Windows 8.1 and love it. It has been one of the most reliable and secure Windows operating system ever.

Notice that Microsoft never mentioned Windows 8 in the announcement, which turned out to be more like Windows Vista, we don’t like to talk about it. Windows 8 was replaced by Windows 8.1 so as far as Microsoft is concerned there was no such thing as a Windows 8 operating system. Windows 8.1 is the “fixed” version of Windows 8. No one should really be running Windows 8. Microsoft did a fantastic job of fixing the issues that consumers had with Windows 8 and I don’t really hear anything negative about Windows 8.1.

So why is Microsoft giving away Windows 10 for an entire year? Obviously, to encourage Windows users to get on board with the new version. Imagine the entire Windows base around the world standardizing on one operating system. Okay! I realize there will be people who, for one reason or another, won’t upgrade to Windows 10 but those people will lose on all the benefits that Windows 10 has to offer.

Microsoft is thinking of Windows as a service, which means it could be the largest Internet services in the world. I like the idea of universal Windows apps that work across all the Windows devices: Windows PC, tablet, phone, Xbox and more. I have no doubt Microsoft will make this work. They always do. Let’s say for now I am cautiously optimistic and looking forward to see this gigantic project succeed.

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