• Rumor: not only could Windows 9/Threshold be free for 7 and 8 users, it could also potentially be fr
    51 replies, posted
[url]http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-9-Could-Be-Free-for-Windows-XP-Vista-and-7-Users-453222.shtml[/url] [url]http://www.zdnet.com/a-minor-microsoft-windows-8-1-update-2-still-on-tap-for-august-12-7000032259/#ftag=RSS0966a21[/url] [quote=ZDNet]As my sources have been saying for some time, Microsoft is planning to deliver a second update for Windows 8.1 on August 12, this month's Patch Tuesday. And, again, as those same sources have said, Microsoft won't be making a big deal out of this next update. ... Microsoft officials are still not talking publicly about Threshold/Windows 9. [B]There are rumors Microsoft is planning to offer Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users some kind of deal — possibly even a free upgrade to Windows 9 — in order to get them to move to the latest Windows version once it's out next year.[/B][/quote] Foley is pretty much as reliable as you can get in terms of Windows stuff, next to Paul Thurrott. If this doesn't make XP/Vista users bite, I don't know what will.
Well I hope this comes to fruition, since I've put off upgrading for far too long and this would make things all the more easy and affordable for the lazy penny-pincher I am.
I Don't see that working maybe a discount.
I have a feeling that they'll either: 1) Make it free for existing users 2) Make it free 3) Make a basic version free while the Professional costs cash If Windows ends up being released for free, I think that'll be a pretty massive shakeup of the market, especially budget hardware. Not to mention the unified OS promise, that should be pretty neat. EDIT: Keep in mind that the talk of windows being released for free isn't new, I recall it being a possibility for future releases before Vista came out.
Release windows for free for individuals but charge companies. This way everyone will be using 9 and companies will be pushed more for a switch. Not such a bad idea I think. Unless of course 9 has even more compatibility issues. But I think MS should have learned their lesson by now.
what about the windows 98 users
free? take $50 off of that and I might consider it
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;45574174]free? take $50 off of that and I might consider it[/QUOTE] That's so hip and cool I'm freezing
[QUOTE=elevate;45574163]what about the windows 98 users[/QUOTE] Pentium/MIPS wouldn't even want to switch
Hmm. Yeah, might actually switch if it's half-decent and free
[QUOTE=luverofJ!93;45574277]Hmm. Yeah, might actually switch if it's half-decent and free[/QUOTE] If there indeed will be a free version, I wonder if/what will be the catch.
[QUOTE=Murkrow;45574086]I have a feeling that they'll either: 1) Make it free for existing users 2) Make it free 3) Make a basic version free while the Professional costs cash If Windows ends up being released for free, I think that'll be a pretty massive shakeup of the market, especially budget hardware. Not to mention the unified OS promise, that should be pretty neat. [/QUOTE] I'm guessing MS took a gander over at what Apple did with OSX, saw how well it worked for them and thought 'hey, we can do that too'. No objections here, mind you.
[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;45574321]I'm guessing MS took a gander over at what Apple did with OSX, saw how well it worked for them and thought 'hey, we can do that too'. No objections here, mind you.[/QUOTE] Apple does have the whole Mac computer thing which generates a whole load of money. MS doesn't really have that. I'm very excited to see what sort of shit MS thinks of.
They'll make their money back on the windows app store It's how apple's OSX went from $130 to free
This can be a very good thing if true. It means a lot more people being able to drop their old versions so Microsoft can phase out support sooner and focus on Win9. It also means Windows PC builds just got about a hundred bucks cheaper.
[QUOTE=meppers;45574344]They'll make their money back on the windows app store It's how apple's OSX went from $130 to free[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://cdn.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2012/08/Type%20in%20admin%20password%20to%20change%20preferences%20OS%20X%20Mountain%20Lion_0.jpeg[/IMG]
i still use XP so this pleases me
[QUOTE=meppers;45574344]They'll make their money back on the windows app store It's how apple's OSX went from $130 to free[/QUOTE] Does anyone even use windows app store? Or even less, actually buy stuff from there?
I thought the Windows cycle taught us better than to believe that the next version will be anything less than a godsend
[QUOTE=itisjuly;45574184]That's so hip and cool I'm freezing[/QUOTE] It's a joke Literally [I]all[/I] Windows have been free for me because of MSDN since like 8 years ago
Please, if for nothing else it will stop a lot people from using old versions of IE.
[QUOTE=DrKinkyKinkles;45574584]I thought the Windows cycle taught us better than to believe that the next version will be anything less than a godsend[/QUOTE] Blah blah blah, and the Sonic Cycle taught us to believe that any new Sonic will end up being crud-- [t]http://oi39.tinypic.com/xpttu8.jpg[/t] Oh wait. Turns out that quaint little superstitions made up by internet nerds (who usually consider themselves above such trifles when "normals" do it) aren't generally reliable. If Windows 9 ends up being good, it won't be because of some stupid cycle that only exists for all the idiots to save face after the previous "XP will forever remain the best Windows" superstition got utterly crushed when Win7 came out.
If Windows 9 became free, Microsoft would seriously regain a lot of the market share they've lost in the past few years.
A free upgrade for figuratively everyone in the world with a working computer? Yeah I'm sure Microsoft will definitely do that. :downs:
It would take it being free for me to upgrade.
Really I'm fine with using 7 for gaming for quite a while. The only things that could get my to switch is if they release another exclusive directx version or whatever free version of windows 9 they release allows the computer to make use of more RAM than the version of 7 that I've currently got (home premium or whatever). Now I'm reminded of how bullshit it is that they've got their lower tiers of OS set to literally limit the amount of memory they can index. Other than gaming, I do everything else on Linux now so eh.
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[quote] There are rumors Microsoft is planning to offer Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users some kind of deal — possibly even a free upgrade to Windows 9 — in order to get them to move to the latest Windows version once it's out next year.[/quote] This sounds pretty neat. I held off on upgrading to Windows 8 but it definitely looks like 9 will be worth it, at least so far.
[QUOTE=meppers;45574344]They'll make their money back on the windows app store It's how apple's OSX went from $130 to free[/QUOTE] Apple is also a hardware company and the only computer vendor not sinking right now. Microsoft doesn't have a hardware business with huge margins to support Windows going free like Apple can with OS X. The cut of profits from the Windows App Store is not going to offset the lost Windows sales.
[QUOTE=meppers;45574344]They'll make their money back on the windows app store It's how apple's OSX went from $130 to free[/QUOTE] Windows: Free Start menu: 180 dollars.
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