Nice move. If windows 10 sucked... The apple and the linux camps would have got more users.

So by making it a free upgrade people wont bother looking for another OS.

rtwjunkieI may wait till day 364 to get W10. Sure, I would love Direct X 12, but let's be honest, how many years before we have even a handful of DirectX 12 games?

Question is, how many games are using even today the full implementations of D3D 11?? :D

Prima.VeraQuestion is, how many games are using even today the full implementations of D3D 11?? :D

We still get new ones that are direct X 9. One new game example that really looks good is Styx.

cyneaterNice move. If windows 10 sucked... The apple and the linux camps would have got more users.

So by making it a free upgrade people wont bother looking for another OS.

They won't have to deal with compatibility issues and buying or finding new software. This could drive a lot of people to continue with Windows software. (since free is a great price)
Also, all of the shtuff that runs on Win-7/Win-8 will run on Win-10.

Before talking about DX12 benefits to PC gamers? Please make all 4 console run DX12 first.

quake4tollBefore talking about DX12 benefits to PC gamers? Please make all 4 console run DX12 first.

:roll::roll::roll::roll:





:nutkick:

So, just to clarify a few points;

If I get the upgrade key within a year of release, am I required to activate it within that year?

Also, will the key be tied to the hardware it is originally activated on, like OEM keys, or is it transferable like retail keys? What about Technet/MSDN keys?



Off topic - I was reading elsewhere (rumor) the newest BETA (9926) has removed some functionality of the Start Menu that was promised to be reinstated. I am one of those who will not consider a newer version of Windows if a fully functional, Windows 7 style, Start Menu is not offered. {Haters start rant NOW}

ArctucasOff topic - I was reading elsewhere (rumor) the newest BETA (9926) has removed some functionality of the Start Menu that was promised to be reinstated. I am one of those who will not consider a newer version of Windows if a fully functional, Windows 7 style, Start Menu is not offered. {Haters start rant NOW}

You're not the only one,.................

RealNeilYou're not the only one,.................

Yeah, I'm on that boat too...

There is nothing interesting in W10. Unless you like being permanently annoyed and forced to use 3rd party software to mitigate idiocies and inadequacies of OS. And since XP it getting worse with every new MS OS released.

And slogan: best OS for gamers. Give me a break. It has the same problems as W8. Period. Older games are pain in particular. Games which were quirky under XP are near impossibility under 8 with SP1 (8.1) and SP2RC (W10). Only a fool can think about W10 as a new system. It's W8 just glosses and polished front-end and stinky back-end.

Free upgrade? Having a laugh, MS would have to pay me big time to even consider "free upgrade".

Staying with 7, even if I hate many aspects of it...

Feel free to use Linux, the god of all operating systems, the best for everyone blabla...

ypsylonThere is nothing interesting in W10. Unless you like being permanently annoyed and forced to use 3rd party software to mitigate idiocies and inadequacies of OS. And since XP it getting worse with every new MS OS released.

And slogan: best OS for gamers. Give me a break. It has the same problems as W8. Period. Older games are pain in particular. Games which were quirky under XP are near impossibility under 8 with SP1 (8.1) and SP2RC (W10). Only a fool can think about W10 as a new system. It's W8 just glosses and polished front-end and stinky back-end.

Free upgrade? Having a laugh, MS would have to pay me big time to even consider "free upgrade".

Staying with 7, even if I hate many aspects of it...

My experience with 8.1 and games has been just the opposite. I have found 8 and 8.1 to be the most-game friendly OS yet. It plays older games better and more trouble-free than XP ever did. I think of the year I missed out on with older games, because I spent a year hating on W8, until finally switching a year ago to 8.1.

Same here. Only games I had problems with (Jade Empire, Scarface, Beyond Good and Evil) had problems on W7 also and, in the case of BG&E and JE, it wasn't a OS problem per se, just that the installer wouldn't run on W7 due to developer's laziness (the installer looks for Windows versions 4 and 5 ONLY not 4 and up for example) but installing the game on XP and then copying the game folder solved it.

Not saying that W7 is bad, if you're happy with W7 you aren't missing much if you don't upgrade but W8/8.1 isn't the turd people say it is.

Crap DaddyIs Bill Gates confusing his charity work with Microsoft, or is this Nadella's way to turn things around in the company by giving away the most precious asset?
Either way there has to be a catch, nothing's free in the free world. But it sounds good.

I believe this is their way of unique marketing. Most users are skeptical and may not take advantage of the free upgrade and like my fiancé, will want to "wait n see." As for myself, I like to experiment and will take advantage of the generosity.

However, being the devils advocate, W10 may be a flop and they won't even be able to give it away.

Free is good. :) Just wish virtualbox supported 3d gaming.

Latest news shows release this summer. There's also noise that it may be free even for pirated versions, altho "Sources" differ on whether that means world wide, or just China.

If they are offering "amnesty" for illegal copies of Windows, they must really want to get the user base completely off the old versions and be completely current!

They intend to capitalize on a big, new, and unsuspecting user base.

Well what is you don't like it and want to downgrade ?, this and privacy concerns are the 2 things that make me think twice.

Windows 8.1 Pro x64 is hands down the best version MS has ever released. The Win 10 build that I tried (9926) was similar to 8.1, but felt like a downgrade because of crappy compatibility and because of the ugly shit they did to the interface. When I use a Win 7 machine it also feels like a major downgrade, for the same reasons; it just fells dated, like using xP. The trick in enjoying 8.1 is to install Classic Shell (or similar); it takes 2 minutes for free download, install, and configure your Start Menu etc. Then set your default programs to your favorite 3rd party applications, and never see the "Metro" screen ever again. The underlying OS is great, once you look past the "Metro" debacle. Very good compatibility and driver database (it usually finds all necessary drivers during a fresh install, on old or new systems - NO yellow flags in Device Manager!). All my games run perfectly. It takes a while to find all the settings and utilities when you first use 8.1, but soon it all becomes natural and easy. Just avoid "apps" and everything else that takes you to the so-called Modern interface, and it fells like a much better (and faster) Win 7 system. Just like any OS, you set it up exactly the way you like it, then take a snapshot (image), and you're covered from then on ( you'll never have to tweak your setup again).

HoodThen set your default programs to your favorite 3rd party applications, and never see the "Metro" screen ever again. The underlying OS is great, once you look past the "Metro" debacle. Very good compatibility and driver database (it usually finds all necessary drivers during a fresh install, on old or new systems - NO yellow flags in Device Manager!). All my games run perfectly. It takes a while to find all the settings and utilities when you first use 8.1, but soon it all becomes natural and easy. Just avoid "apps" and everything else that takes you to the so-called Modern interface, and it fells like a much better (and faster) Win 7 system.

We'll see what the release of Win 10 does, but I hope they combine the best of both worlds.

Apps, which for a lot of users makes a whole lot of sense these days. They have apps everywhere else, and I come across more and more people who get confused when you talk about programs and downloads.

Make it so you can pin apps/widgets to the desktop. Or split the screen, so like 1/3 of the screen or something can have apps running while the other part play games (or something).

FrickWe'll see what the release of Win 10 does, but I hope they combine the best of both worlds.

Apps, which for a lot of users makes a whole lot of sense these days. They have apps everywhere else, and I come across more and more people who get confused when you talk about programs and downloads.

Make it so you can pin apps/widgets to the desktop. Or split the screen, so like 1/3 of the screen or something can have apps running while the other part play games (or something).

Well, I don't know about the other start menu programs, but with Start8/ModernMix used together you can pin Modern apps to the start menu and the desktop as shortcuts if you choose...if there is really an app you want, and even control how big that app runs on the screen. So you can do that now.

If W10 doesn't offer this ability, I bet the folks at Stardock will do something similar again with say Start10, or whatever they call it.

Start8/Modernmix are all I use. I thank thee for abandoning OS/2 and bringing us windows wonders, Stardock!

nolafotoknutI believe this is their way of unique marketing. Most users are skeptical and may not take advantage of the free upgrade and like my fiancé, will want to "wait n see." As for myself, I like to experiment and will take advantage of the generosity.

I'm suspicious of anything that sounds too good to be true.
I'm waiting to read about the bait and switch tactics after people "upgrade", only to find out later Microsoft tells them, oops we forgot to mention it is a subscription service now, you have to pay us if you want to continue using it.