Thursday, May 14th 2015

Microsoft Reveals Windows 10 Variants

by
btarunr
 Discuss (105 Comments)
Microsoft revealed the six variants in which its next operating system, Windows 10, will ship in. The company decided to unify the Windows 10 brand across its PC, workstation, and handheld platforms. For PCs, workstations, and tablets running x86 processors, the lineup will include the Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Education, and Windows 10 Enterprise.

Windows 10 Home has everything a home and small-business user could ask for (including PC gamers and enthusiasts). It will include the Edge web-browser (so your post-install waltz to Chrome or Firefox websites is a few seconds faster), Microsoft Cortana voice-based assistant, richer Bing integration, Microsoft Hello face-recognition software, and support for biometric login methods. Gamers get DirectX 12 out of the box. Users of Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 8/8.1 get a free upgrade to this edition.
Windows 10 Pro adds features for power-users, such as advanced data protection, remote- and mobile-access, additional cloud features, and remote management for medium-sized businesses. Users of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Windows 8/8.1 Pro get a free upgrade to this edition.

Windows 10 Education is a brand new SKU designed for schools, colleges, and universities. It will come with features to meed the needs of educators (teachers, management, exam-controllers, computer labs, etc.,). This edition will be sold through specially priced volume licensing to entire counties, groups of institutions, and universities.

Windows 10 Enterprise will be designed for desktops and workstations in a very-large enterprise environment, in which individual machines are expendable, and user data is centralized and portable between machines. It will come with advanced networking, data-security, and remote management features.

In addition, Microsoft is readying two variants of its operating system for smartphones and tablets - Windows 10 Mobile, and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise. Windows 10 Mobile will be targeted at consumer smartphones, and will have a rich feature-set for communication, social-networking, and productivity; while Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise will be designed for devices given by companies to their employees, with access to privileged information and services.

Unfortunately, and breaking tradition, Microsoft didn't disclose box-art, marking Windows' transition from optical disc media, to one that's distributed by any which way possible, while Microsoft only sells licenses (keys). The company already gives away ISO disc images and USB flash drive install media creation tools for Windows 8.1 on its website; while selling licenses.

Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, will be offered as free-forever upgrades to users of equivalent variants of Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1, if they upgrade within the first year of Windows 10 launch. Those using pirated Windows 7 may find the upgrade "free," but Microsoft has a slew of anti-piracy measures in store, which kick in after the upgrade.

Microsoft could dramatically change the way it monetizes Windows, in the near future. Gone will be the static $100-ish licenses, and the company will sell Windows as a service, much like Office 365. You choose your desired variant, and pay for using it, monthly or annually. We imagine unpaid installations suffering a worse fate than merely not getting software updates - the OS could become unusable after a "grace period," until you pay up.

On the upside, the monthly or annual fees for each edition could end up quite cheap. Also, the version will no longer be relevant. Microsoft will keep adding big new features every so often (which you normally expect from new versions that require you to buy new licenses). Windows will sell a lot like Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Windows 10 will be released in July, in 111 languages, and in 190 countries.

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105 Comments on Microsoft Reveals Windows 10 Variants

#76
64K
JTF195Microsoft has publicly stated that

A) Windows 10 will be a free upgrade during the first year.
B) Windows 10 will be a one-time purchase after the first year.
C) Windows 10 will be kept up to date at no additional charge.
D) Windows 10 will be the last version of Windows, and will be updated indefinitely.

Windows-as-a-service means that they will no longer be releasing full versions as they have in the past.
There is no subscription

Source: blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/
Source 2: blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/05/13/introducing-windows-10-editions/
Source 3: twitter.com/GabeAul/status/597991090378113025

The F.U.D. stops here.
So you believe that MS will keep Win 10 up to date indefinitely for no additional profit? I don't think MS has become a charity. They will find a way to create a revenue stream.
Posted on Reply
#77
Xzibit
64KSo you believe that MS will keep Win 10 up to date indefinitely for no additional profit? I don't think MS has become a charity. They will find a way to create a revenue stream.
They will do what Apple does and charge for updates.

BSOD - Blue Screen Of Debt.

Please choose payment option to restore your last working session. $$$
Posted on Reply
#78
JTF195
64KSo you believe that MS will keep Win 10 up to date indefinitely for no additional profit? I don't think MS has become a charity. They will find a way to create a revenue stream.
They make money on every new pc that installs a new copy of Windows on it, they will make money on all new copies of Windows sold after the first year, and they have Office, lots of developer/enterprise software, Xbox, etc.

Windows doesn't need to be their cash cow anymore, they've recognized that they'll end up making more money by keeping it up to date and building their install base.

Satya Nadella's Microsoft is a totally different company. Just take a look at all the momentum they're building in Open Source. That was 100% unheard of under Gates and Ballmer. Windows with free rolling releases was unheard of too, but it IS happening.
Posted on Reply
#79
Caring1
Their whole ploy is marketing, get the product out to as many people as possible, then launch in your face advertising for the APP store to promote sales.
As an aside, they will not allow developers or others to sell through their APP store, so all profits remain their.
They are once again trying to create a closed market.
Posted on Reply
#80
micropage7
why suddenly i feel the previous windows is better at it
why dont they make it simple for people

and they like wanna push the market to follow their way, remember when win 8 MS said that its better with tiles and we see now MS bring the start menu back
could be this time MS would act the same, test the water and see it works or not
Posted on Reply
#81
64K
Caring1Their whole ploy is marketing, get the product out to as many people as possible, then launch in your face advertising for the APP store to promote sales.
As an aside, they will not allow developers or others to sell through their APP store, so all profits remain their.
They are once again trying to create a closed market.
I'm thinking they will either slap a sub on Win 10 or continue slowly down the path of making Win 10 a walled garden over a period of time. That's what Gabe Newell feared and started development of SteamOS.

For those that think that MS is in any way worried about their install base just ask yourself where else can you turn to anyway no matter what MS does. Most people don't use Apple at work except for the ipad as a mobile accessory. They've got around 90% of the PC OS market last time I checked. If you're a gamer then you need MS too.

This is the same company that wanted to make the Xbox One always online and force you to pay $100 more for Kinect whether you wanted it or not. The Xbox One was $100 more expensive at release than the superior PS4 console.
Posted on Reply
#82
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
64KI'm thinking they will either slap a sub on Win 10 or continue slowly down the path of making Win 10 a walled garden over a period of time. That's what Gabe Newell feared and started development of SteamOS.
I completely agree with both you and with Gabe's analysis of W8 when it was released. The design and capability are there. I do see the day coming when if you didn't buy a casual arcade game from the app store, or a Microsoft Studios Game, you will not be gaing on Windows. Entirely possible and plausible.
Posted on Reply
#83
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
64KI'm thinking they will either slap a sub on Win 10 or continue slowly down the path of making Win 10 a walled garden over a period of time. That's what Gabe Newell feared and started development of SteamOS.
Wasn't it already a walled garden from the gaming perspective (DirectX)?

It being totally locked down would be bad, but the idea of an app store is great, and for some reason people think app store = walled garden. What does even Linux have that MS doesn't? App stores (because that is exactly what the packet managers in Linux is, but much worse from a user perspective). Now the internet is awash with terrible programs (not to mention malware/adware) because people have no idea where to turn to get their precious SYSTEMBOOOOOSTEERSRSS. With a moderated app store much of this is not a problem anymore.
Posted on Reply
#84
Uplink10
Frickbut the idea of an app store is great, and for some reason people think app store = walled garden. What does even Linux have that MS doesn't?
Because of walled garden called Google Play Store people including me have very bad opinion, sure Linux also has package managers but you can also get all the applications from your browser and install them through terminal. You can't even download free apps from Google Play Store without signing in. If someone complains about piracy on Android it is their own fault for using only Google Play Store to distribute their content. I just do not use Google Play Store and that means if I can't download it from developers website I will pirate it because it is the only way.
FrickNow the internet is awash with terrible programs (not to mention malware/adware) because people have no idea where to turn to get their precious SYSTEMBOOOOOSTEERSRSS
This is no excuse for apps stores, you only further dumb the people down who can't go to Wikipedia or some trusted site to get the link to original developer's website or to safe website with applications like Softpedia.
And you do not need system boosters, you only have to use programs like CCleaner and know how to manage services and most importantly you have to use settings in programs to change program behaviour.
Posted on Reply
#85
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
Uplink10Because of walled garden called Google Play Store people including me have very bad opinion, sure Linux also has package managers but you can also get all the applications from your browser and install them through terminal. You can't even download free apps from Google Play Store without signing in. If someone complains about piracy on Android it is their own fault for using only Google Play Store to distribute their content. I just do not use Google Play Store and that means if I can't download it from developers website I will pirate it because it is the only way.
Don't use android then (and yes I know Android and Google services are two different things but at this point the former is pretty much useless without the latter). And they should complain about piracy, it's like pirating Netflix shows because you don't like Netflix.
This is no excuse for apps stores, you only further dumb the people down who can't go to Wikipedia or some trusted site to get the link to original developer's website or to safe website with applications like Softpedia.
And you do not need system boosters, you only have to use programs like CCleaner and know how to manage services and most importantly you have to use settings in programs to change program behaviour.
It is the best excuse for app stores, for the reason I gave. You are not like most people. Most people will install whatever the ads tell them to install, and they will install several of them just because. I know a bunch of people who just cannot get into their heads that they don't have to run several registry cleaners and defrag tools all the time, and even if I carefully explain how and why it is in fact harmful, they still revert to old behaviours seconds later. All of this will not go away, but a moderated app store might put a dent into the sea of trash that people are using, and in some cases even buying. Now they randomly google whatever it is they think they need and in many, many cases the advice offered on Yahoo answers or whatever is downright wasteful. Why do people get crapware on their systems? Because they install random programs without reading anything. Again, a moderated app store (maybe even powererd by ads so the devs don't have to include shit, I rather have people having ad powered apps than installing crap that highjacks their browsers) could be an answer. Either that, or crossing our fingers and hoping people will simply behave better and smarter, but we both know that isn't happening.


Now, obviously an app store shouldn't be the only way to do things, but IMO it should very well be the main way, from a user perspective. In a perfect world we wouldn't even have GUI's because we'd all be Unix-gurus, wars wouldn't exist, software and beer would flow freely and a google would be a person wearing goggles. In the real world, software makers put Conduit with their installers.
Posted on Reply
#86
lemonadesoda
Windows as a service? That will push me one more inch toward OSX.
Posted on Reply
#87
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
lemonadesodaWindows as a service? That will push me one more inch toward OSX.
Unfortunately, it will leave it down to a choice and they know it: Take our subscription and get direct X 12, or stay on whatever you're on and be stuck with old games at DirectX 11 forever.
Posted on Reply
#88
AsphyxiA
JTF195Microsoft has publicly stated that


A) Windows 10 will be a free upgrade during the first year.

B) Windows 10 will be a one-time purchase after the first year.

C) Windows 10 will be kept up to date at no additional charge.

D) Windows 10 will be the last version of Windows, and will be updated indefinitely.


Windows-as-a-service means that they will no longer be releasing full versions as they have in the past.

There is no subscription


Source: blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/

Source 2: blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/05/13/introducing-windows-10-editions/

Source 3: twitter.com/GabeAul/status/597991090378113025


The F.U.D. stops here.
Indeed! I’m getting sick and tired of all these tin foil hat wearing loonies thinking that the end is nigh because of Microsoft says Windows is a service. Get a grip people!
64KSo you believe that MS will keep Win 10 up to date indefinitely for no additional profit? I don't think MS has become a charity. They will find a way to create a revenue stream.
No, they’ll charge you anytime you install Windows on a new PC or device. What many of you are failing to realize here is that the industry is moving more and more to disposable mobile devices. These devices only have a life of two maybe three years before most consumers purchase their next upgrade. I actually like the idea of Microsoft doing away with versioning and just continually updating and refining the product that’s in place.
Posted on Reply
#89
R-T-B
AsphyxiANo, they’ll charge you anytime you install Windows on a new PC or device. What many of you are failing to realize here is that the industry is moving more and more to disposable mobile devices. These devices only have a life of two maybe three years before most consumers purchase their next upgrade. I actually like the idea of Microsoft doing away with versioning and just continually updating and refining the product that’s in place.
If they don't allow reinstalls on existing hardware, that's nearly as bad.

It's also bad when you attempt to define a "PC." Because is my PC the same PC it was 5 years ago? Same case, but pretty much same nothing else. And I sure as hell don't think I should have to pay for a software upgrade when all I do is upgrade my hardware.
Posted on Reply
#90
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
R-T-BIf they don't allow reinstalls on existing hardware, that's nearly as bad.

It's also bad when you attempt to define a "PC." Because is my PC the same PC it was 5 years ago? Same case, but pretty much same nothing else. And I sure as hell don't think I should have to pay for a software upgrade when all I do is upgrade my hardware.
It would be interesting to gain some insight in how they define it these days (or maybe they don't as there were no retail version of Windows 8.1 as such). In the past it was tied to the hardware ID, and changing different components changed it differently, and when it changed enough it meant it was counted as a new PC, and as components moved onto the motherboard it usually practially meant new motherboard=new PC (for some reason network cards counted a lot for the HID). At least that's how I remember it from the time at MS tech support.
Posted on Reply
#91
R-T-B
I guess I'm old school... But if it's the same machine and the license isn't installed somewhere else, I don't see any justification for it somehow vaporizing and requiring a repurchase.
Posted on Reply
#93
ManofGod
64KMS is pulling out all of the stops to get us all on Win 10. They will be installing Candy Crush with Win 10. :p

Waiting to hear what MS thinks is a fair price for the sub but if it's no more than $25 a year then I'm ok with it if the OS costs nothing to buy. I spend that buying every other version of MS anyway. They are saying that they will continue making additions to the OS so there's some value in that. I think the people that are going to feel screwed over are the ones that will have to buy the OS and pay the sub too. Most PCs come from the manufacturer with the OS already accounted for in the price of the PC so the majority would have no choice but to pay for it and the sub when buying a new computer if MS does charge for the OS after the first year.
There is no subscription to Windows, period!
XzibitThey will do what Apple does and charge for updates.

BSOD - Blue Screen Of Debt.

Please choose payment option to restore your last working session. $$$
Either you are being sarcastic or have never worked on a MAC before, I am just not sure which. Apple does not charge for updates on their MAC's. However, they do tend to dump support for the OS's faster than Microsoft does.
Posted on Reply
#96
xfia
it doesnt say anything about a initial fee.. what if you buy a year and you get windows or if you buy a month your prob on a budget so maybe 20 bucks or something. im sure prebuilts would come with like a year.
i think it could end up being good
Posted on Reply
#97
Prima.Vera
rtwjunkieWell that makes it very clear. At least MS actually answered in plain language so there can be no misunderstanding.
Not really.
How about this:
"Once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device..."
If is my PC, what device are we talking about?? I upgrade my PC from time, so basically stuff always change inside it. Again, the same question I've asked before and still no clear answer.
Posted on Reply
#98
bubbleawsome
I'm a bit suspicious that 10 will be the last windows, and that they would update it forever.

However, as long as I can upgrade my current 8.2 machine to 10 and not worry about subscriptions I'll be happy. I'll walk the other bridges as we come to them.
Posted on Reply
#99
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
It won't be. WDDM 3.0 comes out and they'll have to do a major update to Windows that will potentially break compatibility. Incrementing the version number is traditionally how they solved that. If it is true, it probably just means they are abandoning the name "Windows" just as they abandoned "Internet Explorer." You know, rebranding...
Posted on Reply
#100
Uplink10
Prima.VeraNot really.
How about this:
"Once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device..."
If is my PC, what device are we talking about?? I upgrade my PC from time, so basically stuff always change inside it. Again, the same question I've asked before and still no clear answer.
If you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8 then the license will be tied to the motherboard in that PC, if it dies and you change the motherboard the license will not work.
If you buy a retail version for 200$ then you can change motherboards and the license will work.
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