Windows 10 Consumer Roadmap Reveals Five New SKUs

[Chino]

As the launch date for Windows 10 Redstone 4 approaches, Microsoft has shared new licensing information with a few of their select partners. According to the information provided, the Redmond giant will be adding five new SKUs for partners to use with their products. The new SKUs include Entry ($25), Value ($45), Core ($65.45), Core+ ($86.66), and Advanced ($101). At present, not much is known about how Microsoft will differentiate one edition from another, other than tying them to specific hardware specifications. The SKUs will be available starting on April 2, 2018.

Entry: Intel Atom/Celeron/Pentium ≤ 4GB RAM & ≤ 32GB SSD AND ≤ 14.1" screen size (NB), ≤ 11.6" (2in1, Tablet), ≥ 17" AiO
Value: Intel Atom/Celeron/Pentium ≤ 4GB RAM & ≤64GB SSD & ≤ 14.1" screen size (EM ≤ 4GB RAM & ≤64GB SSD or ≤ 500GB HDD)
Core: Cannot be used on devices that meet the Core+ and Advanced SKU Hardware Specifications
Core+: High end CPU and >4 GB RAM (All Form Factors) ≥8 GB RAM & ≥1080p screen resolution (NB, 2in1, AiO) >8 GB RAM & ≥2TB HDD or SSD storage (Desktop)
Advanced: Intel Core i9 (any configuration) OR Core i7 ≥ 6 Cores (any RAM) OR AMD Threadripper(any configuration) OR Intel Core i7 >16GB (any Cores) or AMD FX/ Ryzen7 >16GB (any Cores) OR ≥ 4K screen resolution (any processor, includes 4K UHD-3840 resolution


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[xorbe]

16GB ram, check. 2560p resolution, check. 4TB storage, check. Yup, looks like I'll still be using the Linux edition.

 

[jagjitnatt]

Are they crazy? This is Windows Vista/8 all over again

Why should I be charged more for features I don't need? Just because I have a large screen doesn't mean I need advanced features? I can't believe they are going to do this...

 

[Ubersonic]

Am I reading this right? If you buy an OEM computer from Dell, HP, etc and then at a later date upgrade the CPU or add RAM then you will be required to pay Microsoft to upgrade the OEM Windows version?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Am I reading this right? If you buy an OEM computer from Dell, HP, etc and then at a later date upgrade the CPU or add RAM then you will be required to pay Microsoft to upgrade the OEM Windows version?

And people call me biased for criticizing Microsoft's purely idiotic actions. It's things like this that make people want to avoid Windows and other Microsoft products.

 

[eidairaman1]

And people call me biased for criticizing Microsoft's purely idiotic actions. It's things like this that make people want to avoid Windows and other Microsoft products.

And It's still a no from me for upgrading, they made the product stack even more confusing.

Should of just Kept, Home, Pro, Enterprise.

 

[BadFrog]

So what happens to my Windows 10 Pro edition? Does it change to one of these SKU's?

 

[lexluthermiester]

So what happens to my Windows 10 Pro edition? Does it change to one of these SKU's?

Your guess is as good as ours.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Remember how windows 10 was supposed to be the only OS for the next 10 years, with fewer product levels and simpler tiers? Yeah, me neither. This is just hopelessly confusing, and you know that microsoft is going to change it all again in two years, if windows 10 S is anything to go by.

This garbage is why I just pirate windows for gaming, and use linux for everything else. Screw MS. Different versions based on hardware is just plain stupid.

 

[phill]

I'm surprised that the spec's are so low but then they could make more money because most things would run on at least 8Gb of ram with Windows 10 I'd have guessed.. I wouldn't like to run it with 4Gb....

 

[Readlight]

It's too expensive for most human population.

 

[ironwolf]

This just screams IT nightmare.

 

[newtekie1]

So the Advanced version, which can be used on any hardware is seems, is $101 which is basically the exact same price as Windows 10 Home now(~$100 for a OEM License). They have just added cheaper versions for lower end hardware to make the over-all cost of the computer cheaper...I don't have a problem with this.

 

[windwhirl]

Am I reading this right? If you buy an OEM computer from Dell, HP, etc and then at a later date upgrade the CPU or add RAM then you will be required to pay Microsoft to upgrade the OEM Windows version?

I don't think that's the case here. Microsoft wouldn't dare kill part of the user base with such idiocy. I think what they are doing is selling Windows 10 licenses to their OEM partners (Dell, HP, etc.) with pricing according to the system specs. I suppose that after the user sets up the new system (Windows Activation and/or Microsoft Account login would probably be the way to validate that), the OS is free from these license restrictions and can upgrade the computer's parts as they desire, without paying anything else for the OS.

This licensing scheme is targeted at OEM builders, not end users. So we shouldn't see any changes in pricing from our point of view, at least when buying standalone Windows licenses. I hope.

 

[Easo]

I dont see reason to panic. This looks to be purely for OEM's.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

So the Advanced version, which can be used on any hardware is seems, is $101 which is basically the exact same price as Windows 10 Home now(~$100 for a OEM License). They have just added cheaper versions for lower end hardware to make the over-all cost of the computer cheaper...I don't have a problem with this.

Yeah, I think this is the crux of it. They're offering cheaper licenses to OEMs to compete against *nix flavors.

 

[lexluthermiester]

So the Advanced version, which can be used on any hardware is seems, is $101 which is basically the exact same price as Windows 10 Home now(~$100 for a OEM License). They have just added cheaper versions for lower end hardware to make the over-all cost of the computer cheaper...I don't have a problem with this.

After reading into this in more depth, I have to change my opinion and agree. $100ish for what amounts to the Pro version isn't bad pricing. The question is, will they ease up on all the spying/telemetry and other such nonsense or is it going to get worse?

 

[windwhirl]

After reading into this in more depth, I have to change my opinion and agree. $100ish for what amounts to the Pro version isn't bad pricing. The question is, will they ease up on all the spying/telemetry and other such nonsense or is it going to get worse?

I would be surprised if they didn't increase the amount of data collected on all editions.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I would be surprised if they didn't increase the amount of data collected on all editions.

Wouldn't that be a horror-show..

 

[CheapMeat]

I'm thinking this isn't really about us enthusiasts but more about how they'll charge HP, Dell and other OEMs that make pre-built PCs and sell at Best Buy and whereever for the license for Windows 10. I can see people are already grumpy on here. But think about it this way. If Windows 10 say has a set price of $100 bucks. Does that price make sense if the device they're (say HP) is selling is $200? So that low end laptop is trying to compete at a $200 price point but the Win10 license adds another $300. So if the specs are low end, then the OEM license is cheaper. If Alienware is selling some EXTREME G@M3R rig, at $2000 dollars, then it makes sense of the Win10 license to be the usual $100. If anything, this will probably make some prebuilds more affordable for budget folks who don't want to use some super limited Chromebook or buy something from Best Buy with Linux Pre-installed for their Grandma. I think people are freaking out for no reason. Any enthusiast on here should be smart enough to figure this out anyway and work around it, especially if you're building a brand new rig yourself. Like hell, you can get legit licenses on Reddit for like $15 bucks from bulk packs. This probably isn't really about "features", like Oh...you wanted Notepad? TOO BAD YOU DIDN'T BUY THE SL@YER PRO XXX i9 EXTREME RIG.... Come on folks....

 

[JaymondoGB]

Sad thing about that picture, is that not one of those devices is a proper desktop PC. its just the way MS sees the world in its mission to become Apple. very sad

 

[newtekie1]

GTFO!!! Why do I need an i9 and more than 6 cores to get the advanced edition? Is this some kind of special program that cures Ebola? I mean, wth??!!

Read it again, these aren't hardware minimum requirements.

 

[ensabrenoir]

So the Advanced version, which can be used on any hardware is seems, is $101 which is basically the exact same price as Windows 10 Home now(~$100 for a OEM License). They have just added cheaper versions for lower end hardware to make the over-all cost of the computer cheaper...I don't have a problem with this.

.....woooaaaah dude!!!!!!!!!! Actually reading the article and comprehending is dangerous in thesehere parts. Now hush all that logic talk and pick up your torch and pitchfork.

 

[cyneater]

where is the option for using a mouse I want to be charged $30 extra for that

and another $30 for using sound.

....

Looks like OSX or linux will be my next desktop os.