I plan to upgrade my home PC. It’s currently on Windows 8.1.
Also BigT, I’ve never had an update ‘hose’ the machine. Perhaps it’s your machine and not the updates.
Also, the free upgrade is not going to be available for Enterprise editions of Windows so if your business is using that, which I assume most are, the upgrade will not be free.
Then you’ve not been paying attention. There have been a total of 7 updates in the past couple of years that have required extensive measures to correct. The one in December was really bad, breaking pretty much everything. Note how it broke Windows update, the tool you’d need to remove the bad update? Let’s not forget the update that bricked the Surface 2. Or the one that caused a blue screen where Microsoft had to put out a recovery ISO to fix it.
[quote=“Voyager, post:20, topic:703309”]
Where did you hear that Windows 10 is the last version ever?
[QUOTE]
I though it was linked in thread, but here’s a direct quote:
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.
New features as they are ready, rather than a major release. A promise that everyone will stay updated. Windows “as a service.” These all only work if Windows 10 is the last major update. If users have to possibly buy a Windows 11, they are stuck with two versions of Windows again. And that’s something they are very much trying to avoid.
Their ideas are ambitious, and they only work if old versions of Windows tank fast. That’s why they are making this free. They expect most people to update. I think even the year time frame is more of a ticking clock, so you don’t think you can always upgrade.
That said, Windows 7 is already out of mainstream support, so they probably want to start getting people off of that ASAP, rather than wait and delay like they did with Windows XP. But Windows 8.x lasts until 2018, yet they clearly still want to get people off of that, even those who like it.
This intermediate user tends to load the security updates immediately and wait a week before installing .Net Hodgepodge or Silverfishface or whatever they’re calling they’re dodgiest products now. I insert the update code into google news and look for problems.
But I don’t really know what I’m doing. Link to website?
I’m not surprised it’s free from Win 8, but I am surprised it’s free from Win 7, which pretty much means that the people who bought Win 8 wasted their money, especially the ones who immediately after installing it, did everything they could to make it look like Win 7. Like me.
I’m contemplating a new computer and am consider Win 8.1. I figure using it for a little less than a year won’t hurt and the knowledge might help in some small way. Sort of like using Vista for a while. Also, the file manager is improved apparently. I’m pretty dubious about the product personally, though it has its defenders here.
Bonus Q: What’s the best 8.1 book? What’s the best value? I see Mark Minasi only writes server manuals now.
They’re saying that they’ll support updates for the life of the device. That doesn’t exclude another version of Windows beyond Windows 10.
I don’t know about books, but the best value is probably a free subscription to Windows Secrets. They email a newsletter with Windows tips every couple weeks, and you can go to their website for more. You can also pay whatever you want (really) to get access to more complete articles.
I don’t know what you’re on about, but I’ve been ‘paying attention’ to MY machine and have not had one update ‘hose’ MY machine.
I realize data is not the plural of anecdote, but nevertheless it has been my experience that updates have not ‘hosed’ MY machine.
Next major release of Win 10, not of Windows in general. They are saying that they are going to be dribbling out functional enhancements on patch Tuesdays. I’m dubious - sometimes it makes sense to put a bunch of related stuff into a major release.
As for the version thing, that is the benefit of pushing out patches whether you want them or not. Because the patches never cause problems. :rolleyes: IT departments are going to want to check out patches before their users get them. When my daughter was in college, a patch killed Word for everyone. I had put Open Office on her machine also - she was the only person on her hall who could do anything until they rolled it back.
Avoid? They are trying to avoid Win 10.1.1.2.1 versus 10.1.1.2.3.
You think they are going to start charging subscription fees for Win 10? They already said they weren’t. Check out how much of Micosoft’s revenue comes from OS sales. You think they are going to give that up forever from no Win 11? Not too likely.
EDA companies used to give free upgrades with service contracts. But to keep the revenue flowing they also had to define certain enhancements as part of new major releases, not covered by service contracts.
The lack of interest in moving to Win 8 hurt both them and the PC industry in general. They definitely do want people to move.
Cite? My company, and I suspect most others, are still loading new laptops for employees with Win 7. I bet we never go with Win 8. XP is indeed dead or dying, but I’m still getting Vista patches. That is still supported, and Win 7 will be supported long after it EOLs.
Bottom line is, nothing that you say in any way indicates Win 10 is the last major release.
I’ve had to back out of a few updates which made things unstable. And I mentioned the one which killed Word.
Still, I have Vista so my machine was hosed from Day 1. 
I could use another computer, but I’m waiting so I don’t have to go through the hassle of updating in a year and installing all the stuff needed to make Win 8 remotely usable.
I just ordered a tablet with Win 8.1. Probably should have waited until Win 10, but you know how sometimes you get an itch for a new toy and must have it NOW!! 
Most of the criticisms I’ve heard have been around PCs. it might make a lot more sense for phones and tablets. It just hasn’t sold that many phones.
I thought it was pretty clear that he meant you haven’t been paying attention to the stories about windows updates being rescinded and/or having to be patched themeselves, because they hosed a lot more machines than just his.
Nothing especially wrong with that, but he was right.
I see that subscribers can read the columns patch watch, which looks interesting. Thanks Tony: that looks like good intel.
Over at their forum, I read the observation, “Those Who Image Regularly can afford to live dangerously.” That sounds right, but I don’t as of yet. I hope to upgrade my backup strategy, with a combination of Macrium imaging, Sycnback backup, an external hard drive and maybe even a little online backup with Google drive.
He may have been right but the sudden leap from talking about updates hosing his machine to all that other stuff was confusing to say the least.
Microsoft releases pricing guidance for enterprises. No, it won’t be free for a year: that’s the deal Win7 and Win8.1 consumers receive.
Businesses will have to/be encouraged to subscribe to their update/patch program with annual fees. But they will be able to segue their way to Win10 at their own pace. The update program comes in 2 flavors, one more expansive than the other. Businesses can mix and match. Sounds complicated, which is why there are IT departments. It also sounds a little vague: commentary welcome.