{"id":8530,"date":"2015-08-06T10:35:57","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T14:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.nccomputertech.com\/?p=8530"},"modified":"2015-08-06T10:35:57","modified_gmt":"2015-08-06T14:35:57","slug":"why-windows-10-isnt-really-free-the-subtle-new-world-of-built-in-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2015\/08\/06\/why-windows-10-isnt-really-free-the-subtle-new-world-of-built-in-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Windows 10 isn’t really free: The subtle new world of built-in costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Windows 10 isn\u2019t really free. Realizing why and how it isn\u2019t really free can help you understand why installing the operating system on 1 billion systems by 2017 is such a big deal for Microsoft\u2014and why this version of Windows is very different at its core than Windows 7 and its predecessors.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get the \u201cfree\u201d part out of the way before we dive into that, though.<\/p>\n

Sure, you can go snag a free Windows 10 upgrade right now if you\u2019re running Windows 7 or Windows 8\u2014but that doesn\u2019t mean Windows 10 is free. Buying a fresh Windows 10 license still costs $100-plus, and PC makers still pay Microsoft a fee for each and every computer that ships with Windows installed. Linux is free. The Windows 10 upgrade is only \u201cfree\u201d for people who have already purchased a Windows license, be it via a standalone license or bundled with a premade PC. You can\u2019t just go download Windows 10 and install it on a new PC without spending some cash.<\/p>\n

So why is Microsoft tossing Windows 7 and 8 users this yummy no-cost bone?<\/p>\n

Optimists may say it\u2019s a result of new CEO Satya Nadella\u2019s reimagined, more open Microsoft. Cynics may say there was no way Microsoft could realistically charge for upgrades now that Apple and Google have conditioned users to expect free operating system updates. There may be truth in both of those, but a large part of Microsoft\u2019s sudden generosity no doubt lies in the desire for cold, hard cash.<\/p>\n

Wait, what? Isn\u2019t Windows 10 fre\u2026 er, a free upgrade?<\/p>\n

Yup! And therein lies Microsoft\u2019s genius.<\/p>\n

Windows 10 is a free upgrade only for consumers. Very, very, very few consumers ever pay money to upgrade their operating systems. Look at the masses sitting pretty on Windows XP and Windows 7! For most of the operating system\u2019s history, Windows users were one-and-done buyers that never emptied any more cash into Microsoft\u2019s pockets unless they decided to buy a one-time Office license or an Xbox.<\/p>\n

Windows 10\u2014like Windows 8 before it\u2014changes that. It\u2019s infused with all sorts of hooks into Microsoft\u2019s superb ecosystem of services, which are a strong focus under Nadella\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n

Cortana ramps up Bing\u2019s market share with every search you make. OneDrive backs up everything to the cloud, and of course you can buy more storage space if you need it. The Video, Groove Music, and Xbox apps encourage entertainment purchases through Microsoft. The new Edge browser and the very operating system itself track you to serve targeted ads. The free Office apps encourage paid Office 365 subscriptions to unlock full functionality. Underneath it all, the Windows Store is the repository for all of Microsoft\u2019s vaunted universal apps (and plenty of other things to buy). Heck, even Solitaire begs for a monthly subscription to ditch ads now.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mark Hachman<\/p>\n

What have you done to Solitaire???!!<\/p>\n

In other words, while Windows 7 customers never contributed anything to Microsoft\u2019s bottom line, Windows 10 is chock full of opportunities for Microsoft to make some money off of you, long after you\u2019ve paid up for your Windows license. Which, of course, you still have to do. Microsoft isn\u2019t crazy.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s just fine! Windows 10 is a wonderful operating system, and a worthwhile upgrade from Windows 7 and 8. Plus, Microsoft provides you the option to disable or outright not use any of its services\u2014though they are pretty damned polished and helpful. You don\u2019t have to pay Microsoft any more money or let it peer over your shoulder just because you use Windows 10 (though the express installation settings enable it all by default, natch).<\/p>\n

But Windows 10 definitely isn\u2019t free\u2014and it pays to know why.<\/p>\n

via Why Windows 10 isn’t really free: The subtle new world of built-in costs | PCWorld<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Windows 10 isn\u2019t really free. Realizing why and how it isn\u2019t really free can help you understand why installing the 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