For the majority of users, the Windows 10 free upgrade period has just ended. That said, Microsoft is extending the offer for a specific group of people: those who use assistive technologies, such as text-to-speech software for those with visual impairments. They are being intentionally vague with which AT software allow users to qualify, which makes sense, because being pedantic to users with disabilities after offering it to everyone (sometimes like a hot potato) for a whole year wouldn't be the best PR.
They haven't yet announced an end date for this new offer. They also haven't really discussed why they are making this exemption, although they do promote the upcoming Anniversary Update several times, with its new accessibility features highlighted. This makes me think that, while of course Microsoft is going to namedrop the new build whenever possible, they might have found that users were hesitant to upgrade to 1507 and 1511 because of accessibility concerns. Since the general public upgrade offer ended just before the Anniversary Update, they might be allowing those users to jump aboard Windows 10 even though their disability prevented them from using 1511.
Either way, it's a nice extension to make.
So the nagware is no longer
So the nagware is no longer being pushed out I hope. But the enterprise version needs to be made available to all sizes of businesses including the Mom and Pops because M$ should not be allowed to spy on any of the businesses’ customers. M$ should also be required to provide a single enterprise license, or for small number’s of enterprise licenses, to any medical office/doctors offices that are required to follow the HIPAA medical privacy rules.
That consumer OS spyware, adware, and update forcing of bloatware has no place in any business OS versions, and M$ should be sued for not allowing all businesses to obtain an enterprise version of windows 10. The enterprise version is the only version of windows 10 that can have all the spyware blocked, as the windows 10 “Pro” version is no longer a “Pro” OS that any small business can safely use. Really M$ should be required to produce a version of windows 10 for medical use, and that includes drug stores large chains and small single owner drug stores that provide pharmacy services, and all other medical oriented businesses that have to follow the HIPPA rules.
You realize that all the
You realize that all the “spying” stuff can all be disabled?..
Until the next forced update
Until the next forced update turns the spying right back on again, and adds more unwanted bloatware/spyware/adware! GTFO with that Daft reply!
Only the enterprise license can be managed by the end user!
All Businesses big and small need the enterprise license option, and at resonable fair price!
Wow, much butthurt. Calm down
Wow, much butthurt. Calm down buddy… For the record, Microsoft is not resetting your settings with updates, it happened once, which was apparently a bug that they fixed right away. Would be nice if you would put as much effort in actually reading news articles and not just the titles as you do to tell me to “GTFO”.
Just no, mister M$ apologist,
Just no, mister M$ apologist, that windows 10 EULA makes you a big fat UWP(Universal Windows Peasant)! And M$ has had it spin doctors out in ever since Tim S. expressed his sentiments about the whole UWP ecosystem! UWP is just the TIFKAM turd renamed, and we all see how that turned out! There will be no more of my money spent on and PC/Laptop hardware with any of M$’s software products installed. M$ will not see much more windows 10 installs other than what it can force down the PC/Laptop OEM’s throats, so too bad for the windows OEM’s because the PC/laptop market is going to continue to shrink. I’m not worried about UWP because I’ll never be using any M$ OS beyond windows 7, but M$ will never be trusted, not now or anytime in the future.
My money will stay in my wallet until I can get an Linux OS based OEM laptop with a Zen/Polaris SOC. I have plenty of laptops to last me until 2020 and beyond, and windows 7 is the last of the M$ OSs for me and many others. I’m also looking forward to there being some Zen CPU and Polaris GPU based Steam machines available running Steam OS. Linux with Vulkan will be my OS/graphics API going forward and I could care less about any applications the still need windows to run.
If anyone likes closed ecosystems then it’s best to go with Apple’s closed ecosystem, there is less spying there, and no ad pushing in the OS. But for me it’s about time for M$ to dry up and blow away in the wind!
edit: on and
to: on any
edit: on and
to: on any
I don’t see why large
I don’t see why large companies don’t just get together and build a good linux distro for themselves.
It’s called Centos. Many
It’s called Centos. Many businesses that can make their own already do, and you cant have their version.
Centos is sourced from, Red
Centos is sourced from, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). And there are other options like OpenSUSE, and some may want and need a downstream of Devuan option for those that want some systemd free dependent options.
scott
does this mean that I
scott
does this mean that I just say I am using assistive technologies, in the link you are giving, and then use the installer from a genuine windows or 8 installation to install win10 as a free upgrade?
in that case I can predict that part of the human population is going to pass a small period of serious helth problems and then miraculusly heal after uograding to windows 10 for free.
nice trick from microsoft to keep giving that free upgrade option.
Spying on those that need
Spying on those that need assistive technologies, with spyware 10 just to get assisted into some bloatware and adware and spyware infested software and OS ecosystem. You are the product when you agree to that windows 10 EULA!
quote someone else if you
quote someone else if you don’t know the answer to my question.
And looking at your post, specificaly targeting windows 10,it tells me that you are a windows 7 or 8 user. so you probably already accepted m$ license. I bet you also installed all the latest telemetry patches. if you don’t want m$ spying go and run linux. not windows. not any version of windows.
now go away. I did a question,I don’t care about your preaching.
Up yours, marketing droid!
Up yours, marketing droid!
From what I have read anyone
From what I have read anyone can still download windows 10 for free. If you ever used magnifying glass or changed your font size your basically using assistive tech.
MS will likely leave this open indefinitely.
I have also read by not just offering Windows 10 for free to all users forever, they only hurt themselves. Apparently every Windows 10 user is worth a dollar amount to MS just for the data they collect and the add revenue, which grows with each new user.
Just by using Windows 10, MS makes money whether you buy anything or not. We are the product now.
That assistive tech is still
That assistive tech is still in windows 7, so why have all the spyware, adware and forcing of bloatware down your throat! If You want a closed ecosystem go with Apple’s products, but if you want open stay with windows 7, avoid any of those suspect updates pushed out for windows 7(windows 7 still allows users to avoid the forcing) and switch to Linux before 2020, that 7 EOL is still a few years away. This is just another M$ feel good marketing ploy, but that windows 10 EULA will make you a serf to the lords of Redmond!
I guess in the future paying
I guess in the future paying for Windows will be as much a joke as paying for winrar.
The only reason to pay for these apps is to say “thank you” to the developers of those apps. And with Microsoft making a gazillion of dollars by just creating the biggest user database probably there is, and with full access to personal user data, there is no reason to say “thank you” by paying them $200 extra.
Not surprised MS is looking
Not surprised MS is looking for excuses to keep pushing this. They care a lot more about getting people on Win10 than they care about getting a small activation fee. Google has proven that you can make more money by selling your users than by selling to them