I thought the "OS Chief" was Terry Myerson?
Gabe Aul just runs the Insider programme.
Microsoft has attempted yet more damage control regarding Windows 10, after the software giant confused world+dog into thinking that anyone could qualify for a freebie version of its soon-to-be-released operating system. As The Register reported on Sunday, it had initially appeared as though users needed only to install a …
@tony 72 - I suspect somebody wants any indication that it's free or that MS aren't going to make you "subscribe" and charge you a yearly fee or that Satya Nadella isn't going to rape your dog to be downvoted because by definition "Micro$oft == TEH EEEEEEEBILZ" and therefore anything non-negative anyone posts must be made to look wrong.
Or we just have a couple of complete bellends voting here.
And if I do upgrade my W7 system, but later decide that W10 is crap, can I go back to a W7 image, or will it then have been deactivated?
How can they deactivate an, SLIC OEM Key? Its flagged between the BIOS, and MicroSoft's own certs. No Internet required... Now if your on one of them new-fangeled UEFI thingamajigs.. Then yeah MicroSoft probably, from what I gather has the power to fork you over... e.g. kill the key...
Historically the evidence would suggest that going back to 7 or 8.1 would be OK. There is confusion here I think because, just as with the 'free for insiders' issue, questions have been asked and no-one has come back with a concise Yes/No answer.
One thing that raises suspicions that the upgrade is irrevocable is the language used by Microsoft : the license is not transferred to Windows 10 but, rather is consumed by Windows 10.
For what it's worth, I suspect that the transfer will be one way, or at least reversion will involve a bit of effort.
That's a non-simple answer to a simple question. I hope that satisfies nmy downvoters above.
"...MS was managing a "complex topic" as it juggles multiple versions of Windows, while changing the way it builds and deploys the OS..."
Here's a tip that works well for OSX and most Linux desktop distros, release just 1 version! Job done. OK MS, I'll cut you some slack as you do have servers to sort out, just release just 2 versions, desktop and server. Simples!
Would that be the single version that is, for example, Mint:
Cinnamon 32bit
Cinnamon 64bit
Cinnamon No codecs 32 Bit
Cinnamon No codecs 64 Bit
Cinnamon OEM 32 bit
Cinnamon OEM 64 bit
MATE 32 Bit
MATE 64 Bit
MATE No codecs 32 Bit
MATE No codecs 64 Bit
MATE OEM 32 bit
MATE OEM 64 bit
KDE 32 Bit
KDE 64 Bit
Xfce 32 bit
Xfce 64 bit
So glad only one to chose from....
Oh silly me I forgot LMDE variation of MINT.
Cinnamon 32bit
Cinnamon 64bit
MATE 32 Bit
MATE 64 Bit
"There are fourteen different downloads linked from
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php"
True enough, and I take the point being made but these 14 downloads are essentially installing the same OS but with different default setups. They are provided as a convenience to the one who is installing, and to allow the one who is installing to demonstrate compliance with local laws (the no codec variants). It would in principle be possible to have a single Mint DVD (at least for the Ubuntu based install) and then ask the installer a series of questions about the software required (c. f. the Debian installer as run from the netinstall image).
The various Widows versions have different functionality I understand, so that Windows 7 Home edition as supplied with my refurbished T61p under a scheme for refurbished computers will not be able to do everything that the College machines with their Windows 7 Enterprise (?) versions can do.
The only Linux distros I know of that only release one version are....um....yeah, can't think of any. All of them I'm familiar with offer at least a 32 and 64 bit version, many of them have versions supporting various different (and sometimes obscure) architectures, and most of them have multiple versions with different default desktops.
Not so much "too many versions" as a more simpler matter of who gets the Windows 10 upgrade for free.
Microsoft have been reasonably clear in who will get a free upgrade; it is for those who fall outside that where the confusion exists.
I thought, as some analysts had also suggested, that this was Microsoft's way of getting everyone onto 10, even if not automatically entitled to that, or were currently running older, pirated or unauthorised versions of Windows. The hard part being to do that while still holding an official position which rejects piracy etc and avoiding complaints that those who stuck with older versions were getting an unfair, better deal than those who had upgraded.
Whatever Microsoft chooses to do, someone will jump on that, find some reason to criticise, complain or fear-monger over, so it's a minefield for Microsoft at the best of times. No matter what Microsoft state, someone will read it other than it is, will read between the lines, and it then it goes on from there. With demands for completeness and clarity, with the degree of scrutiny Microsoft is placed under for every word, it is nigh on impossible for them to publish anything without that being pulled apart.
If you do a clean install onto a machine it appears that it will not have a previous install there, which is how most 'DVD' preview installs will likely have been/will be made. How then will they be treated? Will you have to remove the preview than re-install windows 7/8.x before going forward again?
Also, if a hard disk or other key part drops off its perch, how will you then recover the machine? I guess you could (a) keep an image or (b) keep the upgrade download, put 7/8.x back and re-run the upgrade. This does appear a slight(?) nightmare of confusion.
Quote: '...for free for the life of that device'.
It's this bit that worries me, 'that device'.
They don't seem to be taking into account those people who currently have full, rather than OEM licenses.
Currently I can update, re-build, create a completely new PC, and then just reinstall my copy of Win 7 as often as I want, with no restrictions other than not being allowed to have it installed on another machine at the same time.
If I lose that ability, by updating/upgrading to Win 10, then that's a bit of a deal breaker for me, might have to stick with Win 7 if that's the case, at least on my gaming rig.
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The Windows 10 giveaway should have been unmitigated good publicity for Microsoft. And yet, somehow, they manage to make a massive PR cock-up out of it. Impressive!
I think this will blow over, and there should still be plenty of positive vibes from giving away 10 to all licensed 7 an 8.1 users. Assuming the final version of 10 isn't crap of course.
"Windows 10, whether you get it on 29/7 or whether you got it in a preview form through the Windows Insider Program, is intended to be installed on Genuine Windows devices," ... First off, what's a genuine windows device? When did MS start selling PC hardware? And assuming this is meant to mean "devices with a genuine windows installation" surely, it should be "windows 10 upgrade"; or is windows 10 not meant for new devices, up/downgrades from linux etc?