A free lunch, but only for some? Hard to believe, but you never know. With the preview version of Windows 10 now out in the open, interest is shifting towards how Microsoft will launch it.
Well, there’s also the small matter of how the development goes — but ultimately it will be the launch strategy that Redmond employs that will decide just how quick Windows 10 is off the paces. Microsoft would want to avoid a Windows 8 déjà vu situation here.
So anyway, one of the more important factors that will decide this is the final price of Windows 10.
There has been no shortage of rumors suggesting that the software titan could make its next operating system free of charge for Windows 8 (or you know, Windows 8.1) users.
At the same time, the new OS will be very affordable for those on Windows 7. Think $30 affordable.
However, good old WZor has weighed in on this, and believes that the category of Windows 8 users that get Windows 10 for free will be rather limited. Only a special group will be entitled to this free lunch, and the rest will have to pay for it.
Word is that those who purchased the full retail version of Windows 8 will get it without any charge, and those that bought computers with the modern OS preinstalled will have to pay.
The leaker also says that Windows 7 users will be able to directly upgrade to Windows 10, without the need to move to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 prior.
Obviously, we all remember the special discounts Microsoft rolled out back in October 2012, whereby the company allowed Windows 7 users the chance to upgrade to Windows 8 for just $15. Point being, such deep price cuts are not entirely unexpected.
What is, though, is the scenario outlined above.
Offering Windows 10 free of charge only to retail buyers is bound to have an effect on retail sales of hardware devices, and this is not something Microsoft or its partners can afford.
As things stand, such a strange policy is highly unlikely.
Then again, no one thought Microsoft would name its next operating system Windows 10, either.
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