Why Windows 10 isn't really free: The subtle new world of built-in costs

[steven36]

Even if you get the free upgrade, everything from Cortana to Xbox has its ways of making you pay.

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Windows 10 isn’t really free. Realizing why and how it isn’t really free can help you understand why installing the operating system on 1 billion systems by 2017 is such a big deal for Microsoft—and why this version of Windows is very different at its core than Windows 7 and its predecessors.
Let’s get the “free” part out of the way before we dive into that, though.

Sure, you can go snag a free Windows 10 upgrade right now if you’re running Windows 7 or Windows 8—but that doesn’t 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 “free” for people who have already purchased a Windows license, be it via a standalone license or bundled with a premade PC. You can’t just go download Windows 10 and install it on a new PC without spending some cash.

So why is Microsoft tossing Windows 7 and 8 users this yummy no-cost bone?
Optimists may say it’s a result of new CEO Satya Nadella’s 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’s sudden generosity no doubt lies in the desire for cold, hard cash.

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Wait, what? Isn’t Windows 10 fre… er, a free upgrade?
Yup! And therein lies Microsoft’s genius.
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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’s history, Windows users were one-and-done buyers that never emptied any more cash into Microsoft’s pockets unless they decided to buy a one-time Office license or an Xbox.
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Windows 10—like Windows 8 before it—changes that. It’s infused with all sorts of hooks into Microsoft’s superb ecosystem of services, which are a strong focus under Nadella’s watch.
Cortana ramps up Bing’s 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’s vaunted universal apps (and plenty of other things to buy). Heck, even Solitaire begs for a monthly subscription to ditch ads now.
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What have you done to Solitaire???!! ​

​In other words, while Windows 7 customers never contributed anything to Microsoft’s bottom line, Windows 10 is chock full of opportunities for Microsoft to make some money off of you, long after you’ve paid up for your Windows license. Which, of course, you still have to do. Microsoft isn’t crazy.

And that’s 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—though they are pretty damned polished and helpful. You don’t 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).
But Windows 10 definitely isn’t free—and it pays to know why.

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​Source

[Chancer]

No such thing as a free lunch

[Gabben]

No such thing as a free lunch

https://www.linux.com/

[Sylence]

all this fuss over a solitaire app..really? who gives a damn about that app anyway. one can ignore that one app and download millions of other real free apps and games. it's really up to you and the decisions you make as to whether you want to buy a song in Groove or listen to it free on Spotify or buy some solitaire :shit: or download one of the thousands of alternatives to it. but one thing is for sure, Windows 10 is free. :chug:

Linux would also start making some money if it was used by billions of people.

[bubbada]

do you really think that windows 10 is free!!!! you have your head in the cloud. :P

have you checked your bandwidth recently? :huh:

[Cereberus]

and lets not forget a possible nsa who funded microsoft to sneak in some surveilance capabilities ....

but all said and done i feel that the windows 10 is very fast compared to the other os (then again could be placebo due to a fresh reformat lelz...)

and all these hooks for extra monetization it's not compulsory :x on the front end of the windows i don't even notice it at all. so i personally don't think thats an issue for me.

I already removed all the default tiles from start, then added my own shortcuts to start instead. problem solved :}

as for windows 10 privacy issues, i've done the minimal settings, though not over the top meaning that cortana is getting to know me. cause i want to try how well that works. but if ever i want to put my foot down theres the script someone made to stop all that surveillance in its tracks.

If anything my biggest disappointment is yet another year we are stuck with ntfs ..... when will we move onto something better like ZFS but for windows ? come on....

[bubbada]

as for windows 10 privacy issues, i've done the minimal settings, though not over the top meaning that cortana is getting to know me. cause i want to try how well that works. but if ever i want to put my foot down theres the script someone made to stop all that surveillance in its tracks.

is there a thread on the script?

[Chancer]

No such thing as a free lunch

https://www.linux.com/

And all the support for users - costs.....

[Cereberus]

as for windows 10 privacy issues, i've done the minimal settings, though not over the top meaning that cortana is getting to know me. cause i want to try how well that works. but if ever i want to put my foot down theres the script someone made to stop all that surveillance in its tracks.

is there a thread on the script?

under windows 10 use the search

[Avitar]

Just a question... why not just uninstall these windows apps or wreck their home directory by deleting it? You don't have to use the app ecosystem. That system is funded on the freemium model. And why do you have to use edge? Chrome and Firefox are viable alternatives. Don't like being tracked? Use your firewall. A simple whois lookup. Ad block for IE. There are many things that YOU DID already on Win 8.1 that you do anyway to stop tracking. This is a challenge. Patch the OS.