Windows 10 , free

[#1]

Microsoft has just announced win 10 will be a free upgrade for win 7&8   ,,,,,,, for a year ?
the company decided to offer its upcoming Windows 10 as a free upgrade for existing users of Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. This offer will be applicable only for the first year following Windows 10 launch (after which, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users will have to pay to upgrade to Windows 10). Windows 10 will see the return of the Start Menu,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30924022

[#2]

From the BBC article it's not clear whether you get the software free for a year but then have to pay to continue using OR have a year to claim the upgrade for free but then can continue using it. I'm assuming it's the latter, which may make me upgrade on a couple of my devices.

[#3]

From El Reg

Quote

The upgrade will only be free in the first 12 months after release and will last for the "supported lifetime of the device." Microsoft said the new OS will run on PCS, tablets, phones, and a new device to be announced later today.

Makes it sound as though it will be the equivalent of an OEM license which isn't good news

[#4]

Reading here        http://www.techpowerup.com/209111/windows-10-to-be-free-upgrade-for-windows-8-1-and-windows-7-users....;       the offer lasts for 1 year then if you want to upgrade you have to pay .
i still have the win 10 preview on another PC an must say i like it 

[#5]

from Techspot page
Windows 10 will be a free upgrade from Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 7 for the first year. That last bit is huge as Windows 7 is found on nearly half of all Windows-based PCs. And once a device is upgraded to Windows 10, it’ll be supported for the lifetime of the device. It's a move that'll no doubt drive adoption sky high in the first year.

[#6]

For Windows 8/8.1, especially on desktop PC's I think this will be a no-brainer.
For domestic users with Windows 7 there will also be some attraction given the extended support and features upgrade path it will offer.
The preview I have installed on a fairly old system seems to work well, though I still prefer the visual aspects of Windows 7.

[#7]

If DX12 is successful then it should get good takeup.
Windows 8 one of it's problem's was it was "too soon".
At windows 8 launch I didnt require anything it offered and it had too many downsides for me.
However things will have changed on Windows 10 launch.

[#8]

Will it have to be activated within that year?
Couldn't find info on that.

[#9]

From everything I've seen reported so far, Windows 10 is looking like a big leap forward for Microsoft.
Also mean's Cortana is now making the leap from Window's phone on to computers.
I already use Cortana for a few things on my Windows phone, im looking forward to the Windows 10 software upgrade for both my PC & phone  

[#10]

Windows 8 didnt get the take up like win 7 , it was meh  more like win ME  was poop .
Mav if i read it right yes upgrade to win 10 free if you upgrade in first 12 month , after then you will pay

[#11]

Thanks, but what I was really asking is once you've got your free update do you have to install and activate it within that first year or can you sit on it and install without any problems any time after?
I assume the latter as you may need to re-install anyway at some stage but it isn't clear - not to me, anyway.

[#12]

You seem to be thinking similarly to me.
Like could I install windows 10, activate it, make an image to put to one side, then maybe go back to reload an image of my activated windows 7.

[#13]

Mav , i believe they way they say its ,, You can download it and install it any time in the first year .
but if you do it after the first 12 month you have to pay , so i presume after 12 months it will not pass windows activation .
The offer is strictly limited, and apparently doesn't extend to OEMs or Windows Enterprise users,

also DX 12 will only run on windows 10   so it sort of forcing you to use win 10 if you want DX 12 .

[#14]

Quote from: billnotben

could I install windows 10, activate it, make an image to put to one side, then maybe go back to reload an image of my activated windows 7.

That sounds very likely to work if you want to hang on to W7 for a while.
If I had just one W7 (orW8) system I'd wait a while to see what others experience, there will no doubt be a few glitches.
But I have several (five W7 plus one W8.1 I think), so I'll probably update the least important one first and see what I learn from that.

[#15]

Quote from: billnotben

could I install windows 10, activate it, make an image to put to one side, then maybe go back to reload an image of my activated windows 7.

That could depend on what Microsoft do with "activation checks". Win 7 seems to check its status every time you boot if there is a connection available (as I found moving from dual boot to a more flexible virtual machine set up for Win7).