It’s official, folks: Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for existing Windows users—as long as you claim it quickly.
Kicking off the consumer-focused Windows 10 event
in Redmond on Tuesday, January 21, Microsoft operating system chief
Terry Myerson announced that current users of Windows 7, Windows 8.1,
and Windows Phone 8.1 will be able to upgrade to the new operating
system for free as long as they do so within one year of Windows 10's
launch—even if your version of Windows is pirated. Once you’ve claimed the upgrade, it's permanent, and Microsoft will keep you updated for the supported lifetime of the device.
“We think of Windows 10 as a service,” Myerson said.
Here's the fine print from the Windows 10 page on Microsoft's site:
“It is our intent that most of these devices will qualify, but some
hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary
by device. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows
Update enabled. ISP fees may apply. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update
required. Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows
8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance
customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10
Enterprise outside of this offer. We will be sharing more information
and additional offer terms in coming months.”
Did you catch that? Windows RT tablets won't be upgraded to Windows 10—though they'll get some of the new features—and business users will have to pay to upgrade and receive continued support.
The decision to make Windows 10 a free upgrade for existing
users makes sense. Windows 8 users have vocally expressed their
displeasure with the operating system, prompting happy Windows 7 users
to stay put on that OS. That hinders Microsoft's ability to execute its
vision for a service-centric, cloud-connected future for Windows; making
Windows 10 free could spur more users into embracing a modern Microsoft
operating system.
And hey, it'd be weird to charge for Windows 10 after Windows 8 flopped so hard and Apple started giving away OS upgrades. Right?
Here's how to give the Windows 10 Technical Preview a test drive today, if you're the adventurous sort. Once you're in, you'll want to check out these killer new features first, and once you're feeling comfortable, dive deep into the myriad tips, tricks, and tweaks buried under the hood.
The arrival of Windows 10 later this year could usher in more convenient, fun and wire-free PC computing.
Some new features that make for easier hardware handling are already
available, but not yet in Windows PCs, which still make up the vast
majority of desktop and laptop machines. For example, Apple’s MacBook
and Google’s Chromebook Pixel have set the stage for USB Type C ports
and its associated reversible cables to be used in Windows PCs later
this year. Meanwhile, the new Windows Hello feature—which will allow users to unlock a Windows 10 device by recognizing a face, iris or fingerprint—could bring 3D cameras and more sensors to PCs.
New hardware could also turbocharge PCs while improving battery life, and wireless features could free PCs from cord clutter. Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for existing Windows 7 and 8 users, but if you decide to get a new PC, you may want to look for some of these features:
USB Type C, and 3.1
Expect the smaller USB Type-C port to become mainstream in PCs around the time Windows 10 ships later this year. The multifaceted USB Type-C ports will recharge
laptops and connect PCs to monitors, external storage drives, printers,
cameras and other peripherals. There’s also excitement around the Type-C
cable, which has an identical connector on both ends. PCs will
ultimately also benefit from the faster data transfer rates of the USB
3.1 protocol, which can transfer data at 10Gbps (bits per second),
double that of USB 3.0. But for now, the USB Type-C ports in MacBook and
Chromebook Pixel are transferring data at USB 3.0 speeds, though desktop motherboards supporting USB 3.1 are already shipping.
Face recognition
One of Microsoft’s goal with Windows 10 is to kill passwords, and it hopes to do so with
face, fingerprint and iris authentication. Laptops with Intel’s
RealSense 3D camera will be able to recognize faces and use that
capability to log users in to Windows. The first iteration of the
depth-sensing camera is already in a handful of tablets and PCs, and the
next version of the camera, expected to be in Windows 10 PCs, will do a better job of recognizing objects, measuring distances and even taking selfies.
Sensors
A standout feature in Windows 10 that separates it from Windows 8 is the ability to
automatically switch between tablet and PC user interfaces. That is made
possible by sensors that detect the position of a laptop. Microsoft has
also suggested Windows 10
devices could be capable of measuring temperature, environmental
pressure and carbon dioxide levels, though it’s not certain whether PCs
would carry the necessary, related sensors.
Better performance
Microsoft is tuning Windows 10 to work well with Intel’s upcoming Core
chips code-named Skylake, which will be in PCs in the second half this
year. Skylake will boost graphics and applications while improving
battery life in laptops. Skylake is also a platform for freeing laptops
of wire clutter. The first Skylake chips will likely be Core M
processors for tablets and low-power laptops, and will be followed by
laptop and desktop chips.
Wire-free computing
In an ideal universe, Intel wants laptops free of all wires. The company
is bringing wireless charging technology to laptops later this year so
users don’t have to carry bulky power bricks. Charging a laptop will be
as simple as placing it on a table or another surface; Intel wants
wireless charging be as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi. Intel is talking to
airports, cafes and other businesses about installing wireless charging
tables and surfaces for customers. However, it may be years until the
technology becomes practical.
Qualcomm
Intel will also link up laptops to wireless monitors, storage devices
and other peripherals via WiGig technology, which can transfer data at
7Gbps (bits per second). Much like Wi-Fi, laptops will start getting
WiGig chips. But it could take a while for WiGig-compatible monitors and
storage peripherals to become available.
Advanced displays
Dell has suggested it couldn’t incorporate OLED screens into Windows 8 laptops or tablets due to lack of native support for the screen type. The company also hinted that it would bring together Windows 10
and OLED displays in the future, though it didn’t reveal exact plans.
OLED screens are used mostly in TVs, tablets and smartphones, but not
yet in Windows PCs.
Hardware upgrades
Windows 10 PCs could pack graphics cards that support DirectX 12, which
will improve PC gaming. The battery life of laptops will also get better
with DX12. Later in the year, laptops could also ship with DDR4 memory,
which will improve internal data transfer between memory, processor and
other components.
Qualcomm