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Microsoft might offer Windows 10 as a subscription
Microsoft has been playing with subscription-based models of their software for a while now, much like Office 365. From the looks of things. From the looks of it Microsoft could soon do the same with their OS, that would be Windows 10 in a subscription form,
Microsoft is headhunting a product manager for a consumer product called Microsoft 365, this is a software package that was only offered to companies. Microsoft 365 is a monthly subscription service that includes Windows 10 and the Office 365 package. Based on a job advertisement, it is now deduced that Microsoft will also target the subscription service, which is currently aimed at business customers, to end users. It is believed that the package will include Outlook Mobile, Microsoft To Do, and some MSN apps.
The target audience would be huge and many users may even be happy to pay a monthly fee for a complete package of Windows 10, Office 365 and Mobility and Security.
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sykozis
Senior Member
Posts: 21798
Joined: 2008-07-14
Senior Member
Posts: 21798
Joined: 2008-07-14
#5618763 Posted on: 12/19/2018 04:40 AM
My biggest issue with a subscription model vs a one time purchase, is the simple fact that the total cost of use is considerably higher with a subscription model vs one time purchase. We already pay upwards of $120USD for a Windows 10 license. Consider that the absolute cheapest that MS would price a Windows subscription would be $5/month. That's $60 per year. After 24 months, you've already paid the same as the "one time purchase" license. After 3 years, you've now paid more.
As for the "ownership" aspect. We own the hardware. Should we then be forced to pay a monthly subscription fee to use that hardware?
Also, there are people that can't afford a monthly subscription for Windows. Those people would suddenly be forced back into the 80's when a home computer was out of reach of most people due to cost.
Quite honestly, if MS decides to require a monthly subscription fee for Windows, I will simply move to Linux. Windows has always been an unnecessary expense for me. Everything I do on Windows, I can just as easily do on Linux. Even my favorite games have been ported to Linux already.
Someone's reason being "emotion" doesn't make their reason any less valid. Consider the number of people on this forum alone that buy AMD, Intel or NVidia hardware based on "emotion"....
There have been pre-builts sold with Linux. They always seem to fail in the market. Either due to lack of advertising, lack of support or excessive pricing compared to models with Windows, among other reasons.
I don't understand folks. Every one here willingly subscribes to a bazillion services they pay for..but for some reason Windows is exempt from the normal ways of thinking and exists in it's own special protected (for some) user bubble... Too an extent, I get this, it is not a perfect analog between being captive to your cable subscription and captive to your OS because of limited options. But there is validity to that concern. However, there ARE options to Windows. I don't think I read one single critique to Windows as a subscription versus one time buy, past emotion.
My biggest issue with a subscription model vs a one time purchase, is the simple fact that the total cost of use is considerably higher with a subscription model vs one time purchase. We already pay upwards of $120USD for a Windows 10 license. Consider that the absolute cheapest that MS would price a Windows subscription would be $5/month. That's $60 per year. After 24 months, you've already paid the same as the "one time purchase" license. After 3 years, you've now paid more.
As for the "ownership" aspect. We own the hardware. Should we then be forced to pay a monthly subscription fee to use that hardware?
Also, there are people that can't afford a monthly subscription for Windows. Those people would suddenly be forced back into the 80's when a home computer was out of reach of most people due to cost.
Quite honestly, if MS decides to require a monthly subscription fee for Windows, I will simply move to Linux. Windows has always been an unnecessary expense for me. Everything I do on Windows, I can just as easily do on Linux. Even my favorite games have been ported to Linux already.
Someone's reason being "emotion" doesn't make their reason any less valid. Consider the number of people on this forum alone that buy AMD, Intel or NVidia hardware based on "emotion"....
You have no idea how often I've thought about forcing myself to use a Linux distro for everything I possibly can. But every time I've attempted it, it didn't last long due to every issue you can imagine. Until desktop Linux distros go mainstream, as in a major company starts selling it pre-installed in products like Android is on phones, I don't see it developing to the point of being convenient enough for the average Joe to switch to.
There have been pre-builts sold with Linux. They always seem to fail in the market. Either due to lack of advertising, lack of support or excessive pricing compared to models with Windows, among other reasons.
fantaskarsef
Senior Member
Posts: 12157
Joined: 2014-07-21
Senior Member
Posts: 12157
Joined: 2014-07-21
#5618798 Posted on: 12/19/2018 09:18 AM
The Windows 7 to 10 upgrade is over, but you can still use Windows 10 for free if you want to (it just means that you can't customize it and there will be a permanent watermark in the bottom-right corner). I did this for several months earlier this year on one of my computers - it was a temporary system and I didn't want to spend more money buying a license (even without a license, it was fully functional and I used it as my main gaming system until I rebuilt it). Microsoft previously required you to buy a license to use Windows but they've become lenient with Windows 10, allowing you to use it without a license indefinitely with only cosmetic limitations.
The article below has more details:
https://www.howtogeek.com/244678/you-dont-need-a-product-key-to-install-and-use-windows-10/
Note that Microsoft wants to use Windows 10 as a service platform (to sell services like Skype, Office, OneDrive, as well as the Windows Store, Cortana and targeted ads) so they have an incentive to get more people on it. They previously operated under a pay-to-use license model but now they operate under a cloud-based subscription model, part of what turned the company around after the dark Windows 8 days. They've also opened up their products on more platforms and offer free to use versions.
Ahh thanks for pointing that out, I never knew. Learned something new here.
The Windows 7 to 10 upgrade is over, but you can still use Windows 10 for free if you want to (it just means that you can't customize it and there will be a permanent watermark in the bottom-right corner). I did this for several months earlier this year on one of my computers - it was a temporary system and I didn't want to spend more money buying a license (even without a license, it was fully functional and I used it as my main gaming system until I rebuilt it). Microsoft previously required you to buy a license to use Windows but they've become lenient with Windows 10, allowing you to use it without a license indefinitely with only cosmetic limitations.
The article below has more details:
https://www.howtogeek.com/244678/you-dont-need-a-product-key-to-install-and-use-windows-10/
Note that Microsoft wants to use Windows 10 as a service platform (to sell services like Skype, Office, OneDrive, as well as the Windows Store, Cortana and targeted ads) so they have an incentive to get more people on it. They previously operated under a pay-to-use license model but now they operate under a cloud-based subscription model, part of what turned the company around after the dark Windows 8 days. They've also opened up their products on more platforms and offer free to use versions.
Ahh thanks for pointing that out, I never knew. Learned something new here.
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Senior Member
Posts: 1478
Joined: 2004-12-10
Nobody bought windows 8 so microsoft thinks nobody wants to pay a one time license fee to use windows, but windows 8 simply wasn't worth buying so naturally nobody wanted to shell out money on it.
All they needed to do was make windows 10 worth buying but sadly it's far too late for that now, windows 10 has shown its true colors and the future for windows is darker than ever.
Hardly, especially considering Windows 7 was still being sold steadily throughout the Windows 8 time.