MS confirms that Windows 10 upgrade will not be free after one year

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Microsoft has been heavily promoting the fact that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for consumers running Windows 7, 8 or Phone 8.1 when the OS is released later this year. While the company is clearly pushing this 'free upgrade' announcement to make sure they can hit their 1 billion users benchmark, in a post on the company's Australian Partner Network, they explicitly state that the free upgrade offer will expire after one year.

The post says that after the one year free period elapses, upgrades will be obtained via paid boxed product (we suspect there will be a digital offer as well). The post, which you can read here, states the following:

Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices in the first year. After the first year, upgrades will be paid via boxed product and VL Upgrades.

Microsoft has always said that the upgrade offer will only be for one year but we can't recall them explicitly saying that after one year that the upgrade will no longer be free until this post was created. Naturally, this means if you want Windows 10 for free, you will need to upgrade within the first year and that the offer will not be extended.

When Windows 10 is released, there will be paid options for upgrading to Windows 10 available from day one for consumers who are still running Windows XP or Vista, along with full copies of the OS for those who are building their own machines and the like.

Of course, Microsoft has not said how much the stand-alone version of Windows 10 will cost, nor have they said what the upgrade will cost after the one year free offer period.


Posted:
Related Forum: PC General Forum

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-confirms-that-windows-10-upgrade-will-not-be-free-after-one-year

Comments

"MS confirms that Windows 10 upgrade will not be free after one year" :: Login/Create an Account :: 41 comments

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DeluxeHazardPosted:

I thought this was already confirmed when Microsoft said everybody would get a free 1 year trial of Windows 10?

KatsumiChanPosted:

Leap I very much prefer Windows 7 over all OS's but not sure If anyone agrees with me on that. I don't think I will be upgrading to Windows 10 anytime soon..


Windows 7 is their BEST OS by far. When 10 comes out it will be very hard to get rid of it, but the Performance from DX12 for PC Gamers such as myself is just waaay too good to pass up on.

1989Posted:

Leap I very much prefer Windows 7 over all OS's but not sure If anyone agrees with me on that. I don't think I will be upgrading to Windows 10 anytime soon..


Most people like Win 7 because of its simplicity but you have to change one day and Win 10 is the best option I think.

1989Posted:

I don't really mind this and plus after a year most people will have Win 10 and it should be fine.

PryzelPosted:

Well this was expected, anyway most people will upgrade straight away anyway.

MushroomElmPosted:

RyujiTakasu
UnrealApp Pirate version incoming. MS just scavenging for more $$


Free for a year, no need to Pirate it whatsoever. If you don't upgrade by then it's your own fault.


What I thought when I saw that post.. Microsoft gives FREE upgrade. "Well, obviously their just trying to make money!"

zuLUQS2j8GPosted:

Can't wait for Windows 10 as I have seen previews of it and it looks amazing!

-Drips

LeapPosted:

I very much prefer Windows 7 over all OS's but not sure If anyone agrees with me on that. I don't think I will be upgrading to Windows 10 anytime soon..

TaigaAisakaPosted:

Looking forward to Windows 10 coming out, especially that DX12. I'm planning on upgrading as soon as possible, if not, around the time I do another PC build, which will be long before the 1 year to upgrade for free is over.

KatsumiChanPosted:

UnrealApp Pirate version incoming. MS just scavenging for more $$


Free for a year, no need to Pirate it whatsoever. If you don't upgrade by then it's your own fault.