Forget Windows 10, Windows 365 on the way!

https://bgr.com/2015/02/10/windows-10-vs-windows-365/

So there has been some thinking before that Microsoft would move Windows to a subscription model just like they did with Office 365. Well now Windows has filed for a trademark for Windows 365. We can only assume that it will follow certain traits of Office 365. Having everyone on a subscription makes certain things easier for Microsoft. They will get paid based on their user base, not on how many people are buying new computers or Windows licenses, so they have a lot less to worry about how well hardware bundled with their latest OS will sell. It will also vastly decrease the amount of people continuing to use older operating systems, at least after the deprecation of Windows 10, since anyone on the service will automatically be updated. I feel this will give Linux a modest boost in years to come, but most people will just roll with it. We could probably assume that a new computer will come with a "free" one or two year Windows 365 subscription, but after that I think some people will jump ship to Linux or an older unsupported Windows OS. Microsoft wasn't getting any money from them before, so they will still come out way ahead with this kind of plan. Either that or the local Windows 365 OS will be cracked and easily pirated by a lot of people. Anyway, what do you think about the future of Windows 365? Personally, I have been trying to use Windows less and Linux more, but it is hard to break with tradition and comfort.

 

If Windows10 is already free, what's the incentive to subscribe to this as a separate service? Office365 is a kind of crappy way to "stream" your Office features, but I believe it's cheaper than a regular Office license.

Or are you saying this is what Windows10 will be, so we will all have to join the ranks to download release version of Win10 and then eventually we are all paying a monthly fee a couple years down the road?

 

Windows 10 is not free. Consumers running Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 with valid licenses will get a free update to Windows 10. Microsoft wasn't getting any money from those people anyway. In every other respect, Windows 10 will cost money just like its predecessors. Business users will need to pay to update, and licenses sold by themselves or bundled with new computers will still cost money. Windows 365 may eventually release as an extra feature set to Windows 10, but I think it is more likely to be the successor to Windows 10.

 

My pal whose brother worked at Microsoft said Windows 8.x would be the last traditional Windows... it looks like he may be right, whether it's continually-updating Windows 10, or Windows 10 for awhile and then subscription Windows, which is what he reckoned would follow 8.x.

At any rate I don't see a subscription OS as appealing. What happens if you get a new credit card and cancel the old one? Can't do anything but visit microsoft.com from Internet Explorer?

 

The day Windows becomes subscription only is the day I fully switch to Linux.

 

Same here, but by the time the extended support for W7 ends in 2020 I'll be:

a) One year away from retirement which means that it's highly unlikely that I'll get to see much of the *whatever new* MS OS gets rolled out at my workplace and

b) Heavily-enough-involved in CentOS/Red Hat that I really won't care what MS does or doesn't do at that point in the game when it comes to my personal needs.

Presuming I'm still alive to begin with, that is...

 

Yeah, I may well have switched over to Linux by then as well, if I find a distribution I like. Currently the problem is finding one with font smoothing (or lack thereof) that doesn't drive me bonkers. I have a PC Linux OS VM with KDE 3.5 from 2009 whose font I like, but it's pretty antiquated by now. I haven't tired CentOS yet. With Mint (Cinnamon) I was unable to get the font to my liking in both small fonts and large fonts (one or the other, but never both), and 2014 versions of PC Linux OS (KDE 4.x) were sort of okay, but noticeably less crisp than 2009. Once I find a distro with a non-tablet-like (i.e. Unity/GNOME 3) UI, nice crisp fonts (but not pixelated at larger sizes), and able to run a fair amount of my games that support Linux, I could see myself using Linux increasingly frequently. But those fonts... they're must-have for me.

 

I'm a numerology (sort of) and this article is spot on. Windows 11 will be called 365. Why? b/c 6+5 =11. But still, I'm holding out until Windows 12. Metro isn't such a good idea and neither is subscription based OS. These fundamental ideas will be sorted out then. I believe Windows 12 will be XP/7's second coming...

 

Question is what will oems do? Will they offer 1 or 2 year subscriptions with the pc? Or will it be life of laptop?

 

Linux is just sounding better and better just about every day.

 

Only if your time is free. Linux Works well enough if your hardware is 2-3 years old. The ecosystem is also highly fragmented with different kernels and distro's etc, the compatibility problems remind me of PC's back in the 90's.

I wish the best for Linux and I really like Ununtu 14 it's gotten a lot better since the early 2000's but they really need to setup up their game on hardware compatibility to be taken seriously for the average user it "just has to work".
Usually, your Grandma is not going to dive into the command line to fix a kernel module.

 

While my time isn't free, neither is blood pressure medication that recent incarnations of Windows seem to require for me in order to use them.

This really depends on a distro. I have some that I run on "old" hardware and the others that I've chosen for "newer" systems.

True, but I doubt that TANWare resembles one's average Grandma...or any Grandma for that fact...

 

I could see Microsoft giving you a choice like they do with Office where you can do a subscription or enter a key. Even the Office preview 2016 is Office desktop. Although they are releasing a Office for Windows 10 which is touch friendly.

 

Unfortunately Linux is not a solution for me, if Windows becomes subscription based OS. I'll just stay on Windows 7/8 for as long as I can.

If it comes down to this, I really hope MS will offer both, a subscription and a "normal" way to buy Windows license.

 

Out of curiosity, which fonts did you have trouble with?

I've had trouble in the past with Microsoft fonts like Calibri (though there is a fix...), but never with any of the built-in Linux fonts on any distro.

 

I'm sure they will continue to offer Windows licenses in a traditional format as well, because they still offer Office in a pay-up-front format as well as a 365 subscription. Office 365 didn't replace pay-up-front Office; it just supplemented it.

I suspect this will be aimed at business and enterprise, where IT departments often buy licenses en masse instead of getting Windows licenses bundled with new hardware like consumers traditionally do.

 

To be the Devils advocate here, this could also be the new incarnation of Windows phone where tablets are full OS and office enabled as well. Until official announcements are out it is all speculation. And man alive do we love to speculate here. All I know is I have at least till 2020 to make a decision one way or the other.

 

No No, Micro$$$$oft is going to, overnight, switch the ENTIRE Windows ecosystem to a monthly pay schedule for EVERY user. Just like they did with Office. You know how Office 365 is now involuntary and everyone has to have it, and it's substantially more expensive(*) than buying Office outright, and has no additional perks(**) over regular Office? Micro$$$$HAFT is going to force every Windows user (since every Windows user is the same as every Office user) to pay a monthly fee to use the OS (since using an OS is the same situation as using a word processor/spreadsheet/email program).

Right guys?


*- It's actually really freakin' cheap
**- They actually give some pretty useful perks like tons of OneDrive and multiple machine use

 

Woah, go easy on that sarcasm there, buddy.

Subscription is cheap when you change PCs frequently. This kinda makes sense here, since this is a western tech forum, where average lifespan of one's laptop is 2 years (or 1 if you visit the gaming thread). However, out in the rest of the world the situation is different. Between me, my family, and my friends the average lifespan of one's PC is 5-6 years. So in the long run, I don't think it would be cheaper for any of us, not to mention not very smart for MS from business perspective, because the only time someone actually buys OS (of most of the software for that matter) in my parts, is when they buy a new machine preinstalled with it.
Some people also prefer to get things without any strings attached. Pay once, use it for "the rest of your life." Office 2010 still runs fine and I didn't spend any additional dime to keep it functional all these years.
And last but not least, software version. Not everyone wants "the latest and greatest" and I think Windows 8 (and before it Vista) demonstrated it very well.

At this point I will say that it's too soon to go into full panic mode, because the pricing or the fact that Windows would indeed become subscription based weren't made. I guess transferable license between machines should be mentioned as an advantage (not that you can't do it with a retail copy of Windows/Office), and of course Office 365 with it's Home licence is quite a convenient way to keep a household "supplied with Office." On the other hand, 100EUR for a 3 PC Office 2010 license isn't too shabby as well, and without any hooks attached.
Skydrive integration? I honestly don't know what it is. It is supposed to be a big selling point, so I would imagine it would be all over the place. The only integration I saw was that Office 2013 had Skydrive as a default save folder, which I changed immediately, and only save there when I really need it. I do suppose someone needs that 1TB of cloud storage...

As for the enterprise sector, well, I really have no idea about how things go there, so I'll just leave it to people who have more experience.

But yeah, if it would come to this no doubt MS would continue the conventional way of software distribution. At least for decade or two, until the new generations is born.

 

Yeah, I don't think Windows as ONLY a subscription would go over very well with consumers. From a business perspective it may make more sense. Likely as already stated, will be an option for either. 365 to keep you updated to the latest and greatest, or fixed price, to keep the same windows version. This is good from a business perspective because heck, I only just got upgraded to Windows 7 from XP six months ago on my office laptop. I know latest isn't always best, but oldest isn't always best either.

Users that buy a laptop or desktop would never accept that it came tied with a monthly fee. That would be suicide on Microsoft's part. Want to see piracy skyrocket? That's the way you do it.

 

Well I won't forget it .. I will use it once will be avail. in store and I just simply upgrade for free ... and when 365 will release officially i will install that .. soon or later all IOSes will be for free in future

 

Even more reason not to upgrade. That being said, I'm probably not their target audience.

Less and less people are buying new machines these days for obvious reasons, so this looks like a good business decision from microsoft.

I reckon that's all there is to it.

 

There are about 200 million new laptops sold every year ( one source here) and it's still growing slowly but steadily. It's just that there are so many updates and changes, that it makes a bit more sense to have a dynamic update than fixed releases. Heck every software package including games seem to go this direction now.

 

Why would this be good from a business perspective? XPocalypse IT departments like yours would hate it.

 

Piracy would all be eliminated because Windows would be in the cloud. To install you would have to access an account and that account would be linked to a credit card. You would be charged at the time of download just like Office 365 and just like pay apps in the Windows store.

One problem with business integrated a could OS with a enterprise server. Integrating a cloud desktop OS with internal server OS's and internal databases would be a security nightmare. Government would be really a nightmare with the departmentization of their work.

 

Don't think that "the cloud" is gonna be a things which will kill the piracy. Harder anti-piracy measures were hacked before, this will be as well.

 

Piracy by copying software Yes. A cloud OS wouldn't really be installed it would only be activated by payment and it works. Just like a pay website. If that payment was fraudulent then windows could be turned off. Windows would be account based it would be like chrome OS.

I can MS using Windows 365 in low end devices as Google does. This way they would open up another revenue stream with OEM's. I believe MS will continue to update Windows desktop for business and home and Windows 365 for users that don't need powerful hardware and want the traditional looking device along with their Surface Pro.

 

I see. One thing though - some people might not want to run an OS which isn't on their computer, or is only partly on it.
I do suppose such concept would require Internet connection as well. If it would be a constant requirement, major PITA.
That's why I don't like Chrome OS. Once you're offline it can't do crap and is basically rubbish.

 

That's what I'm saying the cloud OS would be on low cost low resource machines.

If they do that don't expect an only cloud OS. I'm sure MS would rather get paid on computers sold and not how many people are actually keeping and running Windows. I see this type of setup in a cheaper device to compete with Chrome OS. Going to a 100% cloud OS will wipe the OEM out of the purchasing equation. The OS activation will be between the buyer and MS leaving the OEM out completely (business suicide). MS will have to care about the computer sold because it people don't buy OEM computers they won't need too activate the OS or buy a subscription. Being a cloud OS it will be harder to hack since the footprint for the OS will be smaller.

The problem with Linux taking over is you need 1 Linux to be adapted to get the software support need to become a started. Linux competing with itself hurts Linux from becoming a standard. I see MS making desktop OS's as long as Intel is new products.

 

I'm using Windows 10 Ent now, and imo it's a major improvement over 8 period. Even over 7. (MSDN)

 

look for bugs ...
Report...

 

I haven't found any yet worth mentioning (for instance, way back I had window suddenly close)...I'm using the 'slow' updates repo to try and keep it stable...I'm using it for work actually...

Actually again, the menu from Start feels like a KDE menu....this is the first version of windows I've actually really liked, EVER.

 

Agree 100% They can't be that stupid... but they might knowing their ego.. All I can say is if they are actually dumb enough to go monthly subscription based, look for an unpresented amount of hacked versions of Windows to show up on torrents everywhere.

 

Installed that new build of Win 10 on my tablet (Iconia W700P) and now uninstalling !!!
STILL CRAP .. blue screen ALL THE TIME
DPC Watchdog Violation error ...
Back to lovely Win 8 Pro !

 

It does something on my computer that virtually nobody else is reporting.
BLAME WINDOWS.

 

well i red that I need to upgrade firmware on my mSATA .. I've tried but LITEON IT software won't detect the SSD ..
tried booting with USB but it asking for keyboard in ancient boot environment
I've tried wireless keyb (with usb receiver) but no use ..

 

If this were a RTM version and he was one of the far and few between your statement may have more validity. Since this is a developer release specifically to find bugs and issues your statement is counter productive. They supposedly want to find the resolutions needed to prevent this and other issues.

 

I don't think throwing an insult at it and removing it at the first sign of trouble is really a good methodology for finding bugs and issues.

 

Throwing insults is really a non issue but not productive. Just pulling and not helping to figure out the issue really counter productive. We install this as a pre release software to help them get it right and stable. It should be installed, used and debugging helped out on a secondary system. I hated the UI and uninstalled but if there were a known bug I would have held to my end and kept it until sorted out.

Now if he is still having, meaning had before the current release, this bug. Help fix it or just do not complain that it is crap as you are not doing your part to make it not crap! Again this is a technical preview to help make it stable and by installing it you are agreeing to help them out.

My point is don't blame him for complaining, blame him for not helping as agreed.

 

It looks like Windows 365 will be like a subscription service , like newspaper, power, telephone ect payola by the month. M$ is finding ways to get your money, Linux is finding ways to keep your money in your pocket-less donations.

Cheers
3Fees

 

Has this actually been confirmed officially, or is everyone just making assumptions and bold claims and presenting them as fact?

 

No one has seen any official announcements so it is all speculative for now.

 

...which makes me feel like Pirx's avatar.

 

Funny thing, although probably not here, is that companies have a long standing tradition of registering names just to prevent others from doing so and/or using them. It is all just being thrown up in the air, you just have to be careful to duck as almost all of it falls back to the ground.

 

Exactly - the cost of the domain is peanuts, and yet it's taken as clear-cut proof that an entire business model will be changed.

People are just as bad when Apple files yet another ridiculous patent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Windows Office 365 is already there renewals- $10/mo for Home and $7/mo for Personal. Windows OSes is not going subscription right now, Windows 10 Free is being pushed, The early Chat(google it windows 365) is the subscription service for M$ Oses are coming, when exactly who knows,several say Windows 365 time is possible to launch subscription OSES by M$. M$ has Filed for trademark name-Windows 365.

The sales pitch is why buy an Oses on CD, DVD, ect. when it gets changed every few years, by leasing or renting licenses, changeover is easier, M$ would save boo coo bucks--no more DVD's, CD's ect sell it by digital download and get paid every month,year, ect------Also no more distribution costs to retailers of Retail Boxed Windows and OEM PC Makers.

Its the Digital Age, no need for Disks,just a network connection to download everything and pay by the month ect..

Cheer up Linux has free Oses in case you want to go that way. Free Options,,



Cheers
3Fees

 

...whatever. All still speculation - and yes, I was already well aware of Office 365 (and linux). Guess what? You can also still buy stand-alone Office.

 

I'm all about the in home streaming connectivity between devices. Would really like Xbone games and my Steam library to be able to stream to other devices. Hopefully Windows 10 is solid. I genuinely enjoy 8.1 on tablets. The Winbooks and HP Stream 7s are excellent for the price.

 

The thing that burns me about "home streaming" is it was promised, touted, supported, and then dropped all in the Xbox 360 lifecycle.
The windows XP / Vista Media Center was supposed to stream all your movies and music to Xbox 360 and even watch TV if you had a tuner card in your PC. It was a hassle to setup, and expensive to buy the Media Center editions, and complicated to keep the whole setup running properly. I had Xbox 360's in a few rooms in my house and it kinda sorta worked for a while.

Then MS forgot about the whole promise of connected living-room and no longer supports media center streaming. Just go look on their knowledgebase , its a know bug that Xbox 360 media interface no longer connects to a PC (windows 7 and later) and they don't care to fix it.

So all that hassle I tried to make it work and what do I have to show for it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing works now. Want to watch something in another room? Carry around a USB hard-drive and plug it in, is your only option now.

I'm not going to invest in all new Hardware and OS media center versions and waste my time as a home IT-person when I have already been burned before.

 

M$ is renting licenses by the month is not guess work or reading a crystal ball, M$ is doing it right now with M$ Office. If you have had any Marketing Classes its called a Market Probe , M$ is testing the water or testing Consumer Responses to billing M$ Office like your Telephone Bill or Utility Bill-monthly payments. It does not take a leap of faith to understand this. Windows 8 shows the variation from traditional operating systems Like Windows 7 ect. The outcry against windows 8 did not get them to go back to Windows 7 style , instead here is Free Windows 10 with a little Windows 7 Style.

Linux and Libre Office both free have M$ thinking, they dont want a massive migration to Linux and Libre office although some have changed already.

Linux all ready has the largest Market share for servers--its free.

M$ has nearly disposed of Operating systems disks with new PC's--maker have to buy there licenses on line.

When retail M$ disk are no longer offered, you'll see monthly bills offered and pay to who ? M$ of course.

Will Windows 10 be offered thru retail companies, so far, NO, its free and a download only from M$ server for select M$ operating systems Win 7 and 8. After the free period it becomes pay, so far pay M$ on line--is this lump sum or monthly ?. No mention of RTM Windows 10 retail disks , currently .

I have windows 8.1 retail 32 bit and 64 bit and license on credit card blank.

Cheers
3Fees