Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 New Monthly Charge

[SecularMotion]

For months Microsoft has been describing Windows 10 “as a service” and now we know why. Microsoft is going to introduce a monthly subscription fee for Windows 10 usage…

That cost will be $7 per user per month but the good news is it only applies to enterprises, for now. The new pricing tier will be called “Windows 10 Enterprise E3” and it means Windows has finally joined Office 365 and Azure as a subscription service.

Of course the big question is now: How does this new subscription pricing affect the millions of consumers who upgraded to Windows 10 on the promise of it being free?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2016/07/14/microsoft-confirms-windows-10-new-monthly-charge/#4fff7d48dfab

[MattP]

1. You really think they are going to charge a monthly fee

for people that have it already no way

[SecularMotion]

2. Yes

They'll start by charging fees for premium services and new features for current applications.

[SheilaT]

3. I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to

disable any computer running Windows 10 and not paying the fee.

[Oneironaut]

4. Microsloth still thinks it's a Monopoly. Prepare to be pushed further into the dustbin.

They're done if they start trying to pull stuff like this. Businesses hate Windows 10 as it is. Find me one business that uses it (or anything above Windows 7 for that matter).

A Google or Amazon operating system can't come fast enough.

[frankieallen]

10. They said that about Windows 7

Now it's the standard.

[n2play]

5. They seem to be on a quest for new cash avenues

In less than 2 weeks anyone with over 5GB in their free OneDrive will have their accounts disabled to read-only. They took away any bonus space including camera roll.

[MohRokTah]

17. That's baloney.

They are not after new cash avenues through Windows 10. They are after consistent cash revenues that are predictable over time in order to provide accurate forecasts for when they introduce the products for new cash avenues.

They are going to use Windows and Office as those consistent revenue generators.

Hell, I got a free subscription to Office for one year with this laptop when I purchased it at a discount. Subscription ran out and I had hundreds of documents in Microsoft office formats.

I installed Libre Office that day and haven't looked back. I'll never use Microsoft Office again.

If they decide to charge to consumers I'll never have a Windows PC again. I'll move to a free Liniux distro so fast it'll make heads spin.

[still_one]

35. It only applies to enterprises. I don't see them doing this to individual users, and it would be a

huge mistake in my view if they did that for personal users.

I am not even sure how legal it would be to start charging existing Windows 10 individual users a monthly user fee. I guess new installs or bundles perhaps, but I just don't see Microsoft doing that.

If they did that, I could see companies like Dell offering users an option of Ubuntu or Linux OSs in lieu of Windows 10.

In addition, it would potentially open up an opportunity for Apple, provided they were willing to reduce the price of their hardware.

[MohRokTah]

42. I see it happening over time.

Annual upgrade payments. They'll start out small, maybe $10 for the "new features being added this year!" but if you don't want them, don't worry, you will still get security updates and you can still use your Windows as long as you own your computer.

Predictable and consistent revenue streams are the dream of all publicly traded companies because future success and failures then become the success of new products added to that predictable and consistent revenue stream from existing product lines.

[still_one]

51. Upgrade fees I could see, I just don't see a monthly service charge to individuals for bug fixes or

security updates.

In fact that is exactly how Microsoft has been doing their major OS upgrades, they charge a nominal fee for those who want to upgrade, but no one is forced to upgrade

[melm00se]

50. its happening already in the consumer world

some in the high tech world and some outside.

Anti-virus software
Cloud storage (beyond the 5GB that seems to be the sweet spot to hook you).
Netflix
Pandora
Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon Prime
MMORPGs
etc.

all of these have a subscription model that consumers buy into with regularity

[melm00se]

37. subscription models

subscription models provide a steady residual income stream which to a business, regardless of the size, is preferable (even in lower amounts) than the "feast or famine" model that capital goods suppliers (like PCs) opertate under now.

This steady revenue stream has become even more important as computing devices last longer and are, for the most part, dreadfully overpowered for the average user.

Because of this, companies are slower to refresh personal computers (see the forecast of device sales here) so MS is looking to make up for the forecast drop in new unit sales with a residual revenue stream.

Tablet makers will be headed in the same direction in the coming years as the forecast for tablet sales seems to be following the same trajectory, albeit several years behind. as the traditional PC.

[kimbutgar]

6. I have a laptop with Windows 7 and will not turn it on until August 1st

I had to roll back my son's desktop when it on its own updated to 10. His laptop crashed after I updated it to Windows 10. Had to get a new hard drive and installed Windows 7 on it.

With Microsoft nothing is really for free.

[earthshine]

11. Here's a guarenteed and free way to block automatic Windows 10 installation ...

No need to wait until August. Just download and run this program.

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

It won't bother you again.

[kimbutgar]

15. Thanks

My Mother in law had a computer with Windows 7 and it upgraded on her. She said her computer runs terrible now. She lives in Arizona and I live in California. I picked out the original computer for her and set it up. I am going to use this on my son's laptop this weekend. I had shut off the automatic updates to keep it from upgrading.

[earthshine]

21. You'll be able to turn the Automatic Updates back on after installing Never10.

All Never10 does is change a few registery entries using the "official" MS way to block the updates.

MS had to develop this method of blocking for businesses.

Good luck.

[melm00se]

7. MS is taking this to a SaaS pricing model

because that is what their enterprise customer's want.

Enterprises want to pay for the features and services that they want, when they want them. There are plenty of things that MS Windows contains that never get used by the average user(s) so an enterprise looks at it from the perspective of "we aren't using it, why are we paying for it?"

[frankieallen]

12. Finally someone in this thread that

Knows what their talking about

[still_one]

36. that is right. Software as a service

[melm00se]

46. sorry

I should have spelled that out

[still_one]

52. You did good, I just wanted to spell it out for those not familiar with it

[Shankapotomus]

8. Why pay when Linux?

[MohRokTah]

18. Running Linux as a desktop in an Enterprise with 50,000 users would cost way too much. eom

[frankieallen]

9. It will not apply, it says right in the artical

Enterprise customers. It a new licensing structure for businesses

[DavidDvorkin]

13. Anti-MS outrage is more fun.

[lindysalsagal]

14. Because Bill Gates isn't rich enough, yet.

How the hell is he going to spend all of the money he already has?????

[frankieallen]

16. Bill gates is running a business

That employs thousands of people, good paying jobs. Should they just start giving the product away?

[hobbit709]

19. you can run a business without screwing people over.

But M$ has never cared about giving people a choice in what they wanted from their software.

[frankieallen]

23. You choice is buy it or don't. There are other

Options.

[hobbit709]

40. I make my money by fixing the things M$ screws up on other people's computers

By the time I finish tweaking Windoze it boots faster, uses less cpu cycles doing nothing and performs better.
7 is a halfway decent OS once you tweak it a little and don't let run half the crap it wants to in the background. 8 is a PITA but can be made to behave.
As far as I care 10 is their biggest POS since ME.

[LanternWaste]

57. And no doubt, Microsoft allows all your concerns the market warrants.

"As far as I care 10 is their biggest POS since ME..."

And no doubt, Microsoft allows all your anecdotal concerns the market warrants.

[hobbit709]

58. My message to M$ "Look deep into my eyes, do you any any concern down there?"

[GeorgeGist]

20. Maybe GM, Ford, or Toyota etc ..

should start charging you by the month.

[frankieallen]

22. you mean like leasing? Hmm, your right,

That will never happen.

[lindysalsagal]

24. Sure! It's not like it's his only source of profit. He already owns us all.

[awoke_in_2003]

60. And his foundation...

supports Planned Parenthood. That being said, I will stick with Apple. Should they go out of business, then back to Linux.

[eShirl]

25. kind of the ol' bait & switch, huh

Linux is free, just sayin'

[Exilednight]

26. This explains why we switched to Apple. There were also a lot of complaints

About the stability of Windows 10. It crashes at the worst times. On my home Windows laptop I use Mozilla due to the lag in Edge.

[still_one]

38. Apple has issues also that are just as frustrating

[frankieallen]

65. Edge, along with "all" the metro apps are crap, I agree with that.

In there effort to creat a single OS that runs on tablets and PCs creates a lot of headaches for users. I'm an IT admin, I still don't know how I'm suppose to exit out of a metro app.

[Yavin4]

27. Isn't this a form of Ransomeware?

I think so.

[mwrguy]

28. This is for Enterprise

Not home version.

[still_one]

39. That is right. I doubt very much if MSFT would charge a user fee for individual user of Windows.

[X_Digger]

62. Not yet, no..

I could absolutely see MS predicating future updates on subscriptions.

Or nagware that "prompts" users to "upgrade" in order to get "premium" features.

[AgadorSparticus]

29. Boy. MS just seems to make one bad decision after the next.

Their platforms have taken a beating because they keep changing it and it sucks more with each "upgrade".

Christ, MS could not drive their organization right into the ground any faster if they tried.

And who the heck would think this is a good idea? No one is going to be willing to pay a fracking monthly fee. No one. I would change OS in a heartbeat--even if that meant stepping into the iOS universe.

If MS wants to improve their bottom line, I would suggest going back to good ol innovation. Not start some absurd monthly fee.

[1StrongBlackMan]

31. I installed 10 on my laptop a while back ...

and my computer has been acting really shitty since awhile back ... it freezes and loads stuff really slowly and I keep losing the WiFi connection. Being the Techno-idiot that I am, I was going to go out and get another lap-top ... it never dawned on me that the shitty might be the 10.

[AgadorSparticus]

33. Everytime I logon, it asks me to update and everytime, I say no.

I have heard nothing but horror stories with every "upgrade" since windows 5 or 7? I can't remember....All the train wrecks run together after a while...

They should just leave it alone. The only upgrade should be in bolstering the security.

[melm00se]

45. who the heck would think this is a good idea?

seriously?

medium to large companies are quickly switching to a consumption based economics model (pay for it when you need it rather than paying for it and never using it).

There are plenty of advantages to this model from a finance perspective. OpEx spending, in many companies, is preferable to CapEx spending. OpEx is steady, consistent and easily altered if the business climate and revenues change. Whereas a CapEx expenditure can (and many times does) carry a medium/long term debt commitment which can be difficult, costly and damaging to get out of (or into) if the business/revenue climate changes. It makes companies far more agile and adaptable.

Suppliers (like MS) are making these changes because (among other reasons) their clients are demanding this change in consumption model.

[AgadorSparticus]

48. That's fancy and makes sense...for MS. But I really doubt people who haven't paid for it for decades

Are going to be willing to change and start paying a user fee.

[melm00se]

53. It's not for everybody

especially if they don't see a value in it.

Consumers, for the most part, don't run into issues. They are happy if they turn it on and it works.

There are and will be consumers who want the product to do something more, faster, better than the base product and will be willing to pay for that functionality.

Ask yourself this question:

if you thought you could see a doubling in performance by either paying a $120 one time fee (where you own it whether it does what you thought it would or not) or a $7.50 monthly subscription (if it works, you keep paying, if it doesn't you stop), which would you choose?

[AgadorSparticus]

56. I would choose the one time fee. And here's why: the computer is something I use daily.

If it doesn't work and I have extended issues with it, I wouldn't just STOP the service, I would be looking to switch to another system entirely for good. This is not something I would stop and turn back on once the bugs get ironed out.

But here is the thing. It is a necessity for me. As I am sure it is for many folks. So I am not looking at it from a short term standpoint. I am looking to use it for years and years--in which case, I would be better off to pay the 1 time fee. So at those numbers, I would just have to use it for a year to recoup my expenses. And if it is THAT bad that I can't even make it to a year, then, I have bigger fish to fry than just losing out on the $120. If I can't make it to a year, MS will lose me as not just a customer, but a user for not just years, but DECADES. THAT is what MS should be thinking of--- the quality of their product which leads to customer retention.

[artyteacher]

30. my friend is teaching me linux.... eom

[LynneSin]

32. And I wonder why I still have Windows 7 on my computer

I refused to do the update.

They were giving it away for free. NOTHING is for free.

I realize I'm just a consumer but I can see that policy changing

[hobbit709]

44. As I told a customer who brought his laptop in after he got the "free" upgrade.

He said "But it was free"
I replied "And it's worth every penny you paid for it"

[GOLGO 13]

34. So looking forward to a version of Linux that doesn't require a computer science degree to run.

[still_one]

41. You know Macs run on Unix right? Problem with Macs is their hardware costs more than the PCs that

run Microsoft.

[Rex]

49. Linux is now icon driven like Windows, you will find it easy to use.

You can still get command line driven, but Linux is all grown up and ready for use by anyone. Don't need a CS degree.

[hunter]

55. ChromeOS -- Let Google do it all.

I'm beginning to recommend ChromeOS to anyone who mostly uses their computer as a web browser; for email, facebook, etc..

An inexpensive chromebook is all I travel with these days. No worries.

My desktop machines run Debian. Those do the heavy lifting of grinding numbers, emulating old machines, compiling programs, modifying photographs (I use gimp, not photoshop), etc.

The last Windows I used was 98SE.

[sarcasmo]

43. Chromebook, never again with Microsoft.

[Rex]

47. I love my OEM Win7!

Only good thing about working in IT.

[Warpy]

54. I told people on another site that they were going to pull this shit

and change from selling the software to renting it month by month. I got slammed.

Sometimes I just hate being right.

[Igel]

59. I wonder how that'll affect educational users.

My school district is one-to-one, and the student computers currently run Win10.

Rumor is in the next year or two students'll be converted over to thin clients. (At the risk of being annoying, many have personally made that conversion already. No very low on-board storage and most of their "software" is "in the cloud." I told one retiring teacher that this is the generation of level students that'll be taking care of her when she's old and senile, and her response was, "That's what bridges are for.&quot

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

61. Took the update on my desktop from 8 to 10

10 is so much better than the suck that is 8.

That said, I'm NOT FUCKING GIVING UP 7 on my laptop.

[Warren DeMontague]

63. I HEARD FACEBOOK IS GOING TO START CHARGING USERS 5 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY

IT'S TRUE!

[tammywammy]

66. Heh.

It makes sense for enterprise users to go to a service fee structure.

[NuclearDem]

64. So, looks like I'm sticking with Windows 7.