Windows 10 Will Be Free To Users Who Test It 281
An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft has been making a big push to change its business model for Windows — likely due to the low/no cost updates you can get for competing operating systems. The company surprised everyone when it said legit copies of Windows 7 and 8 would be supplied with free upgrades, but now they're extending that even further: anyone who tests the Windows 10 Technical Preview will get a free upgrade to the full version of Windows 10 when it comes out. In a blog post, Microsoft's Gabe Aul said, "As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the [Microsoft account] you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated. Once you have successfully installed this build and activated, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh."
But I pirated Windows 7 Ultimate (Score:2, Interesting)
Will I get Windows 10 Ultimate??
Re:But I pirated Windows 7 Ultimate (Score:5, Funny)
> Will I get Windows 10 Ultimate??
Yes, you will. As a punishment.
Re: But I pirated Windows 7 Ultimate (Score:2)
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Do you have a little nag icon on your taskbar that says, "Get Windows 10"?
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It's like herpes (Score:2)
I followed the instructions (forget where) to get rid of it, but it came back.
So that means it's free to everyone (Score:5, Funny)
Re:So that means it's free to everyone (Score:4, Funny)
Because we've all been beta-testing Windows since forever.
Wait till someone lets you in on the secret of Linux.
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Because we've all been beta-testing Windows since forever.
Wait till someone lets you in on the secret of Linux.
Wait until you get your refund from Linux.
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You don't get to tout how great Linux is then pull the 'you get what you paid for' nonsense when it falls short. One or the other, not both.
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Why is this modded down? I remember people here anxiously awaiting a four-core Android phone with dreams of finally getting smooth scrolling.
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I'd add Vista and 8/8.1 to that. 7 is not that bad, but XP was faster on same hardware. ME? only thing it had for it it rebooted really fast after bluescreening :p
Re:So that means it's free to everyone (Score:5, Informative)
only if you install windows 10 preview and give in to the online requirement and link your windows to a microsoft account
That might be because it's a tech preview explicitly meant for people who are willing to test it. Reporting back information to Microsoft is the entire fucking point.
Windows 10 RTM will have no such requirement.
Re: So that means it's free to everyone (Score:3)
I would vote you up if I had modpoints today.
The upgrades from the full systems pop up whether the useraccount is linked to the microsoft account or if you simply created a user on Windows 7.
And yes, if someone signs up specifically for a beta program were every click is analyzed and any feedback linked to an account I think it is OK to get the free copy connected to that account. Because this copy is free (as in beer, but not as in speech).
It does not upgrade a bought copy. The alternative would be that ev
Re: So that means it's free to everyone (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't think Microsoft is giving 10 away to appease users of 8. I think they want to avoid 7 turning into another XP where a crapload of users stick with it so it is hard for them to ditch it, and they end up having to support it for 14 years. That will ROYALLY screw up their "Windows 10 is the final Windows" plan, which I *think* means they plan to charge an annual fee for it (the other shoe for Windows' future licensing model has yet to drop, and I think they expect that most people will hate it, but that they'll hate it only after it's already too late.)
However it would be silly to give it to users of Windows 7 but not users of Windows 8, so they're just giving it to both.
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Too late. There is only one person in my workplace that wants the tile interface and that's a person that already has it on a home PC. With the change to tiles I suspect a lot of people are going to stay on Win7 just to have a desktop that they are used to (and not the fucking insane idea of invisible controls hidden off screen).
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Haven't been following it too closely, but I don't really see the new start menu as all that inspiring. I think that Win7 was a genuine improvement over XP. Having an in-focus search box when you hit the start key was actually a bit like having a command line, etc.
All those tiles just make everything appear less distinct and harder to find, and it seems like I'll be able to fit less stuff on my screen.
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Can anyone think of another kind of business that does that?
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The pop-ups and even reboots in the middle of full screen games are finally explained!
Re: So that means it's free to everyone (Score:2)
Haha.
For instance, MS bought the company that was about to make the best looking game at the time for the PC and made it xbox-exclusive for years. And they did a lot of "xbox-exclusives", that would have run better on their own f...ing OS than it would ever on the xbox. An OS people paid for. And considering "pro" and "ultimate" it wasn't that small of an amount.
The the diversification of the installed directx-versions by making the newest directx exclusive to their newest OS was stupid and destructive for
Re:So that means it's free to everyone (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:So that means it's free to everyone (Score:5, Insightful)
Maybe it's about time for you guys to consider alternatives to Windows? It sounds like it's not exactly the right tool for the job.
Re: So that means it's free to everyone (Score:2)
Not just Microsoft which is one thing but it advertises itself aggressively on the network, similarly discovery and pulls in a lot of data from 'apps' and 'tiles'
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The point made was that there will be a product key involved. They have to send you that, and they only do that if you preview 10 with a Microsoft account. That being the case, it's a simple matter for then to store which keys went with which account.
Clean installs are irrelevant. Being a local user is irrelevant. If you buy or are given anything online that needs activating with a unique key, it's its origin can always be traced back to you.
Uh, no. You don't have to provide any self-identifying information to create a Microsoft account and local accounts aren't accessible by Microsoft.
Sorry, but you fail. Try again.
Clean install from final media (Score:2, Funny)
By "final media" do they mean bittorrent? Because that's where I've historically gotten all of my windows media from
Desperation (Score:3)
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I don't know if I'd call it "desperation" so much as "recognizing a changing landscape." Its hard to compete with free (Linux) and Apple's essentially giving away OSX with their hardware as well. Windows is the only major OS you still pay for these days.
And really, its not all that much skin off their backs. Probably 90+% of people who already have Windows will never upgrade it until/unless they upgrade the entire computer with a preinstalled OEM version. Not that I have any insider info, but I would gu
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Setting the record straight via fact/truth... apk (Score:2, Insightful)
Linux has done such a "fine job" there on the desktop & only reason it's used on servers + smartphones is that it is FREE, keeping per unit costs down - & THAT is the ONLY real reason!
(It's certainly not 'superiority', since face facts: Device drivers of solid quality for peripherals happens for Windows for sure, & it is what truly separates Windows & sets it ABOVE Linux - it's nigh guaranteed since Windows "rules the roost" marketshare-wise on BOTH PC desktops + servers combined).
Fact: Linu
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FREE is too expensive! When they offer me a free computer and pay me $50 per hour to beta test their crapware, then I'll bite. Until then, I'll continue to use Linux Mint because it Just Works
Linux Mint currently has 3853 open bugs [launchpad.net].
Because Microsoft laid off their QA team last fall (Score:5, Informative)
It's not really all that surprising that MS wants additional testing badly enough to give away copies of Win10 for free to get it. Remember the fact that part of Microsoft's 2014 layoffs included elimination of all the SDETs in the Windows division. Those that were deemed worthy to stay were converted to SDEs and the rest were told to hit the road.
Needless to say, the result is likely to be exactly what one would expect of canning the entire test team suddenly, if the state of the technical previews has been any indication...
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Except that's fucking bullshit. It's the job of the person making the assertion to back it up with evidence, not the audience. Otherwise I'll casually assert that you like have sex with goats. Is it my job to prove that assertion, or your job to disprove it?
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It is certainly not the job of every poster to anticipate how uninformed you are and then provide links to help you combat your own ignorance. If you couldn't get proof by simply googling it would then - at that point - it be reasonable to ask for some kind of citation. As it stands now you are just another sad and pathetic variation of the Citation Needed weenie.
Enough already. (Score:2)
I see we now have a balloon, a stained glass window icon and the real-life Microsoft logo appearing in-line with the headline.
Thankfully without obscuring the text. This time.
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It's actually the old Microsoft logo. The new one is basically like the stained glass window, without the window frame. :)
And if you "want" the logos to obscure the text, you just have to narrow your window width to a size of 950 pixels or less
But (Score:2)
Then my computer will have Windows 10??
Locked to one PC? (Score:2)
"...you will also be able to clean install on *that* PC from final media if you want to start over fresh."
What if I get a new computer or upgrade my CPU/motherboard?
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I quite agree. I have been beta testing the preview edition for the last few months. A few days ago, Microsoft included the new Windows logo in the status section of the Windows 7 & 8 toolbars, which if clicked prompt people to reserve their copies. I went to the local Microsoft store and asked them about it on my Winbook, and was told that I'd have to reinstall 8.1 and then upgrade. Which is ridiculous - going from Preview Edition to the Release version should be as simple as a Windows update. No
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Peh. I just called MS and they re-authorized the serial I had. It took me no more than 5 minutes on the phone for them to give me the counter-challenge for it.
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It took me no more than 5 minutes on the phone for them to give me the counter-challenge for it.
I just installed a new copy of Kubuntu on five computers, and I didn't have to spend even one second asking for permission to do so.
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I just installed a new copy of Kubuntu on five computers, and I didn't have to spend even one second asking for permission to do so.
That's great, when I do a deployment I can do it across 450 machines at a time and don't have to ask permission either. Shocking!
Connected? (Score:2)
build and connected with the [Microsoft account] you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated.
Is this like Windows 8 where it nags you to sign in with a @msn or @hotmail account?
Because I'm very much uninterested in having Microsoft follow along with my daily activities.
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I own a surface and as annoying as using this for my hotmail account it is really nice to have Office 365, Onedrive, favorites, and even desktop wallpapers and settings synced together. Even if you use Android you can gain the cloud functionality portion and MS office too!
MS doesn't track your daily activities. The purpose is to get you on Onedrive and it's cloud offerings. You are free to use it or not. I use it because it is included. I have a truecrypt container I put on it for important files encrypted
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No you don't. You can use a local account; and still use the app store. I've both 8.1 and the 10 tech preview setup like that.
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Windows 8 asks if you want a Microsoft account or a local account exactly once during installation
Ok. This isn't quite true. Windows 8 -assumes- you want a microsoft account, and makes the option of using a local account, more than little non-obvious.
Apple, for what its worth isn't any better.
and never bothers you about it again.
Also not quite true; various interactions with the store require you to sign into the store; and if you are not paying attention, the default path the wizard takes you down will convert your local account into a microsoft account. It warns you this is going to happen, but if your not paying attention you can end up with a microsoft account after installing with a local one.
You must have got drunk, passed out and dreamt about the nags.
If you never use the app store, you won't see any nags. But if you do, it will prompt you to sign in to the store with your ms account; and it will "helpfully" suggest you switch your account to a microsoft account to make your life "better".
yes ... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:yes ... (Score:4, Informative)
If your PC runs Windows 7 it'll run Windows 10. There have been no increase in performance requirements in the past 3 versions of windows. In fact Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 are working on ever increasing memory and CPU efficiency.
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If your PC runs Windows 7 it'll run Windows 10. There have been no increase in performance requirements in the past 3 versions of windows. In fact Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 are working on ever increasing memory and CPU efficiency.
Not true. It requires UEFI 2.3.1 with CSM bios turned off.
Unless I misread something. If you have a 2011 era computer with a bios with no EFI your options are 8.1 or 7 until they go EOL. Any new pc from 2013 or later should have them but I have not seen much at all in 2012 or earlier besides some botique boards and imacs that had UEFI 2.3.1.
Re:yes ... (Score:4, Interesting)
Jury is out.
It looks like to get a Windows certification OEMs *must* ship with UEFI 2.3.1 and with Secure Boot enabled by default. It also looks like they've removed the requirement that Secure Boot must be selectable on x86 architectures (which is a backtrack and potentially a problem for Linux). Also it appears that this requirement will only be enforced after 1 year from the Windows 10 release. This is based on replies on the Microsoft Forums.
Currently the technical preview has no problem running under Legacy BIOS (actually people are having more problems installing it on UEFI BIOSes based on forum complaints.
That said some of the media sites are reporting that UEFI is not optional, but I can't find anything on the Microsoft site to say that.
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Since I just finished installing a copy on a 2010 machine(Asus board first gen USB3 w/AMD965BE) that only had a BIOS, pretty sure it seems to be working just fine.
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Factional infighting (Score:2)
Just like in an empire or communist party, the conflicting reports/retractions make it increasingly obvious that some infighting is going on in Redmond. Interesting is who gets purged.
Can I please have my XP interface back? (Score:2)
I just want to have the old XP interface back. Hell, I'd pay double retail for that option. I love the internals of 7 and 8, but so hate the interface.
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Which part? My 7 (and my 8) looks strikingly like XP. Some of the internals have moved, but they're not hard to find (esp with global search and shortcuts).
Nervous about upgrading (Score:2)
My concern is this: only the more expensive ("pro") versions will let you control your upgrades. Upgrades are pretty filthy- routinely booting you out of games, crashing stuff you need to have happen, messing up everything- and disabling that and only doing it when YOU want is a pretty big deal.
More importantly, making this a "premium only" feature means that, once you have 10, your choices are
1- Take exactly the upgrades they want on your machine, when they want it, forever,
2- Some kind of hack
3- Pay for
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If you pay full price for Win 10 you still get the full ownership experience. This option will always exist as they have to support enterprise users who require that kind of control over the machine. I have Win 8.1 pro running classic shell and I still have full control over my PC without having some crazy hotmail login, why would that change for Win 10?
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http://www.howtogeek.com/21916... [howtogeek.com]
I mean, it's an announced negafeature already. You have to get one of the non-home versions to do this. What version do all these "free" upgrades give you? The one where you can't turn off their binaries, advertisements, and whatever the fuck else they think is good for you to have.
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I mean really, it should be obvious by now- if Microsoft is willing to jump through hoops to prevent you from disabling auto-update, then it must be VERY much in your interest to disable auto-update. It must be super in your best interest if they are willing to try to shut it off. They wouldn't take away that if you weren't gonna need it real bad in the near future.
Support Lifecycle for Windows 10 (Score:2)
The real questions that needs to be answered is what the support lifecycle for Windows 10 is. With Windows 7 we are right to 2020, with Windows 8.1 it is good until 2023 ... with Windows 10 .. well there is just a bunch of talk about software as a service and nothing at all about the length of support.
Free Windows or Free Testers? (Score:2)
Home users get forced updates, like you can read here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/219166/you-won%E2%80%99t-be-able-to-disable-or-delay-windows-updates-on-windows-10-home/
Who tests these updates? Are the "happy" Insiders unwilling test subjects? Will you just get notifications, like:
"Windows installed some potentially unstable updates on your computer. Please provide feedback and error logs before we release these to real users. Thank you for your co-operation."
Freebie! wooho! (Score:2)
Excellent, I was going to pony up £80 for a new license for the new PC I'm building. Now I'll spend more on the hardware. I hope this works on Virtual Box so I don't mess up my current machine.
free....wha? (Score:2)
OK so wait, their first announcement that if you upgraded to Win10 now, you could have it for free.
Now they say that if you are willing to test it, you can have it for free forever ...which would imply that the PREVIOUS announcement *wasn't* 'forever'.
So, clarify this for me... (Score:2)
- If I do a clean install of Windows 10 Preview onto a computer, that will turn into a full license of Windows 10 on July 29, no upgrade from a previous version of Windows is necessary? Or does this only apply if I've installed Windows 10 Preview onto an installation of Windows 7 or 8.1?
(http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/06/19/upcoming-changes-to-windows-10-insider-preview-builds/ is unclear on this, saying "As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used
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Also from TFA: "Update, June 21st 9:45AM: Microsoft has updated its blog post today and removed references to 'remain activated.' The stealthy edit isn't acknowledged, and we've reached out to the company for comment."
Update: "remain activated" deleted in MS blog post (Score:4, Interesting)
From TFA:
I bet /. comments helped encourage this.
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Dunno what your problem was - I've been running Windows 10 via KVM and VirtualBox since 10041. Works well with the KVM virtio drivers.
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Dunno what your problem was - I've been running Windows 10 via KVM and VirtualBox since 10041. Works well with the KVM virtio drivers.
One real problem is once you "upgrade" to Windows 10 from say Windows 7 - there is no going back Having checked it out on their website, My Windows 7 copy is no longer registrable.
So if Windows 10 is the steaming smelly pile of elephant shit that Windows 8 is, I would have no choice than to buy another copy of Windows 7 Pro.
I'm not going to spend good money beta testing that one way trip.
I think I might wait until about day 364 to decide if I want that free upgrade or downgrade as the case may be.
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So make an image of your Windows 7 setup before you upgrade.
Re:not interested...unless. (Score:4, Informative)
Shame you can't make an image of MS' activation servers, too, because that's the problem.
Re:not interested...unless. (Score:4, Informative)
So make an image of your Windows 7 setup before you upgrade.
From Microsoft:
http://answers.microsoft.com/e... [microsoft.com]
Specifically :If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.
Try it and tell me how it works for you?
Re:not interested...unless. (Score:4, Informative)
One real problem is once you "upgrade" to Windows 10 from say Windows 7 - there is no going back Having checked it out on their website, My Windows 7 copy is no longer registrable.
The free program Advanced Tokens Manager [joshcellsoftwares.com] allows you to back up your activation and reapply it at as many times as you want.
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You must have the correct SLIC (Software Licensing Description Table) for OEM activations.
Does this mean there's some sort of hardware ID magic that happens when you use an OEM copy, or is this saying you must have an OEM copy for the tool to work?
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"there is no going back Having checked it out on their website, My Windows 7 copy is no longer registrable."
Oh you absolutely can go back.
Install an OEM version with DAZ windows loader 2.2.2, then edit the registry to use your KEY.
You are back to a legal version that matches your COA.
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"there is no going back Having checked it out on their website, My Windows 7 copy is no longer registrable." Oh you absolutely can go back.
Install an OEM version with DAZ windows loader 2.2.2, then edit the registry to use your KEY.
You are back to a legal version that matches your COA.
Good grief, if W10 is good, I'll install it. But if it's shit, I'll just stick with 7. Really shouldn't be any need to fuss around. All this activity has been about workaraounds and people not accepting what Microsoft says.
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Well truth be told to you and the grandparent here that Windows 7 is heading towards another WIndows XP. It is legacy now and in a short time will go EOL. Windows 7 won't be around forever.
Windows 10 is the last OS by Microsoft. Future versions will be MacOSX like 10.1, 10.2, etc.
I forced myself a few months ago to switch to Windows 8.1. Actually I found out I just did not like change mostly and didn't realize it. I put in a start menu replacement and modernMIX to make apps act like applications and found g
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No QA team is left at Microsoft and were laid off
No QA team? Sure, some QA people were laid off, but I'm quite sure Microsoft still has a nicely sized QA department. :)
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Oh, just shut the fuck up. You keep spouting all of this FUD when it's painfully obvious that you don't have a fucking clue what you are talking about.
From Microsoft:
If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.
The specific page:
http://answers.microsoft.com/e... [microsoft.com]
Now play nice.
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You already get to upgrade to 10 for free if you're running 7 or 8.
This offer would be targeting the people on older platforms without and existing upgrade path. Still running XP? Beta test 10 and get it for free. (Course if you're still running XP you'd probably like to get new hardware now anyway).
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... just don't install it on hardware.
When you register it, your Windows 7 hardware install is no longer "Genuine Microsoft". But if you want to donate one of yours......
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Have you tried calling Microsoft's customer support about this? In the past, they have always been super friendly whenever I talked to them. They know that their licensing is super confusing and it is easily possible to trip up the automated license enforcement mechanisms. But in my experience they are usually willing to work with you. If your complaint sounds at least somewhat plausible, they will either figure out how to undo the damage you did, or they will send you a new license.
Of course, if you just m
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Old Olsonic hasn't used anything from Microsoft since Windows 3.1. That's a very bitter slashbotter.
Truth be told, I stopped at Windows 8.1 when my wife refused to use her laptop any more.
But after that (blessed) hiatus, I needed a copy of some form of Windows from 7 or up, when I bought a Software defined FlexRadio, and although there is an API for OSX, it doesn't have the full command set.
So I bought a fresh copy of Windows 7 pro in order to use their fully fleshed out program, that also has remote operation, SmartSDR.
Runs quite nicely with Bootcamp.
But I have no intention of putting up with a
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Can't most X11 window managers in Linux distros be configured to look similar enough to Windows to feel like "home"?
Yes, I have a Linux Mint install configured to look and mostly act like XP. It's still Linux underneath. An XP or W7 user would be able to find their way around, until they operned a terminal.
I haven't seen any W7 imitations, but I wouldn't be surprised.
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I use not Linux, but PC-BSD, and while I'm happy w/ it, there are some things which I can't do, which is why I got the $100 Winbook on the side for those missing apps. Aside from being able to open and edit Office documents (I use Calligra rather than Libre Office), there are times I need to do things like GoToMeeting or other apps that just don't work outside Windows or Android/OS-X. Also, there are some web sites that recognize your environment and throw up their arms in despair if you try to run the
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After my girlfriend broke up with me I had a Real Doll [realdoll.com] created that looks just like her. Lower maintenance cost, fewer viruses, better documentation, infinitely more user friendly, and she completely respects my privacy.
Umm, well that was entertaining. The've actually managed to cross the bottom of the uncanny valley.
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I would imagine that if you don't immerse it in hot water for a while before use it'd be uncannily similar to fucking a corpse.
But I suppose it will allow you to drive in the HOV lanes.
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You've still got to deal with the slowness of X, which rapes the CPU even when doing something as simple as moving a window and still makes disabaling desktop composition necessary to maintain decent frame rates in modern games.
Compiz has solved both problems for years. The default is now to unredirect all fullscreen windows, which makes most games work fine without any additional trickery.
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Only if they can play all the Windows-only games that exist, and since Linux cannot, it will not take off like people such as yourself would like...
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Let me know when I can run SolidWorks, Altium, and Adobe Premiere in Linux because those are just a few applications I happen to dabble with.
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Because it works!
It comes with their computer. It was they use at work. Their documents do not look funny on other computers. It is stable (yes slashdotters it is not 1998 anymore as WIndows uses an NT kernel now), and most important RUNS ALL THEIR SOFTWARE. No WINE. No hacks, No clones of what they used on their work pcs.
Why would someone want to change? Why put up with xorg.conf files, drivers breaking after a release update, finding drivers, etc. I left linux a few years ago as my main OS and unless thi
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As an ex-hardcore gamer let me know when ALL my favorite games run natively under Linux; not emulated with a performance hit, or buggy implementation of Wine.
I prefer OSX and Linux for development but the reality is that Windows is the where the majority of new games are (only) released on.
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Where is AutoCAD for Linux
Where is RAM/Elements for OSX
Where is Photoshop for Linux
Where is ProTools for Linux
Where is Pro/Engineer for OSX
I'm not looking for some "alternative" - I have 20 years of designs, arts, compositions in those native formats and it costs me $200/hr to convert, change and retrain.
The cost of switching from Windows to another OS which HAS an equivalent program is going to be into 5 figures for every employee. The cost to switch to a different program (many of which take 2-3000 hours
Re:Trialware - not free (Score:5, Informative)
Then your understanding is wrong. As per Gabe Aul [twitter.com], you own it.
The "one year" thing is to push people into upgrading sooner rather than later. If you upgrade within the first year, Windows 10 is free for the life of the device (and that includes reinstalls; so long as you have a Microsoft account and your Windows user is connected to that account, you can reinstall on that device to your heart's content.
If you delay in upgrading past that one year mark, you need to go buy a copy.
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Then your understanding is wrong. As per Gabe Aul [twitter.com], you own it.
The "one year" thing is to push people into upgrading sooner rather than later. If you upgrade within the first year, Windows 10 is free for the life of the device (and that includes reinstalls; so long as you have a Microsoft account and your Windows user is connected to that account, you can reinstall on that device to your heart's content.
If you delay in upgrading past that one year mark, you need to go buy a copy.
Hopefully they release SP1 within that first year.
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Shouldn't we call it "free trial" rather than "free"? As far as I understand it, we're going to have to pay up after the first year of "trial". This goes for everyone including us who got a full Windows installation.
You understand incorrectly.
Once you have a Windows 10 key, its yours.
To make it more obvious, the price for the foist year will be $0.00, and if you "buy" it during this time for the low, low price of $0.00 then you get a key that doesn't expire.
If you buy it after that year the price will be more than $0.00 (let's say $x, where x is not zero) and you will get a key that doesn't expire.
What will almost certainly happen though is that the period where it is available for free will be extended indefinitely. I
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No problem. There was a lot of mixed information about how the free Windows keys would work due to a lack of info from MS themselves when they announced it, whether it would be one year only, and whether you'd be able to do a clean install or just an upgrade only etc.
Microsoft has clarified that it's a full Windows key that can be used for clean installs and that once you have it, it's the same as buying a copy of Windows today.
Re: (Score:2)
Free Windows upgrade for testing sounds like barter system. If you want to provide feedback, you will sign on. If not, you won't. If you get paid to test, then don't participate.
Are you going for insightful? Or interesting? Or maybe informative?
Glad to know that you are not part of the ecosystem involved, based on your answer, so, and I say this with the utmost respect because I have no other basis to tear you a new aresehole, fuck off and die please for the betterment of humanity.
Re:Ha-ha. No. (Score:4, Insightful)
A small price to pay to get a free OS for my gaming PC that won't be used for anything else.
Re: (Score:2)