Posted on 07/19/2015 4:55:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Microsoft today refreshed its Windows support lifecycle fact sheet to include Windows 10, saying there that it would provide updates to the new OS for 10 years, or until October 2025.
The new information puts to rest one of the biggest remaining questions about Windows 10: what has Microsoft meant since January by describing the policy as running for the supported lifetime of the device when it described the operating system's support timeline?
"The traditional 10-year support lifecycle applies to all SKUs [stock-keeping units]," a Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed in a follow-up email [emphasis added]. SKUs represent the various editions of the OS, such as Windows 10 Home, the primary consumer-grade version, Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise.
The fact sheet now includes a one-line mention that lists "Windows 10, released in July 2015," a departure from the name-only practice that showed "Windows 8" for that operating system but sans a date.
Windows 10 will be supported for five years in "mainstream" support until Oct. 13, 2020, and then another five years in "extended" support until Oct. 14, 2025.
Traditionally, Microsoft has split the decade of OS support into those two categories, offering both security and bug fixes in mainstream but only security updates in extended.
Windows 10, however, will use a new -- and for Microsoft, a radical -- approach where feature and functional, UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) changes will be delivered on a continual cadence to make good on its claim of "Windows as a service." That's a major departure from the past, even from Windows 8, which was updated 12 months after its debut with new features and functionality by Windows 8.1.
(Excerpt) Read more at computerworld.com ...
Ask yourself why microsoft is giving away the operating system.
How do they make the money to run the company if they give away half a billion copies?
We are going to be spied on. Like our cell phones, all the programs will report back and the data sold.
I still say they will start charging in a few years. The only other way is if people buy enough apps that keeps microsoft afloat.
Now that’s news! MS plans to keep Win10 going for 10 years? Did they go that long with ANY of their previous OSes? (outside of MS-DOS which they purchased for $10,000)
Actually, Microsoft’s normal support period has typically been 10, from start to finish. Toward the end, no new features are released, but security latches are still authored and offered.
“latches” = “patches”
Typing on a phone is not always the most foolproof.
“tour” = “your”
Another typo due to phone and poor proofing on my part.
Speaking of Mint
Works more like windows than windows.
Double-edged disclosure: I have several Microsoft certifications and work as a Microsoft systems architect. I have a very broad and very deep knowledge set with Microsoft technologies.
Windows 8 itself was not developed for a failed phone environment. Windows 8 was designed with tablets (Surface) and touchscreen operating environments in mind. It’s done VERY well in both of those sectors. Windows 8 was also the next iteration of Microsoft’s hardened kernel where APIs could no longer run as “kernel mode” and required a specific hook to do anything at a kernel level, which is arguably unnecessary anymore. Your argument that Windows 8 was designed for profit is faulty and rebutted by the fact you’re arguing about it in the first place.
Microsoft is NOT “giving away Windows 10 for free.” On the contrary, they are granting a one-year upgrade period for currently-licensed OS owners. If you have Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can upgrade to Windows 10 at no cost. After a year, you’ll have to buy the OS or an OS upgrade package. They’re asking people to migrate to bring their platforms to a consistent level for one very public reason: they’re killing off x86 (32-bit) support! Windows 7 and Windows 8 support 32-bit operating environments. The amount of bloat present in the operating system due to retaining of files for legacy support is staggering, and they’ve said, “Enough.” This is Microsoft’s way of warning the public: upgrade or die.
Whether or not you understand it, if you own an Apple device, upgrades like this happen several times a year, oftentimes changing the UI. Apple is not immune from public criticism for UI changes. Microsoft is just a bigger target.
Full time video windows? Keylogging? What are you on about?
Your focus is shifting each time you try to rebut the argument. This is what I mean about people in these threads. You’re making Microsoft out to be some sort of ghoul. If you have a problem with the UI, just say you have a problem with the UI. Otherwise, don’t sit here and argue Microsoft eccentricities with FReepers who are certified experts in their products.
I just upgraded to Windows 8 from 7. Actually after bit of playing around I’ve got it working quite well. ( or it has me working quite well )
It’s faster and works better with all my hardware.
Computers are tools, not objects of devotion. I don’t read car manuals, until I need to change a bulb - the interfaces are intuitive. I don’t read TV manuals - the interfaces are intuitive based on past experiences. And I don’t read computer manuals - the interfaces should be intuitive. Something that the idiots at Microsoft apparently don’t understand.
Just because someone is fishing for a bonus for coming up with something new, doesn’t mean it should be implemented as the default. And if you professors didn’t teach you that, you should demand a refund. They were idiots, as well.
What the world lacks today is common sense. Certainly it is lacking at Microsoft. In fact, they, like many companies, would be well served by naming a senior vice president for common sense, with veto authority over all ideas.
By the way, pup, 30 years ago, computers had command lines. Programmers had to know how to write code, not just copy and paste.
As far as I’m aware, Windows 10 is not going to have the “tile” interface that Windows 8 has/had. At least not by default. It’s going to look a lot like Windows 7. Again as far as I understand.
I’m 36. I’m well aware how they worked back then, writing my first program in 1988.
New features are added to OSs. This is not new to 2015, and it isnt going to stop because a small subset of users cant deal with new stuff. Maybe one day MS, Apple or Linux will make a Jitterbug OS. Until then no amount of “get off my lawn” whining will force tech to come to a complete halt in development.
That is why your computer today isnt the same as 30 years ago.
It's pretty close. Toughest thing about it for a newbie is making a bootable flash drive to install it. Works better for the basic stuff on a Dell netbook (Yes, I admit I bought one.) than Lubuntu.
You haven't installed Mint or Ubuntu , have you? I got Red Hat 5.2 installed on a Dell desktop 15 years ago without having to "configure drivers".
” I got Red Hat 5.2 installed on a Dell desktop 15 years ago without having to “configure drivers”.”
You are right as most of the time, you wont have proper drivers at all.
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