This is something M$FT has been trying to do for years.
Win 10 is a start.
Rather than you “owning” the software, M$FT wants to ding you with a periodic subscription fee.
It’s coming.
Which makes Windows 10 my last system. I don’t mind buying it, but I don’t want to rent it and pay a fee to keep it.
They’ve already started with Office 365. Adobe started this whole ball rolling a few years back when Photoshop went subscription. The nose is under the tent. Just like baggage fees with airlines, it’s started and they’ll never go away.
The software I use at work is all subscription based...been that way for a long time and keeps the software companies rolling in the $$.
I don’t think that I’ve ‘owned’ any MS OS since my initial purchase of Dos 3.1 considering all of the ‘upgrades’... 3.1~3.5 and then on to Windows.
I was quite content with XP until it and my old Gateway wouldn’t seem to accept any new versions of Firefox.
At least the new CPU’s aren’t costing $2500 to replace. My current Dell was (in comparison) a meager $500. (probably equivalent to my first Tandy in current dollars?)
Am considering getting another one to load Linux on, perhaps also an Apple OS (I understand that is possible?). Even the refurb Apples are expensive in comparison.
On another thought... I wonder how many of MS X numbers are actually users versus downloads onto machines that haven’t been installed? (I deleted at least a dozen from my update list until using GWX).
I still keep my Gateway ready to use, programs and files that I want to keep and use. Wish that I still had my ALR — it had a GREAT word processing program, basic CAD and others...* and also the printers. Oh, the printers... dot matrix with ribbons, narrow and wide paper (green and white spaces).
* recipes for Long Island Ice tea and Glug.