The free upgrade offer to Windows 10 was a first for Microsoft, helping people upgrade faster than ever before. And time is running out. The free upgrade offer will end on July 29 and we want to make sure you don’t miss out. After July 29th, you’ll be able to continue to get Windows 10 on a new device, or purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home for $119.
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If you’ve already upgraded to Windows 10 – thank you. If you haven’t upgraded yet – we hope you’ll consider upgrading today.
I haven't; I wasn't planning to, even as a free upgrade; and I definitely won't at $120, unless there's some serious value for me in there, rather than most of the value flowing in Microsoft's direction. If MS's heavy-handedly forcing it down our throats didn't work, I wonder why they think a "hard sell" approach will win them any greater trust and goodwill?
But wait... it gets worse! Because even if you shell out $200 for Windows 10 Pro, which is supposed to let you control what Windows 10 is doing, you won't be able to control what Windows 10 is doing:
Did I mention that my summer project is a dual-boot Window 7 & Linux/SteamOS gaming rig? Seriously, I'm really looking forward to being out from under MS's boot heels, here.
But wait... it gets worse! Because even if you shell out $200 for Windows 10 Pro, which is supposed to let you control what Windows 10 is doing, you won't be able to control what Windows 10 is doing:
Up until a month ago, admins could use Group Policy to shut off employees' access to Windows Store if they were running Windows 10 Pro. Controlling this access is a requirement for some businesses.Yes, Windows 10 really will do whatever the fuck Microsoft want it to do, regardless of what you want it do, or what you've paid to control what it does, and it's pretty clear that what MS mostly want it to do is drain a never-ending stream of cash from user's pockets, whether in the form of its UWP app store, or in the form of "optional" upgrades that mostly reduce the shittiness of the experience, rather than providing actual value to the consumer.
But last month, Microsoft changed that option, claiming that Store access was required for all versions of Windows 10 except Enterprise and Education "by design." (Thanks to @SwitftonSecurity for the heads up.)
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A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the change, noting that businesses who need to shut off Store access have no recourse other than Windows 10 Enterprise.
Did I mention that my summer project is a dual-boot Window 7 & Linux/SteamOS gaming rig? Seriously, I'm really looking forward to being out from under MS's boot heels, here.