I thought Microsoft would continue to go on a good path considering they pulled the biggest 180 degree turn since Windows 8. now they started back tracking, I made a thread where i found some news that states WIndows 10 will be free to insiders. this much is very true. HOWEVER, there's now a catch. Microsoft has backtracked. If You upgrade to the Windows 10 Preview, you'll get the final official release of Windows 10. BUT here's the problem
If you downloaded the technical preview and installed it on your device. YOU'LL GET Windows 10. BUT if you want it to remain activated you must continue testing preview builds in the future..
Now I know what you're thinking.. what if i get the final build and stop becoming a Windows Insider?? well good question, your Windows 10 license will become Dectivated. to keep it short. WIndows 10 is free this much is true, if you have the Windows icon on your desktop you're fine. you'll get the official build and won't have to worry about any of this. But if you are hoping to get Windows 10 for free via Technical preview.. well it's not technically free. you have to be Microsoft's guinea pig.
Shame... Microsoft did a 180 and did a -90 degree turn..
I already explained it. If you are running the preview, you're going to get the final version of windows like everyone else. BUT if you want your copy to remain active you need to continue testing preview builds.
true, but the thing about the preview builds is that they aren't stable. you can get most of your work done on the builds just fine. but some things tend to break or not work properly. the Edge Browser crashes, the virtual desktops things sometimes doesn't work.
Thats its preview and not the stable release. They could always use a different browser, and most non techy ppl prolly won't use the virtual desktop. So for the average user, should be fine.
in a way, this didn't effect me all that much. cause i tested the Preview on a Stream 7. a 70 dollar tablet. i actually just installed it to see how the touch features are. they are pretty good but still broken. I was saving to invest onto a tablet/laptop in the future but now i'm a bit skeptical on how things are going to turn out with Windows 10.
Actually no. Windows 10 is free to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users. this is said and done, and confirmed. if you are running the technical preview it doesn't matter, you'll get a legitimate free upgrade to Windows 10 via Windows Update. the CATCH of course if you want the license to remain active you need to continue testing preview builds in the future. if not your license will be de-activated. Microsoft isn't getting rid of the Windows insider Program. if you installed the preview over your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 well you're boned. If you don't want to be an insider anymore you would have to downgrade back to 7 or 8.1 and upgrade via the Windows icon on your desktop that you received via Windows Update.
Do you want to continue as a Windows Insider and keep getting preview builds after 7/29?
Or do you want to upgrade your Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 system that has been getting Windows 10 Insider Preview builds to the 7/29 release and stop being an Insider?
“I want to continue as a Windows Insider!” If you want to continue as a Windows Insider past 7/29 there is nothing you need to do. You’re already opted in and receiving builds in the Fast or Slow ring depending upon your selection. This is prerelease software and is activated with a prerelease key. Each individual build will expire after a time, but you’ll continue to receive new builds so by the time an older prerelease build expires you’ll have received a new one. Since we’re continuing the Windows Insider Program you’ll be able to continue receiving builds and those builds will continue to be activated under the terms of the Windows Insider Program. We provide ISOs for these builds for recovery from any significant problems, but they are still pre-release software. As part of the program we’ll upgrade Insiders to what is for all intents and purposes the same build as what other customers will get on 7/29, but that will be just another build for Insiders, and those who stay in the program will simply get the next build after as well.
“I want to opt out of the Windows Insider Program on 7/29.” If you decide to opt-out of the program and upgrade to the 7/29 build you will be subject to exactly the same terms and conditions that govern the offer* that was extended to all Genuine Windows 7 and 8.1 customers. This is not a path to attain a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista systems. If your system upgraded from a Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 license it will remain activated, but if not, you will be required to roll back to your previous OS version or acquire a new Windows 10 license. If you do not roll back or acquire a new license the build will eventually expire.
So long as you installed the preview over a copy of 7 or 8.1 you can opt-out of the insider program and still receive a fully licensed copy of windows 10.
So does this mean that I can legitimately get a new license of Windows 10 for free, to use forever, as long as I let it send some data to MS and I deal with possible beta software issues?
If you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 you're already getting a free copy of Windows 10. so you're fine. if you are running the technical preview you will still get a free copy of Windows 10. IF and read this carefully... you installed the technical preview over Windows 7 or WIndows 8/8.1 the license will remain active forever. and you can opt out of the Windows insider program. if you didn't and you just installed the technical preview on a brand new machine, you'll get a free upgrade to the final version of windows 10 BUT in order for the license to remain active you must continue testing preview builds and remain a "WIndows Insider". if you choose to leave the Windows Insider program after doing this your license will be deactivated.
I mean some people are going to be mad about this, but then again they never released the technical preview so that people could use it as their every-day driver. If people want to get windows for free, they can but this is a nice little catch. Free is still free, so take it or leave it for all I'm concerned. Nobody paid anything to be a windows insider, so as far as I'm concerned they don't have to even give out the OS for free in any form. This is better then nothing. After all, microsoft did say a while ago not to use Windows 10 for work purposes on the technical preview because the key logger anyway...
