Why is microsoft so desperate to get us on Windows 10?

Microsoft wants everyone to be using its latest operating system — and with good reason. It took over a decade after Windows XP’s release to persuade many consumers to move on from it, and Windows 7 users are carrying that torch now, thanks in large part to what happened with Windows 8. To combat this, Microsoft seems completely willing to forego the sticker price of Windows 10 in hopes of persuading everyone to move to the newest OS.

Back in January, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be a free update for anyone running Windows 7 or Windows 8 PCs. Earlier this week, The Verge reported that Microsoft will even allow this Windows 10 upgrade path for those among us with pirated copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8. So theoretically, you can benefit from a completely legitimate copy of Windows 10 even if you’ve never spent a dime on a Microsoft product. Frankly, that’s an extremely ballsy move from Redmond.

Windows 10 Of course, Apple has made OS X free in recent years, but that’s a slightly different situation. OS X can only (legally) run on Apple’s own hardware, so presumably Apple is making money no matter what. On the other hand, Windows is designed to work on just about anything, so Microsoft doesn’t make money off of most hardware sales. The move towards free OS updates is inherently more risky for Microsoft — a software company first and foremost.

Mind you, any money lost here will be mitigated by the fact that the Dells and HPs of the world still sell Windows alongside the vast majority of their consumer hardware. You can buy Linux desktops or build your own PC from scratch, but most people in North American and Europe end up buying a Windows license whenever they buy a new computer. Microsoft’s initiative is really focused on converting a massive number of software pirates in Asia and South America.

Perhaps the bigger impact here is Microsoft’s willingness to give Windows 10 away on non-traditional PCs. Raspberry Pi 2 owners will get Windows 10 for free, and tablets with screens under nine inches in size already get Windows at no cost. If the PC becomes less and less relevant over time, these business decisions could make a huge difference (positively or negatively) for the future of Microsoft.

Companies like Google and Valve are nipping at Redmond’s heels, and Windows is facing the stiffest competition it has ever seen from the likes of Android, Chrome OS, and SteamOS. Microsoft’s domination is slowly eroding, and it’s clear these major policy shifts are trying to right the ship. But whether or not Nadella’s gambit will work remains to be seen.

They are pushing it really hard. I think it has to do with their "universal app" idea where users can interact with the same program across devices. So you use the same mail programs on phone, tablet, and PC and it all gets synced via Microsoft account.

Unless a lot of people adopt Windows 10 there won't be enough users to entice programmers to write software with the new tools and the idea will stagnate hence why Windows 10 is a free upgrade. It seems universal apps are more walled off, "sand-boxed," than traditional programs so they have less of a chance of causing problems or being vectors for malware or viruses attacks that have plagued Windows.

There is also no "trick" in the free upgrade. It's not lacking features or will ever prompt the user to pay. Once installed it's free forever for that computer. It's even possible to upgrade to 10, then downgrade back to your previous version of Windows then upgrade to 10 again at a later date.

Windows 10 changes to the way people wanted 8, a better version of 7.

There are also new devices and software that will require windows 10 (previewed at some microsoft convention)

If there are any problems, there are always notifications.

Windows 10 is a glorified service pack for the failure known as Windows 8.

I also adds the "We want to track everything you do" ability when you use your email/MS account to login.

More marketing dollars for MS because people log in and share all their info with MS.

you've installed the update that reserves a free windows 10 upgrade

so it keeps asking you if you want to install your reserved copy

you can uninstall the "reserve notice"

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-insta...

Money