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> Microsoft is working toward Windows being freely available (zero cost). Are they? I know they gave away free upgrades when they wanted more users for the Wi

by ptx 6y ago

> Microsoft is working toward Windows being freely available (zero cost). Are they? I know they gave away free upgrades when they wanted more users for the Windows Store and UWP apps, but even then only upgrades, not free licenses. Currently, it seems the licensing of Windows is giving GitHub and Azure a huge competitive advantage over other CI and cloud hosting providers. Why would they give that up?

FreakyT 6y ago
At least for consumers, you can install Windows 10, never give it a license key, and it will run forever with almost no restrictions. (IIRC you're blocked from changing your wallpaper, there's an occasional nag prompt, but that's it.)
jqpabc123 6y ago
Are they? Yes. You can download, install and use Windows 10 for free (zero cost) from Microsoft's web site. The only issue is you can't customize the user interface and there is a watermark telling you to "Activate Windows" Why would they give that up? Competition from "free software". And because the "huge advantage" you speak of is non-existent. Azure has more Linux instances running than Windows. OS licensing to individual users is no longer a significant profit source.
- ptx 6y ago
  The huge advantage I was referring to is that no competitor can provide Windows instances without paying whatever price Microsoft sets and complying with whatever terms they set. They can make it infeasible to compete whenever they feel threatened. As for downloading and using Windows for free, sure you can, but it's not allowed to. Using Windows illegally has always been an option even if it's slightly easier now. If you're a business, Microsoft will sometimes audit you, so you can't rely on this approach. In any case, regardless of whether it's a good idea to use an unlicensed copy, where are you getting that they're working towards making in free?
  - jqpabc123 6y ago
    They can make it infeasible to compete whenever they feel threatened. The alternative is Linux instances --- which Azure also provides. In fact, as I said, Linux instances outnumber Windows instances on Azure. If they have a huge advantage, the numbers don't show it. Amazon Web Services claims to host 57% of all Windows instances in the cloud. ....getting that they're working towards making in free? Win10X

by ptx 6y ago

FreakyT 6y ago

At least for consumers, you can install Windows 10, never give it a license key, and it will run forever with almost no restrictions. (IIRC you're blocked from changing your wallpaper, there's an occasional nag prompt, but that's it.)

jqpabc123 6y ago

Are they? Yes. You can download, install and use Windows 10 for free (zero cost) from Microsoft's web site. The only issue is you can't customize the user interface and there is a watermark telling you to "Activate Windows" Why would they give that up? Competition from "free software". And because the "huge advantage" you speak of is non-existent. Azure has more Linux instances running than Windows. OS licensing to individual users is no longer a significant profit source.

ptx 6y ago
The huge advantage I was referring to is that no competitor can provide Windows instances without paying whatever price Microsoft sets and complying with whatever terms they set. They can make it infeasible to compete whenever they feel threatened. As for downloading and using Windows for free, sure you can, but it's not allowed to. Using Windows illegally has always been an option even if it's slightly easier now. If you're a business, Microsoft will sometimes audit you, so you can't rely on this approach. In any case, regardless of whether it's a good idea to use an unlicensed copy, where are you getting that they're working towards making in free?
- jqpabc123 6y ago
  They can make it infeasible to compete whenever they feel threatened. The alternative is Linux instances --- which Azure also provides. In fact, as I said, Linux instances outnumber Windows instances on Azure. If they have a huge advantage, the numbers don't show it. Amazon Web Services claims to host 57% of all Windows instances in the cloud. ....getting that they're working towards making in free? Win10X