6 ms·

Well, at least my Windows 10 trial has a few more weeks left.

by barbecue_sauce 6y ago

vondur 6y ago
Does Windows stop running at that point, or does it just nag you with the text on the desktop?
- strbean 6y ago
  There are some minor restrictions in addition to the nags. I think you can't change your wallpaper and some other silly stuff. You might also be limited in the types of updates you get.
  - eznzt 6y ago
    As far as I know you get all updates (and definitely all security ones). The "trial" never expires. If you're okay with the watermark and not being able to customise your desktop, you can use the trial forever.
    - scintill76 6y ago
      Is it illegal, or contract-breaking etc., to run the "trial" forever?
      - kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
        EULAs are not contracts.
        scintill76 6y ago
        Ok, but the question is, would a legally-knowledgeable, unbiased person say I’ve done something legally “wrong” if I use Windows without entering a license key?
        gruez 6y ago
        > EULAs are not contracts. Literally the first sentence on wikipedia: >An end-user license agreement (EULA, /ˈjuːlə/) is a legal contract entered into between a software developer or vendor and the user of the software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-user_license_agreement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-user_license_agreement
        kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
        Contracts have negotiated terms. You can't redline an EULA.
        gruez 6y ago
        >Contracts have negotiated terms Is that a mandatory requirement for a contract? There's this, for instance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_form_contract#Contracts_of_adhesion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_form_contract#Contrac...
        jimmydorry 6y ago
        Yes and no. For a contract to be binding, there has to be consideration [1] from both parties. [1]: https://www.australiancontractlaw.com/contractlaw/formation-consideration.html https://www.australiancontractlaw.com/contractlaw/formation-... >Consideration is the price that is asked by the promisor in exchange for their promise – the price for a promise. >In many jurisdictions consideration is not an essential element of a contract – it is sufficient that parties have reached a binding agreement. However, the common law requires that (subject to limited exceptioins), for an agreement to be binding, the promisee (or promisees) must provide consideration (payment of some kind) for the promise they have received. >As a result, gratuitous promises are generally not enforceable.
        jon-wood 6y ago
        Consideration doesn't have to be monetary, in the case of the Windows EULA Microsoft are receiving someone who may or may not go on to buy other Microsoft products, while the end-user is receiving a copy of Windows they can use for the period of the trial.
      - Mengkudulangsat 6y ago
        Do Microsoft even still "care" about Windows these days? I speculate they will eventually make it freemium to hook new users so they grow up and subscribe to their real cash cow - Office.
        9wzYQbTYsAIc 6y ago
        According to their 2018 reporting, Windows and Xbox is actually making more money than Office. In reality, they have an almost even three way split between Productivity, Azure, and Personal. https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/02/19/heres-how-microsoft-makes-its-money.aspx https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/02/19/heres-how-microsof...
        wp381640 6y ago
        5 years ago they changed their reporting segments and buried Windows in with devices because they knew which way it was heading Low-margin high-volume sales of Xbox and Surface etc. really distort that segment to the point where it's almost useless to attempt to derive what Windows is worth anymore This reflects Satyas move and shifts away from Balmers attempts to claw onto Windows as a profit center
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
        detaro 6y ago
        They probably care if someone does it large scale, but for individuals it seems fairly clear that they'd prefer people running a current Windows they didn't pay for over them sticking with an outdated version or switching elsewhere.
      - zenexer 6y ago
        In theory, you would most likely be in violation of your license to utilize Microsoft’s intellectual property. In practice, they don’t seem to care much. I suspect most of their Windows-related profits come from enterprises and OEMs.

Well, at least my Windows 10 trial has a few more weeks left.

vondur 6y ago

Does Windows stop running at that point, or does it just nag you with the text on the desktop?

strbean 6y ago
There are some minor restrictions in addition to the nags. I think you can't change your wallpaper and some other silly stuff. You might also be limited in the types of updates you get.
- eznzt 6y ago
  As far as I know you get all updates (and definitely all security ones). The "trial" never expires. If you're okay with the watermark and not being able to customise your desktop, you can use the trial forever.
  - scintill76 6y ago
    Is it illegal, or contract-breaking etc., to run the "trial" forever?
    - kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
      EULAs are not contracts.
      - scintill76 6y ago
        Ok, but the question is, would a legally-knowledgeable, unbiased person say I’ve done something legally “wrong” if I use Windows without entering a license key?
      - gruez 6y ago
        > EULAs are not contracts. Literally the first sentence on wikipedia: >An end-user license agreement (EULA, /ˈjuːlə/) is a legal contract entered into between a software developer or vendor and the user of the software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-user_license_agreement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-user_license_agreement
        kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
        Contracts have negotiated terms. You can't redline an EULA.
        gruez 6y ago
        >Contracts have negotiated terms Is that a mandatory requirement for a contract? There's this, for instance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_form_contract#Contracts_of_adhesion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_form_contract#Contrac...
        jimmydorry 6y ago
        Yes and no. For a contract to be binding, there has to be consideration [1] from both parties. [1]: https://www.australiancontractlaw.com/contractlaw/formation-consideration.html https://www.australiancontractlaw.com/contractlaw/formation-... >Consideration is the price that is asked by the promisor in exchange for their promise – the price for a promise. >In many jurisdictions consideration is not an essential element of a contract – it is sufficient that parties have reached a binding agreement. However, the common law requires that (subject to limited exceptioins), for an agreement to be binding, the promisee (or promisees) must provide consideration (payment of some kind) for the promise they have received. >As a result, gratuitous promises are generally not enforceable.
        jon-wood 6y ago
        Consideration doesn't have to be monetary, in the case of the Windows EULA Microsoft are receiving someone who may or may not go on to buy other Microsoft products, while the end-user is receiving a copy of Windows they can use for the period of the trial.
    - Mengkudulangsat 6y ago
      Do Microsoft even still "care" about Windows these days? I speculate they will eventually make it freemium to hook new users so they grow up and subscribe to their real cash cow - Office.
      - 9wzYQbTYsAIc 6y ago
        According to their 2018 reporting, Windows and Xbox is actually making more money than Office. In reality, they have an almost even three way split between Productivity, Azure, and Personal. https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/02/19/heres-how-microsoft-makes-its-money.aspx https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/02/19/heres-how-microsof...
        wp381640 6y ago
        5 years ago they changed their reporting segments and buried Windows in with devices because they knew which way it was heading Low-margin high-volume sales of Xbox and Surface etc. really distort that segment to the point where it's almost useless to attempt to derive what Windows is worth anymore This reflects Satyas move and shifts away from Balmers attempts to claw onto Windows as a profit center
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
      - detaro 6y ago
        They probably care if someone does it large scale, but for individuals it seems fairly clear that they'd prefer people running a current Windows they didn't pay for over them sticking with an outdated version or switching elsewhere.
    - zenexer 6y ago
      In theory, you would most likely be in violation of your license to utilize Microsoft’s intellectual property. In practice, they don’t seem to care much. I suspect most of their Windows-related profits come from enterprises and OEMs.