4 ms·

Here's the smallprint from the page on their current Windows 10 promo site[1]: > It is our intent that most of these devices will qualify, but some hardware/so

Here's the smallprint from the page on their current Windows 10 promo site[1]: > It is our intent that most of these devices will qualify, but some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. ISP fees may apply. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update required. Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise outside of this offer. We will be sharing more information and additional offer terms in coming months. 1: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about

devindotcom 12y ago
No RT! That's harsh, but the truth is dropping RT like a bad habit is the best thing they could do. Sucks for anyone who bought a copy on a cheap tablet, though.
- Someone1234 12y ago
  RT would have been amazing if they had been able to create an x86/64 emulator. Even if it ran 50% slower than on a native CPU and even if it ate battery like crazy at least it would have given the platform a nice back-catalogue. Instead not only did RT have virtually no software on it, but Microsoft went out of their way to make it "impossible" to build ARM-native software for it without essentially hacking into your own system. Microsoft set RT on the road to ruin from almost day one. It is unsurprising that they're pulling the plug. I will say when they announced the Surface Pro 3 without a Surface RT 3, the writing was on the wall as far as end of life...
  - tmzt 12y ago
    Or supported Win32 API which would have brought with it a number of open source and free applications, such as VLC, OpenOffice.org, AbiWord (smaller, so more suited to RT), and Firefox. It seems that Microsoft is working on a new UI for Office which will eliminate the need for Win32 support on devices such as RT in the future. At the same time they restrict what native applications can do on Metro devices, which limits the usefulness of existing codebases and forces Metro tablets to start over without the long time catalog of Windows software.
- JohnTHaller 12y ago
  Windows proper won't run on Windows RT hardware, so this was kind of a given.
- rasz_pl 12y ago
  No one is dropping RT. RT is being moved INTO your desktop and taking it over. Just look at the list of services running on your win8.whatever.
  - voltagex_ 12y ago
    Erm, vaguely the same amount that are visible in taskmgr/services.msc in Windows 7. I'm running the 10 Preview now and the "RT" part (Metro, I presume) is much less intrusive.
    - rasz_pl 12y ago
      Really, your Windows 7 runs TimeBroker service? There is over 20 services and tasks with sole purpose of supporting Metro/RT crapfest, something nobody asked for nor wants.
- stevewillows 12y ago
  Engadget is reporting that RT will also be included http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-free-upgrade/ http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-free-upgrade/
- DavidBradbury 12y ago
  Meh, I got a cheap tablet that has done me good for what I wanted it to do. I don't expect something like that to stay up to day with technology when I buy it.

devindotcom 12y ago

No RT! That's harsh, but the truth is dropping RT like a bad habit is the best thing they could do. Sucks for anyone who bought a copy on a cheap tablet, though.

Someone1234 12y ago
RT would have been amazing if they had been able to create an x86/64 emulator. Even if it ran 50% slower than on a native CPU and even if it ate battery like crazy at least it would have given the platform a nice back-catalogue. Instead not only did RT have virtually no software on it, but Microsoft went out of their way to make it "impossible" to build ARM-native software for it without essentially hacking into your own system. Microsoft set RT on the road to ruin from almost day one. It is unsurprising that they're pulling the plug. I will say when they announced the Surface Pro 3 without a Surface RT 3, the writing was on the wall as far as end of life...
- tmzt 12y ago
  Or supported Win32 API which would have brought with it a number of open source and free applications, such as VLC, OpenOffice.org, AbiWord (smaller, so more suited to RT), and Firefox. It seems that Microsoft is working on a new UI for Office which will eliminate the need for Win32 support on devices such as RT in the future. At the same time they restrict what native applications can do on Metro devices, which limits the usefulness of existing codebases and forces Metro tablets to start over without the long time catalog of Windows software.
JohnTHaller 12y ago
Windows proper won't run on Windows RT hardware, so this was kind of a given.
rasz_pl 12y ago
No one is dropping RT. RT is being moved INTO your desktop and taking it over. Just look at the list of services running on your win8.whatever.
- voltagex_ 12y ago
  Erm, vaguely the same amount that are visible in taskmgr/services.msc in Windows 7. I'm running the 10 Preview now and the "RT" part (Metro, I presume) is much less intrusive.
  - rasz_pl 12y ago
    Really, your Windows 7 runs TimeBroker service? There is over 20 services and tasks with sole purpose of supporting Metro/RT crapfest, something nobody asked for nor wants.
stevewillows 12y ago
Engadget is reporting that RT will also be included http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-free-upgrade/ http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-free-upgrade/
DavidBradbury 12y ago
Meh, I got a cheap tablet that has done me good for what I wanted it to do. I don't expect something like that to stay up to day with technology when I buy it.