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Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

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Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#81

Post by Eyaluth »

beloch wrote: post #76

The obvious question is, how are we going to pay for this? With no periodic releases of new versions, it seems that Windows 10 will either be a subscription based service or, in all likelihood, a collection of subscription based services and extra features with a free, but spartan, core. It's an interesting move, but I suspect MS is severely underestimating the backlash that will exist against monthly OS subscription…

The article says they make most of their money off new computer sales anyways.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#83

Post by monk_e_boy »

beloch wrote: post #76

The obvious question is, how are we going to pay for this? With no periodic releases of new versions, it seems that Windows 10 will either be a subscription based service or, in all likelihood, a collection of subscription based services and extra features with a free, but spartan, core. It's an interesting move, but I suspect MS is severely underestimating the backlash that will exist against monthly OS subscription…

How could you buy someone a laptop with windows on it? They'd have to pay a subscription forever? Or would it be like a phone, where it'd seem odd not paying every month.

Once steam boxes are out and popular, I doubt I'll be using windows again.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#84

Post by cmelbye »

comex wrote: post #73

Apple's move a few years ago towards yearly OS releases has drawn a lot of flak on HN for allegedly decreasing software quality. I don't know to what extent this is an inevitable result of the cadence versus simply Apple not having a good process at present (and to what extent the effect is mere confirmation bias...), but I wonder if people will start saying the same about Microsoft.

This isn't what OS X is doing, though. Some OS X updates are shipped too early, in order to hit a WWDC deadline. Apple is getting better at that though, by shipping major new features in OS updates throughout the year.

Previous Windows updates were shipped too slowly, due to having to amass enough updates to justify a three digit price tag. Now, updates to Windows will be shipped to consumers when they're ready. No predetermined release schedule. I would compare this strategy more to evergreen browsers like Chrome.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#85

Post by filereaper »

beloch wrote: post #76

The obvious question is, how are we going to pay for this? With no periodic releases of new versions, it seems that Windows 10 will either be a subscription based service or, in all likelihood, a collection of subscription based services and extra features with a free, but spartan, core. It's an interesting move, but I suspect MS is severely underestimating the backlash that will exist against monthly OS subscription…

I'm curious as to how much revenue/profit Microsoft still makes from the desktop line of Windows. Would setting desktop Windows free really hurt revenues at Microsoft that much? I'm not denying that each release of Windows requires engineering effort.

I figured most of Microsoft's profits come from software and services running on-top Windows, so SQL Server, Office, etc... Perhaps still charge for Windows Server, but let the Desktop and Mobile versions go free.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#86

Post by huac »

everyone wrote: post #78

I tried windows 8.1 for a while on my gaming desktop pc. Aside from the awful metro garbage thrown on top of the OS (which can be removed / turned off) It was quite unstable, all my games would randomly crash, even the mouse exhibited weird behaviour and bugs. I went back to 7, everything is fine now. I get the impression windows 10 will be more of the same, this is just pushing me more and more towards using linux a…

this is very much the same as apple gating ios development to apple products. playing video games on windows 8 (not 8.1) is fine anyways.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#87

Post by bstrom »

daniel-levin wrote: post #54
tgbrter wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don't you instead just make 10 better?

Well possibly the point here is the double pronged attack on the fact that Mac OS stopped at X (ten) and there is a common expression 'turn it up to eleven' [1] [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_to_eleven

looks like you wooshed a little bit

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#88

Post by velodrome »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #63
jeena wrote: post #34

I use Arch which does the rolling release thingy and I love it.

The big reason why rolling release works so well on Arch is the assumption that the user is smart, so there are several difficult tasks which are pushed over onto the user (like handling non-trivial conflicts of software that the user may not have directly installed, e.g. libgl, handling exceptional circumstances, being able to recover after a failed update, ensuring the system is updated regularly, knowing when a re…

Agreed. Arch requires a lot of maintenance. Ubuntu, just click update and you don't have to worry about it (until the next LTS).

Personally, I like the rolling model. Chromebook is probably best example for regular users.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#89

Post by orionblastar »

everyone wrote: post #78

I tried windows 8.1 for a while on my gaming desktop pc. Aside from the awful metro garbage thrown on top of the OS (which can be removed / turned off) It was quite unstable, all my games would randomly crash, even the mouse exhibited weird behaviour and bugs. I went back to 7, everything is fine now. I get the impression windows 10 will be more of the same, this is just pushing me more and more towards using linux a…

The trick to Windows 8.1 is getting the correct drivers from your OEM and not using the built in drivers.

For me I had to go to my motherboard maker's website and download the 8/8.1 64 bit drivers, update the BIOS, and then get the Nividia drivers for my GPU and make sure they always update.

GPU drives can break Windows 8.1 when it comes to video games. There are always updated drivers that fix issues with video games. This is because video game makers do mistakes with DirectX and other APIs and the updated drivers fix the issues with workarounds to avoid crashes.

Windows 8.1 changes the way DirectX 9 works, for classic video games like Civilization II Gold Edition I had to apply the 64 bit patch and then extract the 2010 version of DirectX 9 drivers into the Civ2 directory to get DirectPlay support to play the game.

It takes a lot of JiggeryPokery like that to get some of the classic games to work, and sometimes you have to choose the compatibility mode of a previous version of Windows to force it to work. The average person can't always figure that out.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#90

Post by the8472 »

teacup50 wrote: post #80
the8472 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe a continuous flow of changes will ingrain the process of adapting to changes into them a little more.

It'll inure them to the cost, but it won't make it any cheaper.

On the other hand you could see it as simply spreading out the changes you would get from major updates every few years.

Incremental changes to the OS may only impose a small cognitive burden of adapting at any given time instead of presenting a seemingly insurmountable obstacle all at once.

Frog and a boiling pot of water.

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