Ever wondered why Windows 10 is free?
Post by: bond
Almost 20 years ago when Microsoft released Win 95, people rush to stores to be among the first lucky buyers to get their hands on this cutting edge new technology. Microsoft had an iron grip on productivity software in the enterprise, but even ordinary consumers were accustomed to paying hundreds of dollars for software. Two decades later, Microsoft is releasing Windows 10. But most people won’t have to rush out and purchase a copy. Anyone with a copy of Windows dating back to Windows 7 can upgrade for free, a first for Microsoft.
Microsoft had to take tough choice as it tries to claw its way back into the competition for mobile. It also needs to bare the strength of the slowly waning desktop world to its offering on phone, tablets, consoles and the cloud. The goal is to create "universal" apps that work on Windows 10 and across Windows mobile, as well as on computing platforms like Xbox and the forthcoming HoloLens.
It’s not just Windows that Microsoft has made free. New CEO Satya Nadella wisely moved to make Microsoft’s crown jewel, Office, available for free on iOS and Android, easing the pain of working across multiple devices. Microsoft believes it can give it away and still make money."There’s still premium value that we’ll add on top of that," Microsoft's head of Office marketing Michael Atalla, told The Verge. "There will still be subscription value, most clearly and easily identifiable in the commercial space, but also in the consumer space around advanced authoring, analysis, presentation, and unlimited storage with OneDrive."
If Windows 10 is an excellent desktop operating system, erasing the painful memories of Windows 8, it will probably help to grow the number of business that pay Microsoft in the short term. But the long-term trend for PCs remains dismal. And it’s really hard to imagine creating a meaningful business around asking the average consumer to pay for "premium features" like chart element customization and track changes.
Did you know -
"4bn people buying phones every 2 years instead of 1.6bn buying PCs every 5 years."