Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 New Monthly Charge(Enterprise only)

[Tunez]

For months Microsoft has been describing Windows 10 “as a service” and now we know why. Microsoft is going to introduce a monthly subscription fee for Windows 10 usage…

That cost will be $7 per user per month but the good news is it only applies to enterprises, for now. The new pricing tier will be called “Windows 10 Enterprise E3” and it means Windows has finally joined Office 365 and Azure as a subscription service.

The good news is Microsoft has gone on record to say it is not being passed down to consumers at this stage: “This new subscription model is not associated with our current upgrade offering or applicable to the Windows 10 consumer edition,” a Microsoft spokesperson told PC World.

Could Microsoft eventually introduce Windows 10 monthly subscriptions for consumers? Without doubt, but I would be highly sceptical they would apply to anyone who has already upgraded. That said there is likely to be a threshold in future where Microsoft will draw a line in the sand for the ongoing addition of new features without a fee.

Why? Because Microsoft has confirmed on many occasions that Windows 10 is the “last version of Windows” meaning it will be updated on a rolling basis with no Windows 11 to replace it. Consequently there will have to be a cut off point somewhere, sometime – mostly likely when Microsoft feels Windows 10 is at the ‘Windows 11’ stage of development.

At that point I suspect Microsoft may simplify things and just rename it ‘Windows’. Here is when all Windows pricing could become subscription only given even upfront costs would expire at some point and become a messy marketing exercise.

But in the meantime the rush is on for those who still want to upgrade to Windows 10 while it is free. The window for this closes on July 29th and Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro will then cost $119 and $199 respectively for consumers who didn’t upgrade.

Out of interest at the $7 per month enterprise rate, consumers would get 17 and 28 months use out of Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro respectively. This isn’t a great deal for Home users and shows a new consumer-focused pricing tier would likely need to be introduced to make it more appealing should Microsoft go down that path in future.

Until then Windows 10 will remain free a little longer and for millions of Windows 7 and Windows 8 users it is make up your mind time…

Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 New Monthly Charge

 

[TheDream]

Never thought the day would come where I want to switch to Mac.

 

[thaKEAF]

Switched to Mac last year.

 

[#StarkSet]

all u ms fakkits lost

 

[chkmeout]

ya right MS

 

[Kings County]

if they ever do this mac should lower the price and bury them

they already fukked up with the kincect bundle whos making decisions up at msft

 

[Ciggavelli]

Y'all can't read

This is only for the enterprise version, not the consumer one (at least not yet)

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

Y'all can't read

This is only for the enterprise version, not the consumer one

Just dipping their toes in the water

 

[ORDER_66]

Wait, what?!!?!?

I knew something was funny when they wanted me to pay for microsoft word but this is fukking ridiculous!!!

 

[Animal House]

Just download the torrent with a key if u have to

 

[Tunez]

Just download the torrent with a key if u have to

If you have a Win 7 or Win 8 Key it will activate

 

[Ruck]

Just dipping their toes in the water

Nah, it makes sense. Most businesses and government rely on windows. 8 bucks a month is actually really cheap, especially if it provides better updates and support for older windows

 

[Fatboi1]

"Microsoft is really stepping it up and has improved tremendously. "
@opposite of solid

 

[Brock Landers]

If you're not running native Linux and a QEMU pass-through for Windows gaming/necessary applications then you're not living right doggy

 

[Neil Tyson]

all u ms fakkits lost

Are you retarded? They're charging businesses.

And I use archlinux.