Microsoft Said To Be Considering A Free Version Of Windows 8.1

ExodusNirvana

ExodusNirvana

Change is inevitable...
Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Messages
42,418
Reputation
9,742
Daps
154,949
Reppin
Brooklyn, NY
Microsoft is looking at a cost conscious crisis, relative to both mobile and desktop hardware, and on the heels of the news that it might be reducing its Windows Phone software license fee, there’s new evidence that it’s looking at pursuing the same strategy for the desktop. The Verge reports that Microsoft has an experimental free version of Windows 8.1 called “Windows 8.1 with Bing.”

Windows 8.1 with Bing sounds like it’ll be a lightweight version of the full OS that focuses on bundling Microsoft apps and services in order to drive monetization through use of those, rather than through up-front software costs. This version of software would be positioned as a free (or low-cost) upgrade option for users still on Windows 7. It could also help PC makers with devices priced at under $250, which is a category that Microsoft is apparently targeting in order to help it compete with Google’s Chrome OS devices, including Chromebooks.

The nomenclature makes it sound like Windows 8.1 with Bing might be pretty heavily focused on the browser and its role as a potential platform play, so what we could end up with might look a lot like Chromebooks, in fact. This is all said to still be experimental, however, so it’s not guaranteed that it’ll ever hit the market.

Microsoft moving into platform distribution that doesn’t involve charging OEM partners licensing fees would represent a significant shift in its business, but the business models of its primary competitors pretty much necessitate the change. Google doesn’t charge anything for Android, for instance (though various license holders for tech in its use, including Microsoft, do charge OEMs to use it) and Apple has begun offering its desktop OS X software to end users for free as of the last major update.

For now, it looks like Microsoft will retain a paid tier for OS software and just offer low-cost or free options to capture more of the bottom end of the market, but if the focus shifts to software and services, we could be on the brink of a sea change that sees a larger shift to free when it comes to platform technologies.

http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/28/free-windows-8-1-update/
Click to expand...

:mjpls:
 
gho3st

gho3st

plata or plomo
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
35,745
Reputation
3,222
Daps
87,107
Reppin
2016
MS is way too rigid. they should have given users the option of having the classic start menu or the metro interface. But they had to force that shyt down users throats, same shyt they tried to pull with XboxOne.
They should have thought about this shyt at launch instead of reacting to what google is doing.
 
Czerka

Czerka

All Star
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
6,895
Reputation
-110
Daps
6,734
Reppin
NULL
gho3st said:
MS is way too rigid. they should have given users the option of having the classic start menu or the metro interface. But they had to force that shyt down users throats, same shyt they tried to pull with XboxOne.
They should have thought about this shyt at launch instead of reacting to what google is doing.
Click to expand...
*MS is too rigid*

(Wants MS to keep the same interface and not change anything )
 
satam55

satam55

Veteran
Supporter
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
45,850
Reputation
5,275
Daps
90,236
Reppin
DFW Metroplex
:scusthov: I rather keep my bootleg, pirated version of Windows 7 that I downloaded from a torrent, than to upgrade to this free, legal version of Windows 8.1 that is gonna shove all of Microsoft's inferior services on me.
 
satam55

satam55

Veteran
Supporter
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
45,850
Reputation
5,275
Daps
90,236
Reppin
DFW Metroplex
DANJA said:
Youre complaining saying that MS is too rigid when you and others are too stubborn to adapt to a system that's way more intuitive and efficient
Click to expand...
:stopitslime: The general public doesn't seem to agree with you. I know or heard of many long-time Windows/PC users who decided to switch to a macbook or iMac for the first time ever in their lives instead of fukking with Windows 8.
 
gho3st

gho3st

plata or plomo
Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
35,745
Reputation
3,222
Daps
87,107
Reppin
2016
DANJA said:
Youre complaining saying that MS is too rigid when you and others are too stubborn to adapt to a system that's way more intuitive and efficient
Click to expand...
Where am i complaining? I am saying what they did wrong and how they should have approached it instead. So i can understand why numbers are down for windows 8,8.1.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top