The future of Windows licensing

[sophisticles]

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/12/windows-server-2016-moving-to-pe...ket-licensing/

Yes, it only pertains at the moment to the upcoming Server edition of Windows but this is a drastic change. I have to look up to see how this compares to Redhat and Suse Licenses, though you can get free server editions of other distros.

More interesting will be to see if in a few years when Windows 11 (or whatever it's called) comes out if MS does in fact switch to a subscription model ala Adobe.

[hello_hello]

Over the next few years I think it'll be interesting to see how many people manage to post on a Microsoft related subject, offer a link relating to Microsoft, or even mention Microsoft in passing, without immediately following it with speculation as to whether one day Microsoft will switch to a subscription model for Windows.

[Cornucopia]

They are already switching over, but there will be no Win11, they've already said as much. They're just going to keep updating Win10...
Just do a Google search of Win11.

Scott

[glenpinn]

They are already switching over, but there will be no Win11, they've already said as much. They're just going to keep updating Win10...
Just do a Google search of Win11.

Scott

I am with you on this one, even if there is talk of a new Windows version already being built.

I believe that 10 will be the last of what we know as windows, and will, as you said, just continue to change 10 as time goes by, but without you having a choice, the changes probably being made via updates, that you will have no control over.

Look at some 10 users already, they upgraded to 10 very early on, and got an earlier build of 10, and now their systems have been updated to the Th2-10586 build, adding additional features and what not.

I know one member of a forum who crapped his pants because he thought his laptop was having windows 10 re-installed all over again, and wasn't sure what to do.

[hello_hello]

I suspect it'll be a very, very, very long time before Microsoft stops selling Windows for desktop PCs, if they ever do. How would it work..... you buy a PC from Dell or Toshiba or whoever, only to discover it eventually stops working until you pay a Microsoft tax. I'm fairly sure that wouldn't conform to the consumer laws of many counties.

Recently, I suspect largely due to the changes in Australia's consumer laws, Samsung replaced the screen on one of the Plasma TVs in this house when it developed vertical lines down one side. The TV was just over four years old. No charge, and they sent someone to the house to fix it..... in fact when I rang Samsung to organise having it repaired they promoted the consumer laws at me as if they'd invented them. Imagine if I'd bought a laptop four years ago...... "Sorry, we'll replace a dead screen but the consumer laws don't apply to the operating system because Microsoft is so special".

Windows as a subscription service for businesses.... no doubt that'll happen alongside sales. In fact I think it's happening already, but for consumer devices..... not if the device or PC comes with an OS installed and it can't function without it, and even for people who build their own PCs..... if Microsoft want to increased piracy, a subscription only model for Windows would probably be one way to do it.

[vhelp]

And Microsoft might start using "Windows" as the main identifier for their operating system and just give it update names, or go with similar adaption strategies of Apple and Android.

Apple desktop/laptop:
Jaguar (2), Panther (3), Tiger (4), Leopard (5), Snow Leopard (6), Lion (7), Mountain Lion (8), Mavericks (9), Yosemite (10), El Capitan (11)

Android mobile devices:
Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6),
Eclair (2.0–2.1), Froyo (2.2–2.2.3), Gingerbread (2.3–2.3.7),
Honeycomb (3.0–3.2.6)[a]
Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0–4.0.4), Jelly Bean (4.1–4.3.1), KitKat (4.4–4.4.4, 4.4W–4.4W.2)
Lollipop (5.0–5.1.1)
Marshmallow (6.0–6.0.1)

MS Windows:
u1, u2, u3, ...

Personally, I think naming is silly. They *all* should just use their respective OS name and a numerical update number to denote the update level.

[SameSelf]

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/12/windows-server-2016-moving-to-pe...ket-licensing/

Yes, it only pertains at the moment to the upcoming Server edition of Windows but this is a drastic change. I have to look up to see how this compares to Redhat and Suse Licenses, though you can get free server editions of other distros.

More interesting will be to see if in a few years when Windows 11 (or whatever it's called) comes out if MS does in fact switch to a subscription model ala Adobe.

meh, all this really says is that MS doesn't care about the little guy when it comes to licensing Server and who cares? There are plenty of other options that are better anyway. Linux rules the server world. Like you, I hate SaaS and Adobe for what they did. But, Redmond has let the cat out of the bag by offering W10 free. Anyone, including MS, who thinks, in this day and age of free OSX and Andriod updates, MS can actually charge $120 for a new install of an OS of all things is living in the past.

Now, MSOffice apps, that is another thing all together.