Windows 10 - free upgrade to those with PC using Windows 7 or 8

[murg]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I knew Basic pretty well, had a passing grade in FORTRAN but never warmed to it, but haven't familiarized myself with any programming languages since. I am hopelessly obsolete.

I'm a special SNOBOL...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I knew Basic pretty well, had a passing grade in FORTRAN but never warmed to it, but haven't familiarized myself with any programming languages since. I am hopelessly obsolete.

BASIC (Well, Visual Basic.NET) is still my primary dev language. Keeping current is more a matter of design patterns, namespaces and tools, than of languages per se.

[fjtorres]

The July release of the free updates is just the beginning:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...tag=TRE17cfd61

This summer's launch is just the first step in an endless rolling Windows release cycle.

Some features that have been demonstrated publicly will not be available in the initial launch version. The promised support for extensions in the new Microsoft Edge browser (previously code-named Project Spartan) will come later, for example, as will support for packaged Windows desktop apps delivered through the Windows Store.

As ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley has previously reported, Microsoft plans a major feature update for Windows 10, code-named Redstone, in 2016. That's just the first of several major updates to Windows 10 coming in the next few years.

Some enterprise features are also likely to lag the initial launch, coming before or in sync with the launch of Windows Server 2016 next year.

Microsoft didn't offer any definitive word on when new PCs and tablets with Windows 10 will appear, but one exec told me to expect a much shorter window than in previous Windows releases. In both the Windows 7 and Windows 8 cycles, for example, the RTM date was in July, but PCs weren't available for sale until October. This time, the window before OEM devices are available could be weeks.

More at the source.

Looks like they're going to use the XBOX ONE model of regular (monthly?) updates that not only patch bugs and security but also add entirely new apps and features. On the gadget side it will make Windows devices an ever-moving target. The glass house gang will grumble bug they always grumble anyway.

Calibre users should feel right at home.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by zebradude

FYI: COBOL

COmmon
Business
Oriented
Language

Yup, wrong on both counts.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I knew Basic pretty well, had a passing grade in FORTRAN but never warmed to it, but haven't familiarized myself with any programming languages since. I am hopelessly obsolete.

+1, but it's been so long since I've touched any of them that I can't even spell them without a fatal syntax error.

[Katsunami]

I wonder if the ability to install applications without having to rely on a third party for everything will disappear altogheter. Every company seems to present markets and cloud storage, cloud savegames, cloud backups, cloud searches, cloud chess engines (Chessbase) and even cloud applications as a good thing.

The only thing it represents to me is: "Give us all your data and all your apps! We want more control! MOARRR!!" (Look at Adobe. Everything is under subscription now, except Lightroom... and I refuse to buy any new version of that, as I expect it to become subscription only in the end.)

Am I the only one who just wants to buy something (an operating system, or application, or whatever), and then use it WITHOUT having it connected to the internet all the time? It has happened too ofter that functionality became broken just because the original manufacturer stated that it was too old and wouldn't be updated anymore to interact with their new, wizbang successor service.

Also, I have my doubts about Windows 10. To be honest, I haven't done anything new with my operating system since Windows 2000.... the only real difference is that Windows 2000 was 500MB, and Windows Vista and later take up 20GB. While the newer OS-es support new technology, I basically don't use in a different way, nor do I do anything different as before.

The only thing I'm doing more and more is trying to keep all of my stuff independent from the fracking internet, sellers, and publishers.

Sometimes I feel like abandoning all of my current software (using my current computer for the old games I already have, from GOG.com), buying a tiny Mini-ITX system, a cheap e-IPS PVA 19-inch monitor, and then installing only this:

- Linux
- Firefox and Thunderbird
- OpenOffice and GIMP
- Calibre
- A FLAC tag-editor
- Lilypond and Frescobaldi (for typesetting music)
- LaTeX and a good editor

The only thing I'd be dependent on would be the distribution's repository; and the distribution would probably be Debian Testing.

Microsoft has said:

1. There won't be any new Windows version anymore. Windows 10 will be the last one, and from then on, it'll be a rolling release.
2. Windows will never be under a subscription service.

I would be fine with that. You buy Windows 10 once for a single computer, and then you'll always have the latest version. If they'd put it under subscription however, it would be the day that I'd decide to abandon using my computer at home completely, especially for the minimum necessities (for me) as stated above.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The July release of the free updates is just the beginning:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...tag=TRE17cfd61



More at the source.

Looks like they're going to use the XBOX ONE model of regular (monthly?) updates that not only patch bugs and security but also add entirely new apps and features. On the gadget side it will make Windows devices an ever-moving target. The glass house gang will grumble bug they always grumble anyway.

Calibre users should feel right at home.

calibre users and also users of ArchLinux/Gentoo.

Sounds like Microsoft is planning on doing something similar to the rolling-release model of bleeding-edge linux distros.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

calibre users and also users of ArchLinux/Gentoo.

Sounds like Microsoft is planning on doing something similar to the rolling-release model of bleeding-edge linux distros.

They're keeping the preview program running indefinitely for those that enjoy life on the bleeding edge.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by wodin

+1, but it's been so long since I've touched any of them that I can't even spell them without a fatal syntax error.

You know, if you had spelled Fortran wrong, you could have totally convinced us it was deliberate!

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Am I the only one who just wants to buy something (an operating system, or application, or whatever), and then use it WITHOUT having it connected to the internet all the time?

In the J.D. Robb "In Death" books, started in the mid-90s, she predicted a near-future when all computer use and software was registered and regulated by "CompuGuard."

So she saw it coming.

Also see the DMCA protected car thread for other signs of the same trend.

And, truthfully, the trend is probably in the service of the masses who use systems but truly have no idea what they are doing.

Users who want open, independent, general purpose computing devices may be relegated back to the hobbyist and enthusiast niche. Or as consumers and as entrepreneurs and professionals, we'll have to proactively work to take things in a different direction.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by ApK

In the J.D. Robb "In Death" books, started in the mid-90s, she predicted a near-future when all computer use and software was registered and regulated by "CompuGuard."

So she saw it coming.

I've seen it coming since Microsoft introduced Windows XP activation in 2001 and since then, I've always refused to pay for software that needs to be activated, except when:

1. I *need* it to get things done (Windows)
2. I can get it dirt-cheap (Photoshop, Student & Teacher Edition)

Now, I don't need my home computer anymore to get things done, such as writing dissertations that HAVE to be submitted in Word-format, so I could replace everything with free software if I would give up gaming.

And, truthfully, the trend is probably in the service of the masses who use systems but truly have no idea what they are doing.

Don't tell me about it. Nobody I know knows what he/she is doing when using a computer, except if that person is in IT. I cringe when I see people type using two fingers, alternately looking at the keyboard and the screen, especially when they have to use the computer for work day in day out.

Nowadays, typing should be a required skill, thought at the age of 7, or 12 at the latest, IMHO.

Users who want open, independent, general purpose computing devices may be relegated back to the hobbyist and enthusiast niche.

Maybe this would be best, even. In the old days (basically, before 1995, in the Netherlands), you only had a computer if:

1. You needed it to get stuff done.
2. You wanted to have it so you could learn how to use it to make things easier (such as, using a word processor instead of a mechanical typewriter).

I already dread the phone calls of friends and family who are utterly lost (again) when Windows 10 hits the market.

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Windows Vista and later take up 20GB. .

windows 8.1 takes about 8GB of space when installed. it can be kept smaller still using WIMBoot http://blogs.windows.com/itpro/2014/...-boot-wimboot/

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

windows 8.1 takes about 8GB of space when installed. it can be kept smaller still using WIMBoot http://blogs.windows.com/itpro/2014/...-boot-wimboot/

Maybe it can be smaller right after a clean installation, but at this point in time, my Windows 7 install takes up 20.3 GB (and I've only counted the Windows folder).

[eschwartz]

After a fair amount of usage, my Arch Linux system is still only using ~6GB (not counting user data). Pretty helpful considering my HDD is 37GB and 15GB of that is a WinXP partition (full to the brim and has no data).
Part of the problem is of course that Windows Updates will progressively grow the size of a Windows install...

[zebradude]

Originally Posted by wodin

+1, but it's been so long since I've touched any of them that I can't even spell them without a fatal syntax error.

I believe the Y2K issue killed a bunch of COBOL programming. They did resurrect a bunch of us ole guys for Y2K....