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

[Glorfindel]

No, he's using a washing machine. What the washing machine is using is irrelevent.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

No, he's using a washing machine. What the washing machine is using is irrelevent.

I entirely agree with you. To call someone who happens to own a toaster or a washing machine that uses Linux in its embedded controlled a "Linux user" is silly, to my mind. Even describing owners of dedicated reading devices like eInk Kindles as "Linux users" is really pushing it.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The specific issue is that 64-bit Windows has removed support for 16-bit software.

32-bit Windows includes a compatibility layer ("Windows on Windows") to be able to run 16-bit programs. 64-bit Windows includes such a layer to be able to run 32-bit programs. Would it be possible to create a WoW layer that would run 16-bit software directly on top of 64-bit Windows?

Thus, did MS remove support for 16-bit software just to be rid of it, or is it actually technically impossible to run 16-bit code within a 64-bit environment without using emulators? (Such as DOSBox (or a VM running MS/PC/DR-DOS) -> Windows 3.1 -> Program.)

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by GERGE

Yes, then you are using Linux. Just because you don't know how to use it, even know that you are actually using it, doesn't mean that you do not use it. You are clearly using something with a Linux kernel after all. You make use of Linux.

If you determine using something as knowing how to use internals well, then you could even claim those using Ubuntu or Arch as their OS doesn't use Linux. My aunt uses Xubuntu but only opens Chrome and LibreOffice. That is all. I don't think she even knows how to use the file manager. Is she a Chrome user, or Linux user? Again, you could build same analogy for Chrome and OS X too.

Using something and knowing how to use something are quite different.

I don't think any Arch user could possibly not know how their system works, actually. This is an OS that requires knowledge of the command line even to apply updates, and in some cases, manual intervention as well. Any system management must be done via editing configuration files -- unlike most distros these days, there is no GUI alternative.


And I am afraid I cannot agree with your claim that using an embedded linux microcontroller makes one a linux user.

Your aunt is a linux user, as is an Android or ChromeOS user. Someone whose toaster or Kindle or washing machine uses linux is not.

If you stretch far enough, you could claim that anyone who uses google is a linux user because: google servers run linux and they use google, so must be they use linux.
At a certain point it merely becomes pathetic.

[dickloraine]

*Throws a bunch of matches on the table* Now let us all take some away. When will it cease being a bunch of matches?

[JSWolf]

Can we please stop the off-topic Linux conversion or at least move it to a different thread?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please stop the off-topic Linux conversion or at least move it to a different thread?

We can always start a new thread for the Win10 versions without POSIX.

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please stop the off-topic Linux conversion or at least move it to a different thread?

This^


That being said and being a glutton for punishment. After killing my desktop, killing the VM version on my MacBook I decided to go 3 for 3 and went for the upgrade on the bootcamp partition on my MacBook of Windows 7.

I let it perform all the updates it wanted, forced the Svc pack 1 and then did an upgrade to Ultimate. I didn't have a key but did it to see if there where more updates and there were (200+). I didn't have a spare key for 7 either but just used my DVD for my main machine to get this all started.

I Downloaded the installer program and it did the final update to 10. Lo and behold it actually worked.

I know that the beta will come to an end in a few months and it will all come to a crashing halt I am curious as to what the official pricing structure will be.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by dickloraine

*Throws a bunch of matches on the table* Now let us all take some away. When will it cease being a bunch of matches?

Once all the remaining matches have been used to create a pointless sculpture instead of lighting fires.

You can't really say you are "using an operating system" when it is stripped down to run a single repeating routine.


Or like one of those handheld electronic solitaire games, say... which are just about as user-facing as a dedicated ereader. I wouldn't call that "using an operating system" if all you are using, or can use, by design, is one software interface overlaid on top.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please stop the off-topic Linux conversion or at least move it to a different thread?

Unfortunately it will be a losing battle getting them to do so:

Q. "Where can you find a Linux user when you want one?"

A. "On a Windows thread"

For reasons I cannot understand they seem to flock to Windows threads and take over; that even though they represent less than 5% of the PC user population . Much like politics really, the 5% representing fringe political persuasions shout the most and so the remaining 95% of us, for whom life is progressing swimmingly or who are not inclined to make idiots of ourselves, don't get heard .

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

I know that the beta will come to an end in a few months and it will all come to a crashing halt I am curious as to what the official pricing structure will be.

if you are using the developer preview/insider program Windows 10 it will be a free upgrade to the RTM version, for consumers, as long as you do the upgrade within the first year. there will be costs involved for enterprise licensees.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

Unfortunately it will be a losing battle getting them to do so:

Q. "Where can you find a Linux user when you want one?"

A. "On a Windows thread"

For reasons I cannot understand they seem to flock to Windows threads and take over; that even though they represent less than 5% of the PC user population . Much like politics really, the 5% representing fringe political persuasions shout the most and so the remaining 95% of us, for whom life is progressing swimmingly or who are not inclined to make idiots of ourselves, don't get heard .

Maybe we just flock to threads about computer OSes, and since Windows has a larger footprint, the number of Windows threads is correspondingly larger.

[murg]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Maybe we just flock to threads about computer OSes, and since Windows has a larger footprint, the number of Windows threads is correspondingly larger.

But clearly, if Linux actually is so much better than Windows, there should be a whole plethora of threads on the subject.

The general takeover of any Windows thread by the Linux people really shows how doubtful and uncertain they are about their choice of operating system, with the takeover being a rash attempt at boosting their self-esteem and the clawing back some of their confidence.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by murg

The general takeover of any Windows thread by the Linux people really shows how doubtful and uncertain they are about their choice of operating system, with the takeover being a rash attempt at boosting their self-esteem and the clawing back some of their confidence.

Oh, give me a break. Nothing like hyperventilating psychobabble in an attempt to make an anti-Linux "point." I've used Linux exclusively for about seven years now. My whole family still uses Windows and I still support their OS and understand why they choose it (kids play games and my wife uses Power Point). But I would never -- personally -- return to Windows because its support demands are a pain in the neck and Linux is much more efficient on my hardware. I don't define myself by the OS I use -- and it has absolutely nothing to with my "self-esteem."

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I would never -- personally -- return to Windows because its support demands are a pain in the neck

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "support demands"? I use nothing but Windows and have never had any support demands (although I am an IT professional). Do you mean that less knowledgeable users have support issues with it?