Redmond, Wash. — If you’ve been on the edge of your seat until the release of Microsoft’s latest OS, congrats! Your lucky day has finally arrived.
Much has been written by TWICE about Windows 10, so we’ll just stick to the nitty gritty. Here are a few things to know about upgrading to Windows 10:
1. Legacy devices welcome.
Upgrading to Windows 10 will be free for one year. Even if you’re not ready to make the switch today, you can reserve a copy of the OS for future use. Microsoft has detailed instructions on exactly how to do this.
2. But …
If you don’t upgrade within this one-year window, it will cost $119 for Windows 10 Home and $199 for Window 10 Pro to bring your device up to speed.
3. Coming soon to a retailer near you.
While the bulk of users will initially be those upgrading from Win7 and Win8.1, devices loaded with Win10 also become available today. Case in point: MSI Computer announced this morning its GT72 Dominator, GE72 Apache and GE62 Apache gaming notebooks will ship with the new OS installed.
4. This is a really big deal for Microsoft (and it knows it).
Microsoft is coming off strong Surface sales, but its cellphone segment is anything but. While some analysts aren’t optimistic about its ability to regain a significant foothold in the phone market, Microsoft does seem to have its priorities in order. Ian Fogg, IHS Technology mobile analysis director, declared it has already lost the smartphone OS war to iOS and Android. As such, “Microsoft is pursuing a strategy clearly inspired by that understanding. It is prioritizing the PC version of Windows 10 for delivery first, not mobile. [The Windows Phone upgrade to Win10 is expected later this year.] And Microsoft is offering its flagship apps, such as Microsoft Office and Halo, for the rival smartphone OS, which have the bulk of the users.”
5. It looks good out there.
The bulk of the initial reviews (including ours) paint a positive outlook for the operating system. Microsoft has clearly learned from its mistakes with Windows 8, and rather than trying to force square pegs into its round ecosystem, it has instead decided to evolve it to be more welcoming to developers – and Start-button devotees.