Windows Blue free for Win 8 users?

By Jojo81
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Collaborator

Manarift

Posted
Posted

If it's nothing but a service pack, it traditionally is free. But who knows now.

Have to agree they supposedly want to get rid of Service packs like for example they never released a SP2 for windows 7 like they did for vista when it came out

Grand Master

HawkMan

Posted
Posted

Probably not. most likely you're seeing a shift from large expensive windows licenses to more frequent cheaper windows upgrade licenses, ala Apple (remember every Apple OS sold is an upgrade). which is also marked by the move away from boxed versions and only OEM versions and upgrades for sale.

So it probably won't be free, but it will be cheap.

Mentor

pack34

Posted
Posted

Probably not. most likely you're seeing a shift from large expensive windows licenses to more frequent cheaper windows upgrade licenses, ala Apple (remember every Apple OS sold is an upgrade). which is also marked by the move away from boxed versions and only OEM versions and upgrades for sale.

So it probably won't be free, but it will be cheap.

Blue is an update, not Windows 9.

Mentor

pack34

Posted
Posted

so is every OSX update.

When I mean is, Apple treats every OSX update as the next version of OSX while Blue is supposed to be more of a feature update like a cell phone or Tablet and not the next version of the OS. I would suspect that these annual/biannual updates will be free but the big version number releases every two-three years will be paid. That's at least how I suspect they will treat it. I don't think it would sit well with users to have to pay for a software update for their tablet and since Microsoft is treating it as "One OS to rule them all" I see the smart device update scheme to bleed over to Windows.

Mentor

Robbie Ride

Posted
Posted

I think Windows Blue will be a free add-on/update to Windows 8, but at the same time I hope it fixes the short comings at the same time. If Microsoft were to add more features to the Metro sorry Modern UI apps it would be more of a joy to use, at the minute it seems like a lot of the features were left out the same way they were left out of Windows Phone 8.

It is funny how Apple calls nearly every OS X release as Major Revision, when it's the same original revision that was released in 2001, of course newer technologies have been incorporated, but anything else its just fixes to the backend, a change over to WinTel processors and a new name. Its almost like Apple are too scared to create anything new. So maybe in 2014/2015 when the current build revision numbers run out we may get to see OS X 11 and something new and different.

Grand Master

Xerxes

Posted
Posted

It will cost money I think, Windows Blue (from what I can gather) is the future of Windows. Instead of releasing new version every 3 years of so, they'll release more frequent (but paid for) updates like this, ala OSX. I could be totally wrong but that is gist I got from it.

Experienced

benthebear

Posted
Posted

Just wondering before I officially purchase Windows 8 is Blue going to be a free update/service pack? If not I find it a bit ridiculous.

Yes, Windows Blue will be free and ad supported...

trollololol

Grand Master

spaceelf

Posted
Posted
You still paid for them.

I would have paid for them if his comment didn't exist, also. It did not cost me anything to read his comment, except for the time spent and the ensuing time in this conversation.

(And now I must disappear before the conversation continues!)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • Apple reportedly has a second-generation iPhone Fold planned for 2027

      By Hamid Ganji · Posted

      Apple reportedly has a second-generation iPhone Fold planned for 2027 by Hamid Ganji The iPhone Fold is one of the most anticipated tech products expected to debut this fall. It will be Apple’s first foldable iPhone, ushering in a new product category for the company. While the first generation has yet to hit the shelves, a new leak suggests Apple has already begun work on its successor. Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the second-generation iPhone Fold has already been confirmed, meaning Apple could launch a successor in fall 2027. The foldable iPhone is also reportedly referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” though it remains unclear whether Apple will ultimately choose that branding, especially as Samsung is rumored to rename the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as the Galaxy Z Fold Ultra this year. The leaker also claims that the second-generation foldable will feature a wider folding display while reusing the same screen found in the first generation. Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.3-inch outer screen in a passport-style form factor. It has already been reported that Apple plans to change its iPhone release cycle in 2026 to spread launches throughout the year. Under this strategy, the iPhone Fold is expected to debut this fall alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 are expected to arrive later in 2026 or in early 2027. Speaking of the iPhone Air, Digital Chat Station says Apple remains undecided about a third-generation model. The company is reportedly waiting to see how the iPhone Air 2 performs in the market, and if sales disappoint, a successor may never materialize. As we reported this week, the iPhone Air has not been scrapped from Apple’s plans. The second-generation model is reportedly scheduled for spring 2027 and could introduce upgrades such as an additional rear camera for ultrawide photography and improved battery life.
    • Sony announces Bungie layoffs that will affect "significant number of employees"

      By daryld · Posted

      ahh yes the good old your opinion differs from mine so you are therefore insane lol destiny 1 had no agenda pushing and was a massive success of a game, if you clearly look online the team for some reason thought they had too many men on the team and went on a woman and dei recruitment drive and we all know how destiny 2 performed from then on in
    • EU says AWS and Microsoft Azure should be treated as DMA gatekeepers

      By Nas · Posted

      The limited imaginations and business acumen of non-dominant players is simply that: the abject lack of creative business acumen. Businesses often want to operate in a financially-rewarding marketplace (free market economics) and/or exit/cash-out at maximal financial recompense. Money is their incentive; regulations are both their obstacles and their tools; politics is their means of influencing the marketplace. Google, in this story's example, is crying that AWS and Azure are "too dominant" -- cuz Google Cloud is not printing as much money as Alphabet wants (although it is still dramatically more than they actually need). The EU DMA should truly follow-the-money and treat the EU as its own sovereign nation in order to protect European market players: Domestic entities are exempt from market-influence regulations until absolute monopoly is achieved; Foreign (non-EU/non-Euro) entities are all regulated via stricter DMA measures whereby regulated partnership with independent domestic entity becomes the only way for foreign entities to 'tip the scale' for favorable financial remunerations. Basically create a dual-track aligning with China's foreign investment models. In my eyes, this is the only way to properly protect the European marketplace beyond the current dot-com/ai-bubble/social-media crazes.
    • ABSTRACT//AWESOME//WALLPAPERS - made by me!

      By remixedcat · Posted

      purrs!
    • Neowin's 2026 GNU/Linux Desktop Thread

      By remixedcat · Posted

      I have a fire n ice theme w my bedroom laptops. one is a red lenovo gaming laptop (fire) and the precision is ice

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      Vistor earned a badge
      One Year In
    • First Post
      kinowa earned a badge
      First Post
    • Rookie
      krychek57 went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Grand Master
      Jaybonaut went up a rank
      Grand Master
    • One Year In
      Philsl earned a badge
      One Year In

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      406
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      172
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      131
    4. 4
      Xenon
      72
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      69
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!