{"id":14421,"date":"2013-04-03T09:58:44","date_gmt":"2013-04-03T08:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aidanfinn.com\/?p=14421"},"modified":"2013-04-03T09:58:44","modified_gmt":"2013-04-03T08:58:44","slug":"100-pure-speculation-will-windows-blue-8-1-upgrade-require-a-new-license","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aidanfinn.com\/?p=14421","title":{"rendered":"100% Pure Speculation \u2013 Will Windows \u201cBlue\u201d (\u201c8.1\u201d) Upgrade Require A New License?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been hiding under a rock lately, then you should know that a new \u201cversion\u201d of Windows 8<\/a> appears to be on the way.  The program in Microsoft (not the product) is codenamed \u201cBlue\u201d.  There\u2019s leaks, screenshots, speculation, a new Build conference, etc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve wondered how will this new \u201cversion\u201d be released?  Will it be a service pack?  Will it be a feature pack?  Will it be an OS upgrade?  Will it require a new license \u2026 and a spend to get from Windows 8 to Windows \u201c8.1\u201d?  Apple does that, albeit with a \u201cmicro\u201d payment for the new OS.<\/p>\n

I cannot say what Microsoft is going to do; my magic 8 ball is on the fritz.  But I did drink the fluid from inside of it and I\u2019m having visions of the future \u2013 someone might need to call an ambulance \"Smile\"<\/p>\n

Two things hint to me that this will be a free upgrade:<\/p>\n

1) Surface and other Windows 8\/RT tablets are getting murdered right now.  iPad is the desirable device and Android has everyone beat<\/u> when money is a factor.  Apple gives OS upgrades away for free.  Android updates (when the manufacturers bother) are free too.  Microsoft cannot afford to hand critics a baseball bat with 6 inch rusty nails driven through it.  They need to make \u201c8.1\u201d free.<\/p>\n

2) Customers who have invested in Windows 8 didn\u2019t expect their OS to have a 1 year life as the primary version.  We\u2019ve been conditioned to expect 3 years.  Consumers are one thing; enterprises are something completely different.  Enterprises are still moving to Windows 7.  Those few<\/em> who might have jumped to Windows 8 will be delighted (that\u2019s sarcasm, Sheldon) to hear that they should fire up MDT and app regression testing every 12 months.  And yes, I am discounting Software Assurance here; the actual test\/deployment of an OS is disruptive and costly.  Everything here screams out that \u201c8.1\u201d will be a minor revision (free and released like a feature\/service pack, with the usual updated & slipstreamed media), and we\u2019ll have major revisions every 3 years.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I think I can hear the sirens now so I\u2019ll wrap up this post.<\/p>\n

Technorati Tags: Windows 8<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been hiding under a rock lately, then you should know that a new \u201cversion\u201d of Windows 8 appears to be on the way.  The program in Microsoft (not the product) is codenamed \u201cBlue\u201d.  There\u2019s leaks, screenshots, speculation, a new Build conference, etc. I\u2019ve wondered how will this new \u201cversion\u201d be released?  Will it … Continue reading “100% Pure Speculation \u2013 Will Windows \u201cBlue\u201d (\u201c8.1\u201d) Upgrade Require A New License?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[109],"class_list":["post-14421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows-desktop","tag-windows-8"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t