Microsoft: Free for Windows 8 Users

[Tony Cole]

Does that mean I will have to upgrade to Windows 9, or can I stick with Windows 8.1?

 

[الشمس]

Does that mean I will have to upgrade to Windows 9

you do not have to upgrade tony.

 

[Ink]

Windows 8.1 was a free upgrade, no surprise about Windows 9 upgrade being free. Even Apple Mac OS X upgrades are free, and they even include their own versions of Office. So unless you own the crappy Windows RT edition, you'll still have to pay for Office.

I hope that in Windows 9, the Office Online (web apps) are in the Windows Store, so we can use them offline, even if limited compared to Office 365.

 

[jackuars]

windows 7 = 2009 windows 8 = 2012 windows 8.1 = 2013 windows 9 = 2014 approximately / probably.

Windows 9 is expected to release in April 2015: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Micr...-Free-for-Windows-8-Users-460060.shtml#sgal_0

 

[Jack]

Microsoft Indonesia confirms a free license for Windows 9

Windows 9 preview is almost here, as Microsoft will unveil the first public build of the upcoming operating system in just a few days, but we have already heard quite a lot of details about this product thanks to people who are more or less familiar with the development plans.

The software giant has remained completely tight-lipped on the Windows 9 work until now, with the exception of Microsoft’s France President, who confirmed that the preview would be unveiled next week, but someone else from within the company now comes with a few more exciting tidbits of information.

Windows 9 would be free for Windows 8 users, Microsoft Indonesia President Andreas Diantoro reportedly said during a recent event, which comes as a confirmation that the company is working to boost early uptake of the new OS as much as possible from the very beginning.

Still not confirmed by Microsoft
The news comes via local publication detik.com, which writes that Diantoro talked about Microsoft’s Windows 9 plan during a recent event at Hotel Mulia in Jakarta. The conference took place on Thursday, the source notes, and Diantoro confirmed that a Windows 9 preview build would be coming next week.

What’s also interesting is that Microsoft is also preparing a built-in update system that would allow Windows 8 users to automatically update to Windows 9, without the need for a clean installation.

Apps and settings, however, might be lost, but again, there’s no confirmation from Microsoft on this.

Here’s what Diantoro said, thanks to an approximate translation with Google Translate:
“It’s easy, when Windows 9 will be released, users who are using Windows 8 just have to update via their device. Then Windows 9 will be installed automatically.”

Not the first time when Windows 9 is said to come for free
This isn’t the first time when some sources suggest that Windows 9 might be offered with a freeware license, but it’s definitely the first confirmation that we get from someone for within the company.

Previous reports on the matter indicated that Windows 9 might become completely free for a wider array of users, including Windows 8 and Window 7 customers, but there were also some voices indicating that Microsoft could go as far as making this release free of charge even for XP adopters.

While there’s no doubt that a free license is really great news for Windows 9, keep in mind that Microsoft hasn’t yet confirmed this, and it’s pretty odd to hear it first from its Indonesian branch, especially when dealing with such an important change.

As a result, don’t take it for granted, but there’s definitely hope that Windows 9 could be free, so next week’s event will clearly keep many people with an eye on Microsoft news.

Good... I would not have bought Windows 9, after less than a year from Windows 8.... Microsoft will still make money with the Windows 7 users who will upgrade or those who buy a new system...

 

[BoraMurdar]

We have been hearing for some time that Windows 9 could be free, and thanks to a Microsoft official in Indonesia, the rumors are looking like they will be true. The information is said to come from Andreas Diantoro, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, is the president of Microsoft Indonesia.

According to the source article, Diantoro said that for users upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 9, the upgrade will be free. Just like we heard back in late June, Microsoft is hoping to move all of its users to its latest platform, and by removing the cost of entry, this should be a big motivator.

The comment is said to have come from a meeting that took place on the 25th of September at the Hotel Mulia, Jakarta.

While Windows 7 and Vista were not mentioned by name, we will be curious to see if Microsoft will dangle the free carrot in front of these users too. Because the business model has changed from upfront payments to recovering revenue through its app stores, if this bit of information holds true, Microsoft will need as many users as possible on its latest OS to make this model work.

We don't have to wait too much longer to learn more about the OS as Microsoft's event takes place on Tuesday of the upcoming week. But if that's too long to wait, we will have a preview posted up on Monday that gives a few new details about the technical preview and what you should expect. You can also check many of our scoops of the OS here.

 

[Alucard]

Works for me, I am using Windows 8 right now and from the videos I've seen of Windows 9, it does look promising.

 

[dowN1]

So this is just going to be free as an upgrade from windows 8, not as a clean install?

 

[Ink]

@dowN1 I'm going to assume as long as the user is running Windows 8.1 Update, then the upgrade process to "Windows 9" will be free. But if upgrading from Window 7, then a license needs to be purchased. It makes sense, as this was identical for Windows 8 to 8.1.