A Microsoft executive has confirmed that Windows 9 will be made available as a free upgrade for Windows 8 users.
Update: Windows 9 has been bypassed and Microsoft will release Windows 10
There has been much speculation over how much Windows 9 will cost when it launches in 2015, with many reports claiming that the new OS would be free to certain existing Windows users.
Now it’s emerged that Andreas Diantoro, president of Microsoft Indonesia, has confirmed one particular deal. Windows 9 will be free to existing Windows 8 users.
Whether you think it’s a generous deal, an apology, or an attempt to move along swiftly, it’s definitely welcome news.
It’s not known if users of other Windows versions will get similar deals, or how much the OS will cost as a stand-alone product. If Microsoft is intent on moving users of ancient versions such as Windows XP onto Windows 9, some kind of equivalent offer would be advisable.
Of course, OS X has been available as a free, easy-to-install update to existing Mac owners for a few versions now. It seems Microsoft is making Windows 9 into an OS that’s similarly quick and easy to update.
Microsoft should be revealing and releasing a technical preview of Windows 9 tomorrow at a special Windows-themed event in San Francisco. The new OS promises to include a reintroduced Start menu, Windows Phone 8.1’s Cortana voice assistant, support for multiple desktops, a Notification Centre, and a return to a generally more desktop-friendly UI.
Read More: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review
Via: BGR
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.