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from the tears-were-shed-across-the-land dept.
Microsoft continues to phase out Windows 7 and 8.1:
Out with the old, and in with the new. Microsoft yesterday stopped providing Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1 licenses to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including its PC partners and systems builders. This means that, as of today, the only way you can buy a computer running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is if you can still find one in stock.
Two years ago, Microsoft stopped selling Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, and Windows 7 Ultimate licenses to OEMs. Now Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1 are also out of the picture, leaving Windows 10 as the only remaining option, assuming you want a PC with a Microsoft operating system.
This is Microsoft's way of slowly phasing out old operating systems. The Windows Lifecycle chart for sales doesn't have an end date for Windows 10, since that operating system doesn't have a successor.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by iamjacksusername on Wednesday November 02 2016, @02:55PM
I suppose Microsoft is getting what they want... there were a lot of people (and businesses!) who had the utter gall to use their computer operating system without sending money to Microsoft every month. Microsoft has decided to put a stop to that nonsense. With the Windows 10 update models, if you have to sanely manage Windows on more than one computer, you are going to have pay.
One of my clients provides staffing for their own client offices all over the state; the clients usually provide the IT equipment but we have to manage it. With Windows 8 and below, it's not a problem - just leave autoupdates turned on. Now, with what Microsoft calls a "modern" release model, the whole OS could just get updated without any user intervention. It is a nightmare.
We are looking at having to get Windows E3 per User plus Intune to be able to have some control over the platforms at client offices. We have already had onsite dispatches for system rebuilds on single user remote sites because a Windows update broke something. We work with a lot of equipment whose software gets updated about once every 5 years so this annual update model for Windows 10 just does not work.
Pay up chumps!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:13PM
leaving windows automatic updates on is not managing anything. It's letting the wizard run wild. This management approach is no different than my grandmother's, and I would not put her in charge of an IT department.
(Score: 2) by iamjacksusername on Wednesday November 02 2016, @03:42PM
It's a time and resource issue. At least through Windows 7, you could leave Windows update set to install updates automatically and be reasonably assured that no major changes would occur. There were issues but were rare enough that the cost to mitigate them was more expensive than fixing them as they arose. When the client owns the system, you do not have a lot of options for OS management and rarely can you bill the client for it. It is a cost that a business ends up eating. Given the historical track record for Windows Update through Windows 7, there was no business case for implementing a full management package on client-owned remote sites with 1 or 2 users. And there was absolutely no desire on the part of management to try and sell the client on the cost as they get beat up enough on prices for the business services they provide... the services that actually generate revenue for the business.
What's changing is that now we are going to have to actively manage this equipment and will have to eat the cost as a cost of doing business. Compared to managing sites with Windows 7 clients, Microsoft has added $0 of value and increased costs. It sucks.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 02 2016, @07:01PM
Remember when W10 was announced to be 'free' for the first year? And the big misunderstanding that had to be clarified by Redmond?
"No, no, there is no monthly cost. It's a once time purchase price that's being waived for the first year. A promotion to garner lots of customers! We never said anything about next year being a monthly rental."
ONE YEAR LATER
"Well, if you want the chump home-version, sure it's free. But if you want the full Windows Experience (tm) this will cost you. And since you all are habituated to in-app purchases in games, you'll take this and like it. Just think of it as buying 'gems' or 'beans' for your game, but your game is an office building full of professionals trying to make a living... you don't want to mess that up do you? It's a game see? And we're playing you ;) "