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Is windows10 really free? Why is Windows 10 free?

After seven years, Microsoft WinHEC restarted in Shenzhen. In Microsoft's words, it is “to create a communication platform for Microsoft technology and business experts, to fully exchange ideas, share experiences and discover new opportunities with partners and customers. "Of course, Microsoft has seen the importance of the Chinese market and urgently needs Chinese partners to help Microsoft win the Chinese market." For this purpose, Microsoft has racked its brains and even sacrificed the "free" flag.

Microsoft said that Windows 7/8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 can be upgraded free of charge in the first year after Windows 10 is released, whether it is a stimulant or not. Boiling, full of information on the "Windows 10 free". Is windows 10 really free? What kind of trick is Microsoft playing?

The market has given way to Android. According to the statistics of the research firm Strategy Analytics, in the third quarter of 2014, iOS and Android have occupied 96% of the world's first mobile phone market, of which Android is 83.6%, iOS is 12.3%, and Windows Phone is only More than 4.1%, almost a small mobile phone operating system.

As mobile Internet performance continues to grow, the shortcomings in mobile also make Microsoft more and more crippled, as Terry Melson said: "Microsoft Windows ecosystem is being Apple Intrusive iOS and Google Android, these two rivals are swallowing the ecological chain that Microsoft and Intel have built over the years. ”. Because of this, Microsoft is in desperate need of more Chinese partners to jointly promote the ecosystem of operating systems around Windows, and “free” is a good temptation.

The domestic mobile phone manufacturers rely on the open source Android system on the one hand; on the other hand, they are wary of the possible tightening of authorization in the future of Android. Originally Windows is a good spare tire, but its high licensing fee makes it a lot. Manufacturers are discouraged. This time, Windows' "free" directly breaks the worries of manufacturers and attracts more members for the ecological development of the Windows operating system. After all, the operating experience consistent with the PC system is quite attractive to many users. In this respect, Windows' "free" may be really free, but will it just stay on the mobile version of Windows? Does PC users enjoy “free”?

Using "free" to attract users' attention

On WinHEC, Microsoft announced that it will cooperate with Tencent to provide Windows 10 free upgrade service for Chinese users. Windows7 and Windows8 will only be available within one year. Both of these announced channels can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free. In the Chinese market, with such a powerful upgrade and promotion channel, and in the name of “free”, I believe that the upgrade rate will be considerable.

But the question is after the upgrade? The information that can be determined at present is “free upgrade”, whether it is a genuine system user, it can be upgraded free of charge. As for whether the pirated system will be converted to a genuine system after upgrading, it is necessary to draw a big question mark. If Microsoft completely declares that the Windows 10 operating system is completely free, it seems that it can't explain to the previous paid purchase users, and may even seriously affect the corporate copyright and OEM business that maintains Microsoft's revenue. So I infer that this so-called "free", perhaps just staying at the free upgrade level, more is Microsoft's use of "free" to attract users' eyeball marketing tools.

“Free” Behind, Microsoft has another picture

Although this time "free" is just staying at the upgrade level, but compared with the previous Windows iteration mode, it is still A pretty big step. This shows that Microsoft has found its way on the road to transformation. It may not be far away in the future. We may wish to see what Microsoft has done from Microsoft's "free upgrade".

First, Microsoft is trying to complete the iteration of the operating system quickly to achieve its new phase of business. Microsoft urgently needs to abandon XP, Vista, 7, 8 and other operating system users, allowing users to upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible, in order to achieve a "system" consistent experience, open the boundaries between PC and mobile, and even sacrifice some commercial profits. Also do not hesitate.

Secondly, Microsoft is trying to create an ecological closed loop of the Windows operating system, using the "app store" to grip the application and content distribution portal, which is to use the free system channel to sell application software profits.

Finally, personal authorization or will be free, Microsoft plans to make profits in advanced services and enterprise services, such as cloud services, enterprise application deployment.

The above is just Microsoft's future "scheme", but Microsoft is not ready to rush to completely free Windows system in the face of the Windows ecosystem that is not perfect today. The free process must be promoted with the improvement and maturity of the ecosystem. It is really free on the day, and perhaps the price we pay is far greater than the cost of today's system.