MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On July 29th, 2016, the free upgrade of Windows 10 will expire. After that, you will have to pay $119.99.*
Don’t think for a second you’ll be able to avoid it. Windows 10 is everywhere – and that’s in part due to Microsoft’s bold strategy for getting billions of users to upgrade. Windows 10 is free to most Windows 7 and 8.1 computers that upgrade within the first year of release. Businesses with volume licensing agreements aren’t included, but most will also be able to upgrade for free anyway under the enterprise licensing terms. More than that, Microsoft is taking on the job of notifying and updating users courtesy of a reservation flag that started popping up on PCs a few months back.
What’s on the Cutting Room Floor?
Windows 10 is making a break from the past in a few areas, removing some features found in Windows 7 and 8. Many are insignificant or can be added after the fact, and most of these won’t impact business users, but it’s worth going through them just in case.
First, Microsoft has finally given Windows Media Center, which allowed for things like TV recording and DVD playback, the boot in Windows 10. If you upgrade a machine with Windows 7 or 8.1 with Media Center installed, it won’t be there when you’re done. Also, native support for DVD playback has been removed and requires separate software. However, Microsoft has said that if Media Center were present when upgraded, the company will provide a program that can play DVDs. This change mostly affects consumer PCs and those who do TV recording with Media Center.
Next, the native OneDrive client in Windows 8.1 allowed users to browse the entire contents of their OneDrive (not OneDrive for Business) storage even if it was not synced to the PC using little placeholder files. Those who relied on it really love it, but the OneDrive sync in Windows 10 is now like Windows 7 and the Mac.
Windows 7 users will notice that Solitaire and Minesweeper are no longer part of the OS (but can be downloaded from the Windows store) and that there are no Desktop Gadgets (which were gone in 8). Finally, core OS support for USB floppy drives has been removed. So when you plug one into a PC with Windows 10, it will need software from the manufacturer or from Windows Update.
Wrap Up and Roll Out
Windows 10 starts rolling out to x86 PCs July 29, but if the reservation is made ahead of time using the reservation flag in your tray, it should start downloading in advance and simply unlock on the big day.
Putting to rest an oft-cited, incorrect statement—you do not have to pay for Windows 10 after the first year. If you upgrade an eligible PC to Windows 10 within the first year of release, that license is good for the service life of Windows 10 on that machine. It’s a free copy; just claim it within a year.
As a free upgrade, many SMB customers (especially those with Windows 8 desktops or notebooks) are going to be chomping at the bit to get it. Microsoft is confident that in-place upgrades from Windows 7 and 8.1 will work well, but there is always the potential for issues given the virtually infinite combination of hardware and software deployed. Unlike previous upgrades, Windows 10 will let you roll back an upgraded machine to the previous OS if problems occur.
Nonetheless, your customers’ happiness is critical. Windows 10 is a great opportunity to modernize your clients and prevent them from being stuck on Windows 7 until it becomes the next XP. Still, you might advise them to hold off for a little while and let the rest of the world test the upgrade process, plus give Microsoft time to address any hiccups.
When it seems like upgrades are going well, present clients with your special Windows modernization package that gets them Windows 10, Office 365 (and hopefully the new Office 2016 suite), and a new backup solution for a great monthly price.
*Excerpts from Channel Pro Magazine July 2015 Issue
If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you need help in upgrading to Windows 10 or have problems after upgrading on your desktop or laptop in your business, please give us a call to help you with any issues that you may have. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com
