Windows Blue upgrade would be offered for free for current

Windows Blue upgrade would be offered for free for current Windows 8 users

Win8China, a major source of leaks about Windows Blue reports that Windows Blue would be offered as a free upgrade for current Windows 8 users but, you will need to have an activated legal version of Windows 8 to upgrade. Same was reported earlier by The Verge where it was suggested that Microsoft may offer Windows Blue for free.

Source

A Guy
 
[h=1]With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins[/h]
...Every indication I've seen is that stores, particularly in the United States, are swollen with Windows 8 machines.

...Instead of rolling out much-needed improvements to the core Metro apps, or bringing back the Start menu, or giving us a Windows 7.8, or implementing any of a dozen or more small, high-impact changes in little increments, it looks like we're going to get a new giant version of Windows this summer -- less than a year after the disaster known as Windows 8. Imagine. More of the same, only with performance improvements, a smaller kernel, longer battery life, and a better search charm. Golly. Now that the mainstream press has wind of a "new version" coming down the pike, look for adoption of Windows 8 to shrink even further, while we all wait to see what's coming next.

We can watch as Microsoft dismantles its own Windows monopoly, one harebrained step at a time.

Full article at:

With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld
 

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That is an interesting article you just posted Paul.

With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

8 and the devices that are saddled with it seem to have been in an almost permanent fire sale.

MS are not helping themselves.

We can watch as Microsoft dismantles its own Windows monopoly, one harebrained step at a time.

Unclear what Blue will offer. Probably more of a push to benefit MS irrespective of the users wants and needs. I wouldn't be surprised if they try and leverage their monopoly position in proper machines to force their flagging services - Bing springs to mind.

This attack on Google they are pursuing is not unrelated I suspect.

Maybe the appearance of these 10 inch laptop things will help win 8 sales a bit.

What is Uncle Tim Cook is going to do. Not sure if he will go for it, or perhaps he thinks MS are doing themselves enough damage, and he can just let them get on with it.

Any Apple watchers out there picked up hints yet ?
 

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That is an interesting article you just posted Paul.

With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

8 and the devices that are saddled with it seem to have been in an almost permanent fire sale.

MS are not helping themselves.

We can watch as Microsoft dismantles its own Windows monopoly, one harebrained step at a time.

Unclear what Blue will offer. Probably more of a push to benefit MS irrespective of the users wants and needs. I wouldn't be surprised if they try and leverage their monopoly position in proper machines to force their flagging services - Bing springs to mind.

This attack on Google they are pursuing is not unrelated I suspect.

Maybe the appearance of these 10 inch laptop things will help win 8 sales a bit.

What is Uncle Tim Cook is going to do. Not sure if he will go for it, or perhaps he thinks MS are doing themselves enough damage, and he can just let them get on with it.

Any Apple watchers out there picked up hints yet ?

apple is by far too entrenched in their current ways thinking that demand for the iphone won't ever fade going in the future, which we all know is kind of a bowl of BS considering the higher end androids like the GSIII and Windows Phones like the Nokia Lumia 920 are BY FAR superior alternatives, BY FAR. They don't want to tweak the UI of ios, or really do anything extraordinary with it other than potentially different colors, which Nokia already started two or so years ago. They're too high up on their pedestal to care about what's changing, even look at the UIs of some of google's services, remind you of something? Yep, metro design, clean font that changes color when you click it and bolds, clean lines, focus on content. This is something that Microsoft has made a full approach with Windows, Windows Phone, Bing services, and Xbox. Things are changing and I doubt apple will react fast enough to adapt.

They're not known for adapting.
 

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I fear apple will respond to change years before MS ever thinks it has to. And when MS finally figures out that they are being left behind, once again, they will come out with the next half baked idea like w8.
 

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So Windows Blue is essentially a Service Pack for Windows 8? Surprised you'd be expecting such drastic changes. If Microsoft was charging you $35 for each service pack (like how Apple does), then yes they'd need work harder to justify the upgrade.
 

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IMHO Windows Blue will succeed where's Windows 8 failed if rumored kernel 6.3 for Blue is indeed true, Blue or 8.1 would likely surpass Vista's adaptation but will still be behind Windows 7; a smart move by Microsoft.

Kernel 6.3 for Blue (if true) would not only bring OS performance enhancements but would also push 3rd party driver developers to get off their lazy bums and develop true drivers specifically tailored to Windows 8 and the new kernel 6.3 to showcase the true performance benefits of the newly refreshed OS.

9 out of 10 of the drivers I currently use for Windows 8 is cross-platform compatible with both Windows 8 and 7 thus bringing no performance enhancements at all, it's just made so the the hardware is recognized is Windows 8 and runs exactly the same as it did in Windows 7.

The one Intel WiFi driver I have installed specifically made for Windows 8 (not 7 compatiable) makes my WiFi run and connect noticeably faster than it did in Windows 7.

The same can also be said about software development for Windows 8/Blue on kernel 6.3, so developers are not just porting Windows 7 software to Windows 8 running the software in compatibility mode under the hood.
 

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I am afraid with Windows Blue we are going to get what we paid for nothing.
 

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With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins


...Every indication I've seen is that stores, particularly in the United States, are swollen with Windows 8 machines.

...Instead of rolling out much-needed improvements to the core Metro apps, or bringing back the Start menu, or giving us a Windows 7.8, or implementing any of a dozen or more small, high-impact changes in little increments, it looks like we're going to get a new giant version of Windows this summer -- less than a year after the disaster known as Windows 8. Imagine. More of the same, only with performance improvements, a smaller kernel, longer battery life, and a better search charm. Golly. Now that the mainstream press has wind of a "new version" coming down the pike, look for adoption of Windows 8 to shrink even further, while we all wait to see what's coming next.

We can watch as Microsoft dismantles its own Windows monopoly, one harebrained step at a time.

Full article at:

With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

Hi there
a) it's not a disaster - it's the first iteration of a new OS.

b) Ms will of course make changes -- nothing new about that

c) Do you WANT an OS that can handle the new types of hardware or do you want to be deskbound forever with an older technology that if it has to provide legacy support the Os will become bloated and impossible to provide decent security for. By your logic XP would still be the only OS left (Windows).

d) Stores are full of laptops / desktops because the market for those products is hugely diminishing - and also the economic situation of most people in general --plus also the fact that any hardware bought probably in the last 5 years or so is probably perfectly adequate or more than adequate for what the huge masses out there need a PC for --if they even NEED a PC these days.

Windows 8 phones are doing OK -- the tablets are just too new -- I haven't even SEEN a surface pro tablet yet so how can I vene comment on how good / bad it is etc.

Windows 7 mobile phones were a DOG including the hideousness of the handsets themselves.

Anyway most of these article are written by people who have somewhat dubious qualifications into how your typical user acts with the Internet and mobile apps in general now --and also out of the millions f PC's out there a lot are simply gathering dust in people's homes as they use things like smartphones etc.

I really hope you enjoy using a hugely bloated W7 version (2,003 upgrade) when you add support for holographic / 3D / Virtual reality devices etc.

Just look at that TV series Continuum -- the computers in that are TINY but project their images anywhere and "I want one too".

Glad it's been renewed for a second series -- there's so little decent Sci-fi on TV at the moment. Usually junk reality shows, boring "celebs" or endless cookery programs with ingredients that are impossible to source here :mad: unless you import them yourself and pay a small fortune. - Cheaper and more fun to go to a decent Restaurant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_(TV_series)

Cheers
jimbo
 

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@Nemix,

Yes. I can picture it now.

Joe public cries out - "it has a new kernel - I must rush out and buy it".

MS have to figure out how to shift this thing in big numbers.

Cokie
apple is by far too entrenched in their current ways thinking that demand for the iphone won't ever fade going in the future

In your dreams, Cokie. I don't think Stevie B is going to be that complacent. Tim will be up to something.
 

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Stores are full of laptops / desktops because the market for those products is hugely diminishing - and also the economic situation of most people in general --plus also the fact that any hardware bought probably in the last 5 years or so is probably perfectly adequate or more than adequate for what the huge masses out there need a PC for --if they even NEED a PC these days.

That's it , is it? I suppose the 8 product offering has no effect.;)
 

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If you are pushing something out - there will be factors you can't really control - economy, sudden changes in tax rates, what competitors do, etc. (with caveats - but let's keep it simple ).

You try and get the things you can control right.

If you get some kind of feedback ( different ways of doing that - with their own diffiulties - but let's keep it simple ) - and that tells you a very significant chunk of your target market does not like something - it is a dealbreaker - what do you do?

Do you just push it out anyway - knowing you have cut your prospects - in addition to whatever other factors there may be ?
 

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Hi there
I really don't think the W8 thing has ANYTHING to do with PC sales in general -- I've stated almost ad mauseam the reasons why PC sales in general are falling. The Windows 8 offering has only a marginal effect -- If manufacturers really felt W8 was hampering sales they'd soon find a way of selling these with W7 on them or any thing else to help move the stock.

If it were me selling these I'd throw in say 6 months free subscription to NETFLIX as well -that's only about 50 USD -- --Some people really need how to be taught how to sell stuff when the Market's tough --you must forget greed and take a cut on your margins but you'll still shift the product.

The fact that they don't shows that these manufacturers really don't believe W8 is the problem in "shifting boxes" --it's just for a lot of people those "boxes" aren't needed any more or at least not at the present time. --Maybe after the next round of pay rises and tax cuts (if we ever get these again) and people's disposable income rises then more boxes will get shifted.

Some people I know in both England and Holland are dreading just getting their next Gas / Electric bill and whether they can pay it AND their mortgage --buying a computer is the last thing on their minds --especially also if they aren't sure about keeping their jobs.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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@Nemix,

Yes. I can picture it now.

Joe public cries out - "it has a new kernel - I must rush out and buy it".

MS have to figure out how to shift this thing in big numbers.

Cokie
apple is by far too entrenched in their current ways thinking that demand for the iphone won't ever fade going in the future

In your dreams, Cokie. I don't think Stevie B is going to be that complacent. Tim will be up to something.

It's really not about the new kernel or what Joe public cries out but more on how software/hardware driver developers are going to take advantage of the new kernel and it's performance optimizations to the refreshed OS.

Software and hardware driver developers at this point (with rumors of a new kernel) are pretty much forced to develop software and drivers optimized specifically for the new kernel and Windows 8 onwards.
 

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That is an interesting article you just posted Paul.

With Windows 'Blue' rumored, the Windows 8 fire sale begins | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

8 and the devices that are saddled with it seem to have been in an almost permanent fire sale.

MS are not helping themselves.

We can watch as Microsoft dismantles its own Windows monopoly, one harebrained step at a time.

Unclear what Blue will offer. Probably more of a push to benefit MS irrespective of the users wants and needs. I wouldn't be surprised if they try and leverage their monopoly position in proper machines to force their flagging services - Bing springs to mind.

This attack on Google they are pursuing is not unrelated I suspect.

Maybe the appearance of these 10 inch laptop things will help win 8 sales a bit.

What is Uncle Tim Cook is going to do. Not sure if he will go for it, or perhaps he thinks MS are doing themselves enough damage, and he can just let them get on with it.

Any Apple watchers out there picked up hints yet ?

apple is by far too entrenched in their current ways thinking that demand for the iphone won't ever fade going in the future, which we all know is kind of a bowl of BS considering the higher end androids like the GSIII and Windows Phones like the Nokia Lumia 920 are BY FAR superior alternatives, BY FAR. They don't want to tweak the UI of ios, or really do anything extraordinary with it other than potentially different colors, which Nokia already started two or so years ago. They're too high up on their pedestal to care about what's changing, even look at the UIs of some of google's services, remind you of something? Yep, metro design, clean font that changes color when you click it and bolds, clean lines, focus on content. This is something that Microsoft has made a full approach with Windows, Windows Phone, Bing services, and Xbox. Things are changing and I doubt apple will react fast enough to adapt.

They're not known for adapting.

They are known for leading.

React fast enough to adapt? They already did this a while ago. Much of OSX has evolved to become more mobile like. Many things in the desktop OS have changed because of the innovations in the mobile design. It only goes so far though. Some things on that work for a mobile environment are horrible for a desktop or laptop. Microsoft doesn't get this and they made Windows 8 a one size fits all OS. They also made a touch laptop which Apple looked at a while ago and said no thanks. I think Jobs statement on a touch laptop was "Ergonomically terrible." Here's a good link on it Steve Jobs: Touchscreen Laptops Don't Work - Business Insider its from 2010 but with the sales of Windows 8 and the Surface as and indicator, it appears that he did his research and it is still relevant today.

Why change a good thing? They have a mature product and it is doing great in the market. What it does, it does well. I don't see much out there that needs to be added.

Shall we innovate for innovations sake? I have two Androids and an iPhone. I never use the Androids except to lend out as a mobile data tether. Yuck is probably the most accurate description I can give for the Android user experience.
 

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If manufacturers really felt Windows 8 was hampering sales they'd soon find a way of selling these with W7 on them or any thing else to help move the stock.

Great idea. Recall all the stock from every retailer all around the world. Ship it back to China. Take em apart - put win7 on - put em back together. Change all the packaging - ship them all back out again.

You might not have noticed - the win7 prepackaged product is way ahead of win8 on Amazon and elsewhere - even after all this time. Haven't huge numbers already got win7 ?

British pc manufacturers ( yeah I know it is a small specific sector ) offer a choice - in many cases they are reporting 90% are asking for win7.

Haven't you heard several oem's announced they are having trouble selling win 8 - Fujitsu is yet another - iirc they said it was dead in Japan.

How much more do you need.
 

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Haven't you heard several oem's announced they are having trouble selling win 8 - Fujitsu is yet another - iirc they said it was dead in Japan.

How much more do you need.

Probably need to see in the news that M$ is filing chapter 11. LOL
 

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LOL. They are having difficulty with this - but they are fortunate they can prop it up with their other previous deals.

I don't know the figures, but is possible if they didn't have that to fall back on - they might be in the poo.
 

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One Minute Battery Life

I really hope you enjoy using a hugely bloated W7 version (2,003 upgrade) when you add support for holographic / 3D / Virtual reality devices etc.

MS had to get rid of Aero, because the feeble batteries in portable devices couldn't cope with it.
How will they cope with holographic projection?

I hope you'll enjoy the one minute battery life that a holographic tablet will have. ;)

Just look at that TV series Continuum -- the computers in that are TINY but project their images anywhere and "I want one too".

They have some nice Sci-Fi gadgets in that show.
One thing that is extremely credible in "Continuum", is the Corporations usurping the Government. :(

It will be interesting to see how long it runs for, since the protagonist is basically an enemy of democracy/humanity (worse than the terrorists).

Cokie
apple is by far too entrenched in their current ways thinking that demand for the iphone won't ever fade going in the future

In your dreams, Cokie. I don't think Stevie B is going to be that complacent. Tim will be up to something.

Aren't they already slowly integrating iOS functions into OSX?
 

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I really do think what you're going to be seeing is a shedding of the OEM's. There was a time that you could sell a knockoff 'Windows Machine' and the no-name OEM could go hide in the corner raking in the profits. Everything is going Branding now, and everyone is expecting over-the-top well-made Design when it comes to mobile products. Simply Average kills your sales. The only company to really survive being an OEM is Samsung, and that took completely ripping off Apple's iPhone wholesale.

The simple fact is that Average Joe's simply aren't buying traditional 18-wheeler PC's anymore where there was only really one standard form factor to consider. They want compact products, and they want them to be well-made. So, if the OEM's want to go off and keep polluting the Chromebook market with cheap knockoffs, more power to them :>.

2013 is *really* shaping up to be a transitionary year where winners and losers get shaken out. And you can always tell the losers, they're the ones making up excuses as to why they're failing. Shedding the OEM's could be the best thing that happened to Microsoft given their positioning of the Surface Pro.
 

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