Yesterday, millions of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users were informed through a special notification that Windows 10 will be available starting next July 29. At the same time, official prices were also confirmed, which is an excellent opportunity to review additional details such as upgrade paths, which version each user can receive, and of course, the necessary hardware specifications.
Another mark on the calendar. Next July 29 will be “D-Day” for Microsoft and its legions. It is estimated that 1.5 billion users will be eligible to receive the new operating system, and if all goes well, for free. Windows 10 goals are strikingly clear: restore the relationship with the majority of users, leave behind all the conflict associated with Windows 8.x, relaunch the vision of Windows as a broad and coherent ecosystem that reaches all available hardware platforms, and advance the idea of software as a service. Obviously, the road ahead for Windows 10 is not easy. The popularity of Windows 7 is not just stubbornness, and with more than a year without support, Windows XP still retains 15 percent of the market. Resistance will be inevitable, but even if users decide to ignore or postpone the update, it never hurts to ask some questions about Microsoft’s flagship operating system.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ngnzY5xtI8One of the questions is what will happen with non-genuine installations of Windows. After Microsoft generated another public relations catastrophe with its famous “Windows 10 for everyone” and the media (including us) swallowed it whole, the answer is “business as usual”. According to Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President of Operating Systems at Microsoft, the offer to upgrade to Windows 10 for free does not extend to illegal installations, so the new operating system will work in a “non-genuine” state, of which no further details have been published, but we assume it will be similar to what we see today in Windows 7 and 8. Still, Microsoft is working on a series of “special offers” with its commercial partners to make the purchase of a suitable license more economically attractive. Outside those offers, retail prices are $119 for the Home edition, and $199 for Windows 10 Pro. Those wishing to jump from Home to Pro in Windows 10 will be able to access a Pro Pack for $99.
Other questions arose about the “reservation” mentioned in the recent notification, but in reality it is nothing strange. Microsoft explains that with the Windows 10 reservation, the user confirms that their device is compatible and that they are interested in receiving the update. Between the start of the reservation and July 29, Windows Update will download files in advance to speed up the installation process when the time comes. The reservation is not binding, and the user can cancel it at any time. Furthermore, users interested in doing a clean installation of Windows 10 will not get any benefit from the reservation, since they will need standalone operating system images. Microsoft has not yet confirmed whether the free access to Windows 10 with a “qualified device” will also allow downloading an ISO image, or if that specific license will be compatible with installations from scratch.
Speaking of installations, it’s a good time to recall the main upgrade paths to Windows 10. Like its predecessors, Windows 10 has a variety of editions, but the main branches are three: Home, Pro, and Mobile. Assuming the user has the latest available version of their operating system (Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update 1, also known as “S14”), the Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium editions of Windows 7, along with the Core edition of Windows 8.1, will receive Windows 10 Home, while Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 8.1 Pro will get Windows 10 Pro. Smartphones with Windows Phone 8.1 that have the approval of their manufacturer and phone operator will get an upgrade path to Windows 10 Mobile. Enterprise editions go another way (courtesy of volume licenses and advanced subscriptions), and Windows RT will have a sort of “service release”, but it cannot be upgraded to Windows 10. Special versions of Windows (such as N, KN, and other variants) will follow the same path as their base systems. For example: Windows 7 Home Premium N will become Windows 10 Home.
Fortunately, Windows 10 hardware requirements remain within the same parameters as Windows 7 and 8.x, with some specific improvements. The processor or SoC must run at a frequency of 1 GHz, and the minimum RAM is 1 GB for 32-bit versions, or 2 GB for x64 builds. The required space is 16 GB (x32) or 20 GB (x64), which will allow Windows 10 to be installed even on relatively small solid-state drives. The video must be compatible with DirectX 9 using WDDM 1.0 drivers, and the minimum screen resolution has changed to 1,024 by 600 pixels. One of Microsoft’s most absurd decisions was limiting the minimum resolution in the new Windows 8 interface to 768 pixels high (causing runtime errors in the so-called Metro apps), so it’s great to know that small screens with 720p resolution will get the support they deserve.
Finally, the upgrade process to Windows 10 will implement changes to applications and available security updates. At the top of the list are the removal of Windows Media Center in all cases, and the mandatory profile for updates in Windows 10 Home. Until Microsoft publishes a dedicated solution, DVD playback will require an external tool like VLC Player or similar. Desktop gadgets in Windows 7 will also be missed, classic Windows games (Hearts, Minesweeper, and Solitaire) will be removed and must be reinstalled separately, the OneDrive application will be replaced if the previous installation had Windows Live Essentials, and USB floppy drives will need a driver update, either with the help of Windows Update or directly from the manufacturer. Windows 10. Less than two months. Are you ready?
