With Windows 10 getting ready to launch next week, Microsoft finally realized that gouging loyal customers for money is poor business. As such, the new edition of Windows will be a free upgrade.
Windows 10 is just one of several things launching next week to include Spartan, Cortana, and a set of virtual reality goggles but for PC users, getting the new Windows free is huge and welcomed news. Satya Nadella, new CEO with Microsoft realized the value of making Windows 10 free, possibly in an effort to right a wrong done when people transitions to the new Windows 7 from Vista.
When that transition happened, Microsoft received an abundance of correspondence from people complaining about having to pay to switch from Vista to Windows 7. The biggest argument made was that the people who chose Vista were Microsoft’s most loyal customers. These people got sucked into the hype and now they were expected to pay yet again.
Just as then, the transition from Windows 8 to 10 is about a new operating system being pioneered. As seen with Vista to Windows 7, most people did not fully embrace the change and unfortunately, were left with a lot of problems that Microsoft promised to fix. Although the new Windows 7 did as it was promised, many users were unhappy with the experience, primarily paying twice for an operating system.
Without question, that same scenario could have taken place with the launch of Windows 10 but by giving it as a free upgrade to people who have Windows 7 and 8, at least for the first 12 months, is a good decision on Microsoft’s behalf. The only question that users have now is will the new operating system correct the problems that Window 8 has.
Initially, giving Windows 10 as a free upgrade will have a financial impact on the company but when looking at the decision over a long period of time it will pay off by restoring user trust in Microsoft. However, there could be another reason for Nadella’s decision. After all, Apple’s Mac OSX operating system is quickly gaining market share. In addition, most operating system upgrades are offered by other companies free or at an extremely low price.
Regardless of what exactly prompted Nadella to make the decision, it will ultimately benefit Microsoft. Already, analysts are taking note and talking about his bold and out-of-character move. Perhaps this is a new beginning for Microsoft, recognizing that the customer really does come first.