POLL: Would you pay for a Windows 12 subscription?

Ghot said:

Here's a current news item that could easily be an... X-File... cue Mulder and Skully.

Mummified Pennsylvania man identified and buried after 128 years on display

A leather-skinned mummified man lying in an open coffin in Reading, Pennsylvania, known only as "Stoneman Willie” to the public got two things Saturday he went without for 128 years - a burial and his real name.

www.reuters.com

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Sounds a bit like Chelsea F.C (English Premier football league club) trying to score a Goal this season. !! The way they are playing currently the woodwork from the goal posts would have rotted away long before a ball goes into the back of the net and the last Chelsea goal being scored would be on one of those historical TV series on Nat.Geographic or Discovery channels.

Cheers
jimbo

MiguelAngel11 said:

I didn't know that mysql has to be tuned in Linux. I don't know much of Linux. Just how to install it, some settings and that's it

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It is not so much about tuning the DB (that is normal practice for any DB on any OS), but more about tuning Linux for performance for certain workloads. Ubuntu default kernel alone contribute easily to 10-30% performance drop for any task, because it is very generic, slow and clunky. Add to that Filesystem overhead and unoptimized libraries, and the system becomes a lot slower.

As windows 12 will be the usual flawed OS when it is released to the public until many updates have happened I don't consider it worth paying for.
Look back to Win 10 it was working near on perfect so we got Win 11 which is getting good now, so I guess 12 isn't far away

Meh. I'm still struggling with 10 and 11 buggaboos. Nothing huge. Just very annoying things. I've resigned myself to the belief that Windows is always a work in progress (or regress) and I just have to roll (role?) with the punches. I can put up or shut up or do both, but Windows is as Windows does and no amount of bellyaching or complaining will change it. It's a bit like the climate: If you stick around long enough it will change. This beat goes on.

Have not read every post in this thread. Some may have expressed similar thoughts already...

My preference would be that base Windows be free, but maybe certain advanced features such as advanced AI functions have a subscription attached to them.

Further, for any subscription items my preference would be that the subscription be good for multiple machines. For example, Microsoft Store apps right now can be installed on ten systems. Likewise, the Microsoft 365 subscription can be used by up to six people, each with 5 systems.

If still priced reasonably, this would be perfectly acceptable to me.

I think it incredibly arrogant to expect it all to be absolutely free. Microsoft has to make money from somewhere be it advertising, or elsewhere.

I don't understand this poll. I have already been paying for my Windows subscription every ~3 years for the past 17 years and a half, and I expect to automatically get billed yet again within just a few months from now.

hsehestedt said:

Have not read every post in this thread. Some may have expressed similar thoughts already...

My preference would be that base Windows be free, but maybe certain advanced features such as advanced AI functions have a subscription attached to them.

Further, for any subscription items my preference would be that the subscription be good for multiple machines. For example, Microsoft Store apps right now can be installed on ten systems. Likewise, the Microsoft 365 subscription can be used by up to six people, each with 5 systems.

If still priced reasonably, this would be perfectly acceptable to me.

I think it incredibly arrogant to expect it all to be absolutely free. Microsoft has to make money from somewhere be it advertising, or elsewhere.

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Mostly my thoughts exactly.

hsehestedt said:

, or elsewhere.

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Legal theft FTW.

hdmi said:

I don't understand this poll. I have already been paying for my Windows subscription every ~3 years for the past 17 years and a half, and I expect to automatically get billed yet again within just a few months from now.

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What are you talking about? Computer upgrade every 3 years?

hsehestedt said:

My preference would be that base Windows be free, but maybe certain advanced features such as advanced AI functions have a subscription attached to them.

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That I wouldn't have a problem with except I would prefer to have the option to pay for any advanced apps, features or programs MS releases I want instead of paying for a yearly subscription. Of all of my programs that offer the option of a subscription or a one time purchase price, I always pay for the one time purchase.

SlicEnDicE said:

What are you talking about? Computer upgrade every 3 years?

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I buy a new laptop with a pre-installed (Home edition of) Windows every ~3 years.

hsehestedt said:

I think it incredibly arrogant to expect it all to be absolutely free

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Hannes,

But it's not.
We pay for it within the cost of our computers if we buy ready-built ones [whilst those who build their own computers pay for it separately].


All the best,
Denis

Try3 said:

Hannes,

But it's not.
We pay for it within the cost of our computers if we buy ready-built ones [whilst those who build their own computers pay for it separately].


All the best,
Denis

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I agree with you. We do pay. I'm just saying that it is not reasonable to expect it to be completely free. Remember, many home computers are built by the end user where Windows needs to be obtained separate from the machine.

I would just use an older version of Windows until it wasn't possible, and then I would use some hacked version of Windows. I seriously doubt it's going to come to any of this, but that's the simple solution.

Bree said:

No, of course 'Windows 12' won't require a subscription to use it

Rumors that the next version of Windows will require a subscription are greatly exaggerated.

www.windowscentral.com

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I believe stories like the above (if not the same story) have been posted a few times in this thread. A couple of things though, in my opinion; 1. It’s still an interesting question and poll. 2. Since when is Microsoft (or any company) to be taken on it’s word?
It’s also been commented on in forum that Microsoft could very well have started this rumour mill to gauge the reactions, also, that it would be pretty naive to think that the idea isn’t at the “pin it to the board”stage. Again, just my opinion, stories come cheap, from both sides. I wouldn’t even believe that they might not change their mind, if they signed it to legal contract.

hsehestedt said:

I agree with you. We do pay. I'm just saying that it is not reasonable to expect it to be completely free. Remember, many home computers are built by the end user where Windows needs to be obtained separate from the machine.

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A large reason why end users opt for building is to get away from all that subscription bundled software and bloatware. They would prefer to pay selectively for what they actually need and use instead of embracing the "one size fits all" approach. Either way the end user pays. This is why some are so repulsed by Windows including their own adware in the OS and largely why local accounts are so popular. Personally, the idea of paying some company to advertise to me while I use their product when I have already paid for the license to use it strikes me as leaning toward the unethical.

Back in the day of broadcast television, commercials from sponsors of programs were prevalent. This was understandable as people who kept those programs on the air and running also needed to make a living. Then along came cable TV where you could get "commercial free" viewing if you paid for a subscription. At that time cable vision wasn't exactly cheap but in time the costs dropped and before we knew it commercials were back while the end user eventually ended up paying the cable company to advertise to them. Sound familiar?

This is an old bait and switch tactic. Do ISPs have control over all the content on the internet? A: Absolutely not. That said I've seen cable providers practically hijack the end user's PC by providing their own modified browsers etc. and selectively making some adware more accessible than other adware. Browsers, search engines, you name it, they all have their own agenda. After all, everyone has to make a living.

IMO Linux plays a key role in helping to keep the playing field level. We either put up or shut up or go Linux. Personally, I rather like the best of all worlds. The enemy of Free Enterprise is monopolies and capitalism can only thrive for as long as Free Enterprise lives. In my view Windows should be free for all users with the extra trimmings available at a nominal fee. In a way, Windows is slowly moving toward this. In the meantime, I'm very grateful that Linux provides a way for anyone to get online without having to buy a license to run an operating system.

That Windows fails to take note of the fact that they might generate more revenue by allowing the user to indulge in their adware bloated OS for free, without needing to use an expensive activation key is their loss. As long as I can lean on Linux I'll leave it to Microsoft to discover why their cutting the nose off their own face. Long live Linux.



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antspants said:

I believe stories like the above (if not the same story) have been posted a few times in this thread. A couple of things though, in my opinion; 1. It’s still an interesting question and poll. 2. Since when is Microsoft (or any company) to be taken on it’s word?
It’s also been commented on in forum that Microsoft could very well have started this rumour mill to gauge the reactions, also, that it would be pretty naive to think that the idea isn’t at the “pin it to the board”stage. Again, just my opinion, stories come cheap, from both sides. I wouldn’t even believe that they might not change their mind, if they signed it to legal contract.

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Remember when Win 10 was supposed to be the final cut?

Scannerman said:

A large reason why end users opt for building is to get away from all that subscription bundled software and bloatware. They would prefer to pay selectively for what they actually need and use instead of embracing the "one size fits all" approach.



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i opt to build to get exactly what I want. It's easy enough to take a Dell or HP, wipe it clean and install Windows and get rid of all the extra garbage it came with.

Scannerman said:

Remember when Win 10 was supposed to be the final cut?

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that was said by an employee and never corroborated by Microsoft. Never believed that for a minute..nor would I want to be stuck with a specific version forever. Change is constant.