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[Fuz]

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/151578/new-windows-10-consumer-sku-roadmap-revealed

How come nobody talked about this yet?
It's pretty huge... they're trying to push the windows store even more and trying to destroy the PC's strongest feature: openness.
Too bad Linux isn't viable yet.

Anyway, this is exactly what I expected when they pushed W10 so hard to the point of giving it for "free": removing choice from their customers and trying to "mobilize" (as in: closing it like a mobile phone OS') the PC enviroment.
And it is exactly why I'm staying with 8.1 with Classic Shell.

 

[eloskuro]

W10 S mode can you change for free to W10Home.

 

[Blam]

Isn't this just enterprise?

 

[llien]

I read it but miss the push of the windows store.

It is understandable, why Microsoft would push for it, the "openness/all rights' approach is both a blessing and a curse.

 

[MrMorningMan]

This is pricing for partners and as mentioned, Windows 10 Home S can be upgraded to Home without the store restriction for free. Only Pro S will require an additional fee, which you won't see on a standard desktop or laptop you might buy from a store.

Windows 10 is always evolving. It will certainly be interesting to see what it becomes. Although, at the moment I don't think this necessarily impacts the consumer negatively.

 

[Mathrin]

I see they want Edge to be the default browser. Didn't they get blasted for this a while back and had to include the browser selection tool due to their monopoly

 

[BANGS]

trying to destroy the PC's strongest feature: openness

I don't really think that's in jeopardy, not yet anyway...

 

[Sosokrates]

I see they want Edge to be the default browser. Didn't they get blasted for this a while back and had to include the browser selection tool due to their monopoly

Isnt chrome the default in android and safari the default in IoS/Imac OS

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

Regardless of this article, it's a shame about Valve's pathetic attempts with Steam OS. Going through all the effort of creating it, then just seemingly back-tracking on the whole idea (pay off or threat from MS?) and sending it out to die.

 

[Rellik]

Isnt chrome the default in android and safari the default in IoS/Imac OS

Google and Apple haven't been called out on that, though. Microsoft were wrecked pretty hard by the EU for it and that's why every copy of Windows in the EU would boot up with a selection screen of internet browsers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer was still default and pre-installed, but you were informed that other browsers exist and given a download link to get them, if you chose to.

I should note that's no longer the case. You get a copy of Windows in the EU now and you're back to Microsoft's choice.

 

[darkinstinct]

How is this a push? Price for a full win32 OS stays the same. The feature to disable everything but windows store apps already exists.

 

[spookyfish]

I think the point some are making is, yes, you can switch for free NOW, but it could always change in the future. Companies like this are all about incremental steps.

It may end up being nothing, but the threat of a “walled garden” is always there. It’s nice to have people pointing moves like this out.

 

[VectorVictor]

Yeah, this only impacts the S version, which most folks here would avoid to begin with, and others can easily opt out of.

It's pretty much anti-Microsoft FUD.

 

[Shifty]

You might wanna contextualize the thread with some info past "omg guys MS is being evil" OP. Like adding some details on how exactly MS is being evil to the opening post, for example.

The most offensive thing I see here is limiting the amount of Win32 apps you can pin to the desktop or start menu. It'll probably be fixable with a registry change, but that shit is ridiculous. Reeks of websites hobbling themselves in an attempt to push you into downloading their app.

As far as the browser stuff goes, W10 already whines at you to 'give Edge a chance' when you try to set the default to something else, so that bridge is long since crossed and burned.

 

[Sosokrates]

Google and Apple haven't been called out on that, though. Microsoft were wrecked pretty hard by the EU for it and that's why every copy of Windows in the EU would boot up with a selection screen of internet browsers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer was still default and pre-installed, but you were informed that other browsers exist and given a download link to get them, if you chose to.

I should note that's no longer the case. You get a copy of Windows in the EU now and you're back to Microsoft's choice.

Yes, so the situation has changed since google, ios and Microsoft are not hit by this anymore.
So if people are going to call out Microsoft for this unless there being biased they should call out apple and google to.

 

[Mathrin]

Isnt chrome the default in android and safari the default in IoS/Imac OS

Neither have the userbase of windows however.

 

[Isurus]

Neither have the userbase of windows however.

You are right...they have more. Usage Share of Operating Systems

 

[michaelius]

W10 S mode can you change for free to W10Home.

For those who know it. Typical user will never notice they have such option.

 

[AlanAwake]

W10 S mode can you change for free to W10Home.

For now. You can bet on it that this is only temporary.

The only way to prevent windows becoming like iOS is to stay away from UWP apps/games and the Windows Store.

 

[Fnord]

I see they want Edge to be the default browser. Didn't they get blasted for this a while back and had to include the browser selection tool due to their monopoly

One of the irritating things about Win10 is how much of a pain it is to change default apps. Install something like IrfanView, where it asks you if you want to set it as the default application for image files and after the installation is complete, Windows 10 decides you must have done that in error or at the barrel of a gun and switches back to Windows Photo Viewer. You have to go into the settings and force it to switch back again. Ugh.

 

[Fnord]

You are right...they have more. Usage Share of Operating Systems

Not on the desktop. Microsoft has a significant monopolistic position on desktop computers. Which is why they get into regulatory issues when trying to leverage that monopoly to other areas and Apple, for instance, doesn't.

 

[eloskuro]

For now. You can bet on it that this is only temporary.

The only way to prevent windows becoming like iOS is to stay away from UWP apps/games and the Windows Store.

Sorry but temporary is windows 10 S upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, not Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home.
http://www.itprotoday.com/windows-10/free-windows-10-s-upgrade-windows-10-pro-extended-microsoft

 

[AlanAwake]

Sorry but temporary is windows 10 S upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, not Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home.
http://www.itprotoday.com/windows-10/free-windows-10-s-upgrade-windows-10-pro-extended-microsoft

Again, for now. We'll talk again in a few years.

 

[Artistic]

What are the chances of MS possibly eliminating companies like Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc from the PC hardware business given their efforts towards a unified software ecosystem?

 

[deadscreensky]

One of the irritating things about Win10 is how much of a pain it is to change default apps. Install something like IrfanView, where it asks you if you want to set it as the default application for image files and after the installation is complete, Windows 10 decides you must have done that in error or at the barrel of a gun and switches back to Windows Photo Viewer. You have to go into the settings and force it to switch back again. Ugh.

Huh, I've never had that problem with any of my Windows 10 installs. I tell it to use IrfanView (or plenty of other programs) and it just works that way.

I don't see any reason to get worried about the 'news' in this article. They're just making some changes to the existing S version stuff, and you could easily spin them as more positive than negative. Seems like paranoia to me.

 

[Phoenix RISING]

Like DLC, the Windows store will only succeed if consumers basically do like that gif where the guy sitting at the computer rolls his eyes, and starts fapping anyway "The **** I have to put up with" or something like that.

I never had a problem with EE being the default internet browser. If Google, etc didn't like it, they could make their own OS. Valve tried, but we see how hard it is to do. Linux too.

 

[JimboJones]

What are the chances of MS possibly eliminating companies like Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc from the PC hardware business given their efforts towards a unified software ecosystem?

About as likely as Google eliminating there hardware partners.
They just recently partnered with a few of them in making their Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

 

[Mathrin]

You are right...they have more. Usage Share of Operating Systems

What? Since when has there been a desktop/laptop Android OS?

Mobile net browsers are a completely different topic to what I was saying.

 

[RoboFu]

Linux could easily be viable though. All the middle ware engines support it. It’s super easy to port c/c++ OpenGL/Vulkan.

If there’s a real need for pc gaming to move to Linux it would happen very quickly. It may take a year or two for the game development environment to evolve to where it is now in windows but it would happen.

 

[synchronicity]

I have a gaming rig that runs 10 (for games w/o Linux support), but I primarily use Linux for all non-gaming uses and game as much as possible on the OS as well. If people are really worried about this, they need to support Linux as much as they are able - in terms of usage.

For my money, it's a far better experience anyway. There may be a slight learning curve in adapting it to everyday use, but it's well worth acclimating to in both the short and the long-term. And there are plenty of distros that are newbie friendly. No reason to be scared.

Everybody get on board and give MS an arrow to the knee.

 

[ReBurn]

Not on the desktop. Microsoft has a significant monopolistic position on desktop computers. Which is why they get into regulatory issues when trying to leverage that monopoly to other areas and Apple, for instance, doesn't.

The desktop is dying outside of the enterprise. Nobody worries about Microsoft's desktop monopoly any more because fewer and fewer people are tying themselves to one. Microsoft hasn't been in trouble for their business practices in a long time. The old arguments about how Microsoft owns everything and beat people over the head with it don't work any more.

Gamers complaining about Windows is funny because it's gamers who are chaining themselves to it. They don't mind a single marketplace for all of their stuff (Steam) they just don't want Microsoft to deliver it. Fickle bunch we are.

 

[12Dannu123]

The desktop is dying outside of the enterprise. Nobody worries about Microsoft's desktop monopoly any more because fewer and fewer people are tying themselves to one. Microsoft hasn't been in trouble for their business practices in a long time. The old arguments about how Microsoft owns everything and beat people over the head with it don't work any more.

Gamers complaining about Windows is funny because it's gamers who are chaining themselves to it. They don't mind a single marketplace for all of their stuff (Steam) they just don't want Microsoft to deliver it. Fickle bunch we are.

Agreed. Closed wall gardens are going to happen anyway, through IOS or Android/Chrome OS or Windows 10 S. It doesn't matter, the inevitable fact that majority of people can't handle is that Steam will fall into irrelevancy long term for a vast majority of people.

 

[Fuz]

Gamers complaining about Windows is funny because it's gamers who are chaining themselves to it. They don't mind a single marketplace for all of their stuff (Steam) they just don't want Microsoft to deliver it. Fickle bunch we are.

Agree. Gamers are their own worst enemy.

 

[Mahadev]

If you can't see that Microsoft is cowardly and slyly trying to turn Windows into a closed ecosystem I don't know what to tell you. Every year it gets worse, these fuckers are smart, they know that people would be fucking furious if the made any sudden decisions so they're trying to lure new customers into a closed ecosystem and when after years they have enough suckers there then they'll make their final move.

 

[Fuz]

They don't need to make a "final move". Just a series of tiny, small moves that people will just ignore, and they'll eventually add up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog

 

[Mooreberg]

Isnt chrome the default in android and safari the default in IoS/Imac OS

Yes for Safari on iOS. "Android" is complicated because thanks to the Nexus line dying, 99% of people are not using "stock Android" anyway. Chrome could be replaced with a home grown browser, or Firefox, or MS could get OEMs to install Edge once it is out of beta (Samsung phones have already had stuff like OneNote and Onedrive pre-installed). iOs is a little unique in this regard - everything else actually lets you change the default browser, even Windows 10 (not sure about 10S "mode"... have no reason to touch it).

For now. You can bet on it that this is only temporary.

The only way to prevent windows becoming like iOS is to stay away from UWP apps/games and the Windows Store.

I don't think most people are using the Windows Store for third party applications. The most popular stuff like Chrome, Twitch and iTunes are not in there. Most people use it to update pre-installed applications that they have no need of replacing (calculator and such). None of this "monopoly" stuff works without the applications people want to use.