Windows 10? Out, Says Microsoft. Buy Windows 11 instead!
Computer users who plan to purchase a Windows 10 license from Microsoft directly need to hurry, as the company plans to end Windows 10 sales on January 31, 2023 to fully focus on Windows 11.
The official Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Pro product pages on Microsoft's website highlight the plans. Currently, customers may purchase Windows 10 Home and Pro licenses from Microsoft directly, but this ends in February 2023.
Microsoft notes on both product pages:
"January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale. Windows 10 will remain supported with security updates that help protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and other malware until October 14, 2025."
The wording reemphasizes Microsoft's decision to put Windows 10 development on the backburner. Here, the company states explicitly that Windows 10 will remain supported with security updates. No word on future feature updates or improvements.
The decision to end direct sales does not affect the support lifespan of the operating system. It is also worth noting that third-party sales through sites such as Amazon, Newegg and others are not affected by Microsoft's decision. These are often a better choice for computer users, as operating system licences can often be bought at a discount.
Microsoft wants customers to purchase Windows 11 licenses instead and to make sure that everyone understands the message, it decided to end Windows 10 license sales for non-business and Enterprise customers early.
Besides buying Windows 10 Home and Pro licenses from third-party retailers, customers may also buy Windows desktop PCs and laptops with the operating system. All Surface products on Microsoft's website use the Windows 11 operating system.
A quick check on Amazon's website shows plenty of options to buy PCs and laptops with Windows 10 as the installed operating system. Some of these may be upgraded to Windows 11 via Windows Updates and other means, provided that the hardware requirements of Microsoft's latest operating system are not in the way off that.
It is recommended to verify that updates to Windows 11 are supported, even if Windows 10 is the desired operating system.
Now You: what is your take on this decision? (via PC World)
Still think Windows 10 will be around for self builds for some time. At least until the market feels comfortable about installing Windows 11. I still am not convinced Windows 11 has proved better than Windows 10.
“Microsoft wants customers to purchase Windows 11 licenses”, instead of 10.
My suggestion to Micro$oft!!! Buy all the Win-10 users that you want to upgrade
a NEW Computer. No upgrade problem then.
What is Windows 11 heavier?
Show me a compelling reason to move from W10 to W11 please.
Rounded corners. xD
Basically f*ck them. If Windows 11 wasn’t the biggest flaming P.O.S. from Microsoft since Windows ME combined with not-ready-for-release Windows 8, maybe they might have a sliver of an excuse to push so hard. But Windows 11 if a flaming clown car barreling off a cliff, driven by mentally challenged drivers.
No, just no. Keep Windows 10 alive and allow new installs and licensing like with Windows 7 – their last good OS, frankly.
@45 RPM:
“Windows 11 if a flaming clown car barreling off a cliff, driven by mentally challenged drivers.”
Remember that old Far Side cartoon with the Crisis Clinic, on fire, carried away by a river, and heading toward a waterfall?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Egc_IJSXgAIYSuc?format=jpg&name=large
Replace “Crisis Clinic” with “Windows 11,” and that pretty much describes it.
Given the failure of Windows 11, efforts are being made to end Windows 10 prematurely in order to boost the adoption of Windows 11. If they wanted their operating system to be embraced, they should have created it for the needs of their consumers rather than their stockholders. Users didn’t want their functionality reduced, 30 years of muscle memory destroyed, Microsoft accounts, MSN, Bing, and other useless web based nonsense. They should use Windows 7 as an example of an operating system that users clearly loved.
@WilliamGates:
“If they wanted their operating system to be embraced, they should have created it for the needs of their consumers rather than their stockholders.”
They don’t have to worry overly much about meeting the needs of consumers, so long as their OS works *adequately* well *most* of the time for *most* consumers .. and so long as mainstream news never reports subcatastrophic problems. (And why would they? Microsoft is a major advertiser, and no media outlet that wants to stay in business bites the hand that feeds.) Windows comes bundled (tied-in) with the vast majority of personal computers sold. Microsoft’s cut is built into the price of the computer and getting a refund for an unused Windows OEM license is either impossible or too expensive and time-consuming to be worth it. OEMs don’t mind, because Microsoft assists them in a game of planned obsolescence. Got a pre-Skylake-chipset and Windows 7/8/8.1 have reached end of life? Sorry; you have to buy a new computer bundled with the latest compatible version of Windows. Got a pre-TPM2 computer and Windows 10 has reached end of life? Sorry; you have to buy a new computer bundled with the latest compatible version of Windows. And if consumers wise up and install Linux, Microsoft *still* gets its cut with almost every PC sold. (I guess that’s *some* small consolation for no longer being able to spy on and monetize defecting users.)
[Sure, in theory you can just buy a computer with Linux pre-installed. In practice, your hardware options will be seriously restricted. For example, I value the 17-inch, 16:10-ratio screen on my LG Gram 17 *very highly* and its super-light weight *pretty highly*. I could theoretically replace it with a Dell XPS 17 with Linux pre-installed, but the Dell is a couple/few pounds heavier, and the price difference *far*exceeds the cost of a Windows OEM license.]
Dear Microsoft. Please restore functionality from Windows 10 before suggest to buy Windows 11. Especially panel flexibility to be moved on left and right edges of screen. Please imagine than since several years we have wide screens, and someone needs to have more space on the screen.
I wonder if dark theme is finished, I doubt. How much year passed since you implemented partially this feature? 5, 6?
Second missing is function when user drop icon on application placed on the panel and document is opened.
Dear Microsoft you release not finished product and started selling it and encourage the transition.
If they wont sell, people will just use it without paying – or finally switch their aging machines to linux.
For casuals for whom most of their computing is super basic or done on websites, all they need is a working browser or chrome installed.
The best version of W11 is W10, because it works. Thanks for the article.
It makes sense to stop selling new Windows 10 licenses, but I hope Microsoft will announce that the support deadline will be postponed to 2028.
Some of the win 10 fans had a great time clowning on those that were annoyed about end of Windows 7 a while back, going to enjoy saying all their shit back to them in a few years. :)
At that point I’ll temporarily become Windows 11’s biggest advocate, just for laughs.
Will Windows and Office key resellers stop offering Windows 10 as well?
Office 365 for win10/11 is supported both for the OS. I think that, they should stop giving official keys, but you must find it on the web although only for physical media (without piracy). For OEM I think they stopped production for win10.
Yayyy ! Lets begin the downfall Again!! Whatever they do, I still stick on 10.