- Microsoft will end free support for Windows 10 next year
- Users of this system will have to decide what to do next
- They will either run an unprotected system or choose an alternative path
- One option is paid support
Windows 11 has been with us for more than three years, but it still hasn’t managed to jump over the popular “tens” in popularity. According to statistics from StatCounter, they unwaveringly dominate the world of desktop systems – they currently account for roughly 62.75 percent of all Windows versions. Windows 10 is still a very usable system, but its users should be careful – on October 14 of next year, their official free support will end.
Switching to Windows 11 isn’t for everyone
When Microsoft introduced Windows 10 in 2015, it claimed that it would be the last version of Windows that would be maintained forever. A few years later, however, the Redmonds turned around and brought to the world a visually nicer and more hardware-demanding Windows 11 system.
Upgrading to a newer system is still free, but not everyone decides to do so – some users are satisfied with “dozens” and don’t want to upgrade, while some can’t even upgrade due to the increased hardware requirements of Windows 11. It is true that there are ways to run Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but Microsoft is trying to limit this “gray” zone – it is gradually closing unofficial ways of installing the system, and for already running installations, it has launched a hardware check in the Windows Update service.
Windows 10 support will be paid from next year
With increased hardware requirements, Microsoft “cut off” even relatively new and powerful devices, whose owners will have to solve a dilemma next year – whether to run an unsupported system or choose another alternative path. There are several of them:
- invest in a new computer,
- choose a different operating system (for example Linux or ChromeOS Plex),
- pay for additional support.
The last option is new in the world of ordinary consumers, until now Microsoft has only offered additional paid support for the enterprise version of systems where upgrading to a newer version could cause incompatibility with existing programs.
For Windows 10, regular users will also be able to pay extra for support, but Microsoft is keeping the consumer prices a secret for now. So far, we only know that for companies, the first year of extended support will come at $61, the second at $122, and the third at $244. In total, it will be possible to get another three years, after which Microsoft will provide repairs and security patches to “dozens” – but their users will not receive new functions.
Author of the article
Jakub Karásek
Microsoft’s Windows 10 Support: The Final Countdown!
Ah, Microsoft. You’ve done it again! Just when we thought you couldn’t possibly surprise us, you deliver the news that Windows 10 will no longer have free support by next year. What are you trying to do, Microsoft? Make us switch to Linux? Well, it looks like you might be succeeding!
Goodbye Free Support, Hello Dilemmas!
So here we are, folks, caught in the whirlpool of technological choices. It’s like being at a buffet but finding out all the dishes are either too spicy or have way too many calories! You can either run an unprotected system (which, let’s be honest, sounds like a delightful way to invite viruses over for tea) or pay for support.
And the kicker? Since October 14, 2024, it becomes a game of “choose your own adventure,” except instead of a brave hero, we’ve got a bewildered user staring at outdated software, contemplating life choices. Do you invest in new hardware, gamble on a different operating system, or brace yourself for the fun of paying for something you used to get for free?
Windows 11: The New Kid on the Block (With A Stick Up Its Backside)
Ah yes, Windows 11. Introduced with promises of dreams and dapper aesthetics, yet here we are, still clinging to our reliable ol’ Windows 10 like a security blanket. Windows 11 is like that popular kid in school – everyone’s supposed to like them, but some of us are perfectly content being left out of the clique. Remember when Microsoft said Windows 10 would be the last version? Spoiler alert: They lied! It’s like saying, “This is my last slice of cake” while eating it in front of you!
The Hardware Standoff
To upgrade or not to upgrade? That is the question! And the answer is often: “I’m good with what I have, thank you very much!” Not everyone can meet Microsoft’s new hardware standards, which is funny considering they made computers in a garage. If you want to cross over to the “new and shiny” side, you might find that the journey requires a complete upgrade of your hardware. It’s like getting a new wardrobe just to wear your old shoes. Why not just embrace the joys of being manual and glitchy with what you’ve got?
Options, Options, Options!
So what’s the survival guide for Windows 10 users come 2024? Well, you’ve got options! But be careful, these options are like choosing your toppings on a pizza – thrilling but potentially catastrophic!
- Invest in a new computer: Because who doesn’t love emptying their pockets for a shiny new box, am I right?
- Opt for a different OS: Say hello to Linux! It’s like the eco-friendly cousin in your family who keeps trying to get you to go vegan.
- Pay for extra support: This option teeters on the edge of absurdity; paying for something that used to be free? It’s like paying for air. But if you’re determined to keep your Windows 10 going, it’s the price of sanity!
The Price of “Extend-o-Support”
So what’s the cost of this newfound paid supportive bliss? Prices for businesses are already being teased, but for us regular folk, information is still as elusive as a good Wi-Fi connection in the middle of nowhere. However, if the trend continues, you could end up shelling out nearly $244 for three years! It’s like watching the price of bread go up, but it’s your entire operating system!
In conclusion, don’t fret too much, dear Windows 10 user! You’ve got until October 2024 to figure this all out. You can keep your fingers crossed that the universe delivers an intuitive alternative that doesn’t require you to re-mortgage your house. Until then, let’s raise a glass (or a mouse) to Windows 10 – may your support be long and your bugs be few!
