Sticking with X2...haven't really seen anything that would compel me to upgrade. I was a little concerned that being an older version it might gag on Win 10.

it's an operating system....if things work as they should, then why bother with the risk, headache and heartbreak ? Besides, I don't have the time to waste

LaszloZoltan
it's an operating system....if things work as they should, then why bother with the risk, headache and heartbreak ? Besides, I don't have the time to waste

Support (such as security updates within windows update) will last longer than your current Windows version. So might as well take it up. There will probably be stability and performance benefits as well but I doubt that they will mature until at least six months after release. I will leave the upgrade as long as I possibly can however within the allocated year.

There is a reason Windows 10 is free.  Software in the new millennium tends to evolve toward marketing schemes that entrap the user into spending additional money, often through an ongoing subscription.  Of course, the polite term is "monetizing".  I haven't looked at WIn10 enough to see how heavy this factor is.  It was bad enough at Win 8 with all those tiles, with every link seemingly taking you back to the Microsoft store.
 
It isn't just Windows.  You see the same thing on Android and most other software.
 
So there really is a question whether there is really anything for the user in Win10 or is this just a new delivery model that Microsoft intends to use to put you on various subscription streams sooner or later.

There's been a lot of speculation about that, and MS addressed it a few days ago. I can't remember where I saw this, possibly on the WinBeta site, but one of their guys has said they aren't planning a subscription for the OS.
 
What I think is fairly likely is that the key Office apps are going to have some kind of subscription option in the not-too-distant future. You can see that in the strenuous - and impressive - efforts they've put into making the on-line versions match the installed versions for features and performance. The browser version of Word has become kind of astonishing, really. I can't see that they're building that just out of the goodness of their hearts.

But Microsoft hasn't made its real money from end-user monetisation since the 80s. They make money on OEM bundling of the OS with new computers, and Enterprise licenses. And those versions are remaining non-free.

I don't think it's all that cynical a move myself; I think it was just inevitable after Apple did it for both OSX and iOS. And then there's Android on phones and Chrome on netbook-type things. The idea of going to a shop and handing over cash for an OS already seems kind of archaic.

John T
There's been a lot of speculation about that, and MS addressed it a few days ago. I can't remember where I saw this, possibly on the WinBeta site, but one of their guys has said they aren't planning a subscription for the OS.
 

Maybe not for the OS as a whole.  But Windows 8.1 is a stable platform (more of less).  It is not as if Microsoft considers 8.1 such a monumental blunder that they have no choice but to fix it for free by giving away the next complete version of the OS.
 
The reason they are giving away 10 is to get as many people as possible onto a platform they will have optimized for monetizing.  That doesn't mean they have to charge a monthly fee for the OS.  There are other ways to use the OS to generate revenue.  For example, they can do as players like Avast do by offering free basic versions of services, but then constantly harassing the user with marginally ethical schemes the try to trick them into paying for an upgrade.
 
I am not saying I have seen Microsoft do this yet, but it seems abundantly clear that is why they want tens of millions of users to be living int he Win 10 ecosystem.
 
That doesn't mean that Win10 is a bad thing per se.  it just means that users must be very vigilant because their software suppliers may have interests directly opposed to the users' interests.

Well, I'd say that they've optimised for monetisation since the year dot. There's nothing new on that score.

John T
 
I don't think it's all that cynical a move myself; I think it was just inevitable after Apple did it for both OSX and iOS. And then there's Android on phones and Chrome on netbook-type things. The idea of going to a shop and handing over cash for an OS already seems kind of archaic.

Increasing market share sells other applications, notably server side and cloud based facilities with Microsoft. They are shifting towards tablet computing and they are obviously taking a different approach after a false start with Windows 8. I think their vision is that adopting Windows 10 might want you to eventually adopt Windows on tablet PC's and phones.

They appear to be adopting a more open source mentality just like Cakewalk has done under Platinum, that is directly listen to users rather than keep discussions internal. MS traditionally have kept most things under wraps with their MVP programme, it looks like the barriers have been lifted. It seems apparent that MS and Cakewalk recognises that in order to keep your customers you need to engage with them nowadays, it also helps improve their software. It's a lot more than a charm offensive, it's a philosophy that has it's roots in agile development. They are attempting to sell you a lot more than just a product, and are attempting to plough your feedback straight back into making a better product.

This is probably something that would have been difficult to do years back, power users weren't as easily accessible or frequent (and probably didn't communicate half as well as they do nowadays).

8 was the big blunder. 8.1 seemed stable, and useable to me.

charlyg
8 was the big blunder. 8.1 seemed stable, and useable to me.

I agree but it didn't really take much market share away from Apples and android tablet/phone market, which is what they were setting out to achieve. When MS are talking about improving Windows 10 it's pretty obvious (at least to me) where their main focus is.... Their big ultimate plan though is one OS to rule them all (which of course is Linux ).