this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
940 points (91.4% liked)

Technology

60073 readers
3588 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
940
Windows 12 May Require a Subscription (www.pcmag.com)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
675 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

[A]n INI configuration file in the Windows Canary channel, discovered by German website Deskmodder, includes references to a "Subscription Edition," "Subscription Type," and a "subscription status."

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I could see them releasing hardware that's tied to a subscription that Windows would track, perhaps, or offering subscription as a payment model for Windows.

You're right, though I can't see a straight migration to subscription-only happening. They haven't even gotten Office to subscription-only yet, despite their wish to.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

They haven’t even gotten Office to subscription-only yet

Getting closer every day. Having a M365 subscription for Office is now the normal way that SMB and larger businesses work with it and at home Microsoft's "Family Plan" that includes Office has been doing nothing but growing since they introduced it. Last I checked they were over 50 Million subscribers.

Windows as an OS will eventually be going subscription. You'll pay the licensing to unlock features like the Windows "S" mode model or you'll pay the licensing in order to access a Windows 365 Cloud PC that's part of your family plan.

Most home users will have hardware similar to a Chromebook. "PC" gaming will be done via streaming or you'll just buy an Xbox.

Welcome to the future.