Buy windows 8 now or wait for Windows 10?

[beni_rohit]

hey guys
i was wondering if i should get windows 8 now or not?
because when Windows 10 launches i will anyways be able to upgrade to it for free

so what i want to know is whether this will be a cheaper option
how much will Windows 10 cost when it is released?

and just in case i upgrade from 8 to 10
will it just be a one time thing or will i be able to install windows 10 again if i have to?

 

[aldan]

the best info is that it will be free to upgrade from win8 to win10.it doesnt get any cheaper than that.if you are asking if win10 will be cheaper to buy outright,i doubt it,not to mention the fact that it will be 6months or so before it will be available for sale.my advice is to buy win8.1 now and take advantage of the free upgrade when win10 comes out.

 

[Im_Infinity]

i would honestly get windows 8 instead of 10

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Get Windows 7 Pro 64 it pretty buggless vs 8... and could have the free upgrade option too.

 

[beni_rohit]

thanks a lot guys
what i also want to know is that i know that both 7 and 8 can upgrade to 10 within a year of release
but one i upgrade to 10 will i be able to install 10 again at a future point in time as well?
or can i do it only once?

 

[Im_Infinity]

you will probably get sent a code for your windows 10 when you upgrade so if that happens yes

 

[thegummy]

The thing that worries me about the free upgrade is that I don't like to install an OS as an upgrade, I always like a free install. So I wonder if a fresh install from ISO will be available to me through this free upgrade or if I'll have to re-buy Windows 10 for that luxury.

Also, if it will be available as a clean install, how will they verify that I already have a valid Windows 7 license?

 

[USAFRet]

The thing that worries me about the free upgrade is that I don't like to install an OS as an upgrade, I always like a free install. So I wonder if a fresh install from ISO will be available to me through this free upgrade or if I'll have to re-buy Windows 10 for that luxury.

Also, if it will be available as a clean install, how will they verify that I already have a valid Windows 7 license?

Windows 10 Upgrade paths:

How will it verify your existing Win 7 or 8 license? Unknown as of yet.

 

[USAFRet]

You will almost certainly be able to download the ISO file for future use.

 

[Ralston18]

Hello Beni,

No disagreement or argument with any of the preceding responses.

I am running Windows 7x64 and Windows 8.1x32. Testing Windows 10 (10041).

That said, I am concerned about the end hardware requirements for Windows 10. (Sidebar: I have other concerns but not relevant here.)

Some number of us were left behind, so to speak, in the Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 “hardware trap” as I once saw it called.

I am also reading about the UEFI/BIOS and Secure Boot requirements being imposed/required for Windows 10.

I understand the need to move on and eventually drop support for legacy hardware and Operating Systems.

My sense is that even though various upgrade paths are available they simply will not be fully viable or workable with respect to end user hardware. E.g., now using 64 bit installations and having to fall back to 32 bit for the upgrade.

Yes I would go with 8.1 and hope for a free or low cost upgrade to 10. But I would also keep an eye on the end hardware requirements. And any accompanying costs if a hardware upgrade is necessary to fully benefit from Windows 10.

Truly hoping that some of the other contributors herein will be able to offer some comments or insight regarding the Windows 10 hardware requirements. Good, bad, or indifferent – just need to know what will and will not work.

Thanks.

Ralston18

 

[USAFRet]

Hello Beni,

No disagreement or argument with any of the preceding responses.

I am running Windows 7x64 and Windows 8.1x32. Testing Windows 10 (10041).

That said, I am concerned about the end hardware requirements for Windows 10. (Sidebar: I have other concerns but not relevant here.)

Some number of us were left behind, so to speak, in the Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 “hardware trap” as I once saw it called.

I am also reading about the UEFI/BIOS and Secure Boot requirements being imposed/required for Windows 10.

I understand the need to move on and eventually drop support for legacy hardware and Operating Systems.

My sense is that even though various upgrade paths are available they simply will not be fully viable or workable with respect to end user hardware. E.g., now using 64 bit installations and having to fall back to 32 bit for the upgrade.

Yes I would go with 8.1 and hope for a free or low cost upgrade to 10. But I would also keep an eye on the end hardware requirements. And any accompanying costs if a hardware upgrade is necessary to fully benefit from Windows 10.

Truly hoping that some of the other contributors herein will be able to offer some comments or insight regarding the Windows 10 hardware requirements. Good, bad, or indifferent – just need to know what will and will not work.

Thanks.

Ralston18

I have Win 10 Tech Preview running on a 2009 era low end Toshiba laptop. Doubtful the RTM will be much different.

 

[HomeMarketer]

I'd buy 8 and then get free upgrade to 10 to be honest. 8 is obviously cheaper now than 10 will be when it gets launched

 

[thegummy]

I'd buy 8 and then get free upgrade to 10 to be honest. 8 is obviously cheaper now than 10 will be when it gets launched

Really? Doesn't the price of Windows stay pretty much the same from day 1?

 

[orlbuckeye]

Well the decision is to buy Windows 7 or 8 and then get the free upgrade. I bought a laptop in July and the prioce to have Win 7 installed was higher then having Win 8.1 installed on it.

 

[thegummy]

I spoke to someone at MS. If it's a retail version of 7 or 8 you have then you will receive a Windows 10 retail license so be able to install it in the future on a different PC if you wish. It won't be a one-time upgrade.

If it's an OEM version you buy then you will be able to upgrade but you won't be able to install it on a new PC in the future - that is the case for the OEM OS you bought in the first place anyway.

 

[USAFRet]

I spoke to someone at MS. If it's a retail version of 7 or 8 you have then you will receive a Windows 10 retail license so be able to install it in the future on a different PC if you wish. It won't be a one-time upgrade.

Significant semantic question:
A different PC, or another PC.

It is still only one license.

As in...
"I have Windows 8.1. I want Windows 10. Can I get a Windows 10 license and install that on another PC, and retain that same Windows 8.1 license on the original PC"

Unlikely.

 

[thegummy]

I spoke to someone at MS. If it's a retail version of 7 or 8 you have then you will receive a Windows 10 retail license so be able to install it in the future on a different PC if you wish. It won't be a one-time upgrade.

Significant semantic question:
A different PC, or another PC.

It is still only one license.

As in...
"I have Windows 8.1. I want Windows 10. Can I get a Windows 10 license and install that on another PC, and retain that same Windows 8.1 license on the original PC"

Unlikely.

I didn't ask about that but as you said it seems highly unlikely.