Windows 12 May Require a Subscription
pcmag.com
[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."
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I don't think this is anyway a serious option. They aren't idiots.
My guess is they’ll follow the Office model: offer both as an option, but slowly improve only the subscription version until it’s not really feasible to stay on the pay-once model. Then kill it off. So maybe we have another 5-8 years before it’s fully enshittified?
I mean, they already advertise in the operating system, is it really that far of a stretch? Shareholders have to squeeze that rock as much as they can.
I think it's a stretch, maybe not a big one but still. This could cause a shift to another os, at least in countries where having such a model is out of the question. And something like that can cause a snow ball effect of people switching. Right now Microsoft is still in a sweet position, problems already coming from apple. They wouldn't.
I would imagine if it does happen, there will be another reddit style migration. The pissed off leave and everyone who doesn't care or aren't upset enough stays.