Windows 12 May Require a Subscription

Billiam@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 930 points –
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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Yeah it's crazy how often it gets quoted as fact. I mean, just think about it from a logical standpoint, why would a profit-driven software development company just stop making new versions of one of their main money makers?

Pretty much nobody purchases Windows. Microsoft peobably makes all the money from OEM licenses sold to manufacturers and I don't really think there's that much of an increase in sales once they release a new OS.

You forget enterprise licences. Most medium sized business.

I figured they'd just start calling it "Windows" and continue naming future updates with the date like they do now (ie 22H1, 22H2, 23H1, etc).

But then they wouldn't be able to sell new enterprise licenses with that model (to OEMs/businesses).

It wasn't killing new versions of Windows, it was the decision to move to more of a rolling release model over the historical point releases which we saw as 10's lifespan went on and still see in 11 with their "moments". Specific Windows version was going to become less emphasized in favor of having a larger install base for the Store and whatever MS wants to do to that install base. And the big buyers of Windows were always volume sales too.

And then something changed, whether OEM's complained, someone decided a change was necessary, etc. and boom, 11.