They may have the right to change their product model, but consumers have the right to reject it, and I believe quite a large number will.  Maybe a few yuppies will accept the subscription model, but long time Windows users will turn away in droves.  A one-off license is one thing, but a recurring monthly fee isn't something the majority will want.  I don't and just about everyone I speak to say the same, with many talking about going back to Win 7 Win 8.1 or even Vista. 

It won't matter that MS no longer supports these earlier OSes, users will beef up their security, and companies in that area of business will make a killing as they replace MS' patches, etc.  As Jorge said, MS' current business model is NOT the way to go and it will be relegated to the history books as a once powerful organisation that lost the plot big time.

Subscription models for software that people can live without is one thing.  However, a subscription model for an OS that runs the whole kit and kaboodle is another.  Fail to keep up with the subscription for Winstep Xtreme, for example, you can still use the software, you just don't get any updates or upgrades.  It's the same with most software subscriptions, but fail to keep up with the subscription for Windows and you're feched.... your PC has been turned into an expensive bookend and none of your software, subscription or otherwise is accessible.  And with so many millions of users coming from the lower end of the socio-economic scale, there's going to be a shitload of very expensive bookends worldwide

Nope, the entire idea is about greed, a grab for more of your cash, and total control over YOUR PC.... and world governments, not even the EU, will say/do nothing about it because total control suits their agendas.

It makes me wonder, as companies fight for YOUR cash, and cut eachothers throats to get it, just how they will survive when you have NO MORE cash to take... because it has been eaten up by greed, rising costs and shrinking incomes.

When there's nothing left to take, what will they do then?

Surely the simple solution to "the Government/Microsoft/Deep State/Whoever can see through my webcam/computer equipment" is to simply unplug it when you're not using it...Heck, take the batteries out if you really want to be sure. I don't have either so I got no worries at present. The nice NSA man tells me he's not spying on me. And to change my washing as it's just finished and to remember to salute the flag before I go to bed.

Or you can use a typewriter, which apparantly some people have, post-Snowden's revelations etc, actually done. 'Though constantly typing out a Minefield sheet and then playing by picking a square and tossing a dice to get 1-6 score where 6 is the Mine will drive you crazy in the end. And you'd have to buy actual cards to play Patience.

FWIW, I don't see any reason to trust Linux, etc any more than Windows. No less, either, of course, but my point is, if you believe they're all out to get you, that means everybody. The people you like - Linux, Firefox, Greenpeace, Saunders, Assange, Snowden as examples - may be on your side today, but who's to say what changes tomorrow will bring?

We're screwed.

Truth is: the human race is fucked.  There is little to no hope because those in the upper echelon have designed it that way.  Thing is, their narrow-minded greed; thrust for control over everything; reducing the lower echelon to rags and zero ownership actually defeats their own agendas/purpose.  Their quest for the ultimate power and wealth will leave them with nothing. 

History dictates this because the human animal will never change.  The upper echelon will always want more than is possible, and the lower echelon will never have the power or resources to combat it.  The Roman Empire fell bt the wayside because it never understood the distribution of wealth and power, the British Empire almost went the same way, save the sense of a few wise men who saw the error of their ways.

Now we have the US trying to emulate that which failed before them, having learnt eff all from the history of mankind.... and the EU thinking it has some kind of influence to control the outcome.  Neither will succeed because nobody ever learnt from the mistakes of those who fell before them.

The fact that many in the Linux crowd share the (mistaken) belief that software should be free (therefore making them less likely to be turned into paying customers) doesn't help either. This from the perspective of a developer, of course.

Despite this Linux is still the best option we have now precisely because it is Open Source, and therefore not owned/controlled by a single company. If a Linux distributor tried to hijack the OS in a different direction, others would simply fork Linux to go in the opposite direction.

As for the political side of this discussion (as I said before I think it is all related), we can't ignore our own fault for remaining silent and doing nothing while the world changed around us for the worse.

We allowed this to happen, we allowed minorities to think they were entitled to tell the majority- because people with rational minds and common sense are STILL the majority - what to think and what to say. I think most people are beginning to wake up because the insanity is reaching unprecedented levels.

One thing is for certain, we can no longer afford to stay silent or remain neutral about this. You MUST chose a side and defend it vigorously - that is the only way our collective voices will be heard.

Just to give you an example, Doctors are ALREADY being fired from their jobs for simply defending the biological fact that there are only two genders, male and female. Something that is true from both the BIOLOGY and GENETICS perspective. If something like this does not make your blood boil, I don't know what would - even if you don't agree, there is no WAY in the world people should be fired for that!

With all the sympathy I have for people in general and people with gender dysphoria in particular, saying I am a chicken does not make me one. 

Also, if you watch the video, it's a delightful irony when 'she' tells him that he has no right to impose his point of view on others (aka think on his own) when it is PRECISELY that which she is trying to do to him. The poor man was literally bulldozed by everyone in that interview room - amazing how he still managed to hold it together.

I would LOVE to see them trying that with Jordan B.Peterson.

I have spoken out on many occasion about the injustices, blatant greed and things wrong in the world, but many a time I was ignored or told that I was paranoid: "Go find your tinfoil hat.".  And that's the problem, my sole voice was not enough ...being heard where it counts.  I may as well be in another solar system. 

 I don't know that we did!    Well not always knowingly.  So much was done covertly, under the cover of darkness; by stealth.  By the time the public became aware of the wrongs it was often too late.  For example; Microsoft's trialing Office as a subscription service.  Many thought 'oh great, Office without the big outlay'.  Little did they know that it was the precursor to Windows being converted to a subscription service... a travesty laying in wait to ambush PC users globally.  Again, it's too late, the mechanisms are in place and Microsoft will do what it wants, blatantly refusing to listen to its users because it thinks its monopoly position will save it.

Again, so much goes on in this world that slips by under the cover of darkness, and MS is guilty of that now.  And how do we know this subscription thing will happen?  Interested parties delved into things and revealed it to the public.  MS was never going to reveal the truth until the last minute, giving consumers little time to adjust or seek a viable alternative to Windows.  For me, though, the moment Win 10 becomes a subscription service I will drop it like a pot potato and move on.

I have devised a plan that will give me access to my regular/most used programs, as well as run a non-subscription OS that serves my other purposes.  Firstly; I will set up my 1st machine with updated Win 8.1 and disconnect it from the net when it becomes unsupported; and secondly, I will install Ubuntu and/or Mint on my 2nd machine, which will be connected to the net so I'm still touch with the outside world when MS makes Win 8.1 unviable, net-wise.

I believe that if 50% or more of Win 10 users followed my example it would force Microsoft into backtracking on the subscription service idea.  It could be Win 7 or another Linux flavour, so long as MS gets the message: 'we're not gonna take it'.

"Susan Bradley, an 18 year Microsoft MVP focused on Windows patching and patch management, has sent an open letter to Microsoft executives Satya Nadella, Carlos Picoto, and Scott Guthrie about the frustration Windows 10 users have when dealing with installing new updates. This letter includes the results of a survey taken by over 1,000 consultants and over 800 consumers regarding their experience with Windows 10 updates."

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/an-open-letter-to-microsoft-about-poor-windows-10-update-experiences/

gHacks posted an update to this story:

https://www.ghacks.net/2018/08/04/microsoft-shows-that-it-does-not-really-care-about-user-feedback/

It seems MS isn't interested in changing anything. Hardly a surprise.

I kind of feel this is the end. Not the end for Stardock or for skinning, but the end for Windows as an enthusiast OS. How can you be an enthusiast about something you cannot control?

I don’t think Windows subscription will become mandatory. Microsoft would have to wipe out both Mac and Linux before that could happen.

Just based on casual observation of blog and forum comments there seems to be a lot of people who are ready to leave the ship called MS Windows. Some to Mac, but most seem to have their eyes set on Linux, even those who see Linux as a downgrade.

In some ways Windows 10 is the best version of Windows and those times I used it I felt pretty good about it. However I had updates disabled and I felt locked in. I felt I couldn’t use the OS as MS intended it to be used, because that would lead to a bad experience.

And that’s the biggest problem with Windows 10. Windows 10 is not a good user experience out of the box for a casual user. Too many (lengthy) updates, reboots, bloatware, ads and OS reinstall twice a year. Even a casual user will soon feel that the computer doesn’t belong them. When MS takes control of the Personal Computer it’s no longer a Personal Computer and people can feel that.

So it’s the end at least for me. I’m using MX Linux (MX 17) and I like it. It’s conservative like a mix between Windows XP and Windows 7. It’s not as modern as Linux Mint and more “Linuxy”, but the forum is good and so is the documentation. I’m tempted by skins like “Artificial Intelligence”, but using an OS which I can control means more. I just come here to have a look at what the skinners are up to. I thought I would be using Windows 8.1 some more, but I felt worried about updates so I turned them off and now I simply feel there is not enough time to tinker with two OSes. I do miss the out of the box polish that Windows has. Linux requires more manual work to achieve that, but luckily I don’t need Windows-only programs. I’m still a bit annoyed by the decisions of Microsoft, because Windows 95 to Windows 7 was a good journey and the Win32 ecosystem is probably the world’s most valuable software ecosystem, it’s just that Microsoft doesn’t see much value in it.

Exactly, Win32 is the core element of Windows computing.  Without it there is no more Windows, just a glorified phone interface with half-assed apps that lack the power of true programs intended to get things done.

The journey from Win '95 to Win 7 had a few hiccups [Millenium Edition], and Win 8.1 was pretty good as well, but Win 10 is a walled garden; a mish mash of MS agendas to wrest control of PCs from their owners and manipulate all that they do online, etc.  The fact that MS forced Win 10 upon users who clearly didn't want it totally smacks of a self-serving agenda driven by MS' greed and lust for power.

Moreover, what MS did to force users into Win 10 was wrong, yet no government anywhere complained or fought on our behalf.  Not only did MS install Win 10 over Win 8.1 on my HP 2-in-1 in the middle of the night during Scheduled Maintenance, it wiped my Recovery partition so I could not roll back.  That HAS to be illegal, and I'll bet my left nut I wasn't the only one invaded that way... and the officials we elected to protect us remained silent.

For mine, satya Nadella and his cronies should be strung up by their nuts.  Consumers are NOT important to them anymore, just the goal to total control....nor are they listening to those who were faithful users for years.  What we say is irrelevant now the thrust to control us via crappy Win 10 has begun.

Just an FYI...I keep this list on hand any time I do a Windows Update. When you find these kb updates you can hide them but that doesn't mean they will not try and sneak them in later on. And you can use this stand alone app to help keep Windows 10 off your machine. https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/gwx_control_panel.html

KB2506928
KB2545698 (IE9)
KB2592687
KB2660075
KB2726535
KB2876229 SKYPE
KB2923545 RDP

KB2952664 - Is the Windows 7 nagware patch that touts the Windows 10 upgrade. Prepares

system for upgrade to Windows 10 (sends a bunch of telemetry data to M$, reported to corrupt

system files)
KB2952664 - Labeled a compatibility upgrade for upgrading Windows 7, its purpose is to "make

improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the

latest version of Windows".

KB2976978 - The Windows 8/8.1 nagware patch that touts the Windows 10 upgrade. prepares

system for upgrade to Windows 10 (sends a bunch of telemetry data to M$, reported to corrupt

system files)
KB2976978 - A compatibility update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 which "performs diagnostics

on the Windows system [..] to determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when

the latest Windows operating system is installed.

KB2977728
KB2977759 - Prepares system for upgrade to Windows 10, installs telemetry
KB2978092
KB2970228
KB2990214 - Update that supports you to upgrade to a later version of Windows Win7
KB2990214 . Does the same as KB 3044374 but on Windows 7.
KB2994023
KB3014460 - Windows 8 - Nags you to install Windows 10 technical preview
KB3015249 - Telemetry, reports UAC prompt choices when making changes to the system

KB3021917 - Prepares system for upgrade to Windows 10 (CEIP) This update performs

diagnostics in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) in order to determine whether performance issues

may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. Telemetry is sent

back to Microsoft for those computers that participate in the Windows Customer Experience

Improvement Program (CEIP).
KB3021917 - Does the same as KB 2976978 but on Windows 7.

KB3022345 - Installs diagnostic/usage tracking service, reported to corrupt system files, went

through 3 versions
KB3022345 - Replaced by KB3068708 Telemetry (Caused false sfc result)
KB3035583 - Pitches the free Windows 10 upgrade
KB3035583 - According to Microsoft, this update enables "additional capabilities for Windows

Update notifications when new updates are available".

KB3044374 - Update that supports you to upgrade to a later version of Windows Win8
KB3044374 - This update for Windows 8.1 enables systems to upgrade from the current

operating system to a later version of Windows.

KB3050265
KB3050267 - Windows 8 - prepares system for upgrade to Windows 10
KB3065987
KB3068708 - Installs telemetry service, prepares system for upgrade to Windows 10
KB3075249 - Telemetry, reports UAC prompts to Microsoft
KB3080149 - Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry, CEIP
KB3095649
KB3102810
KB3173040

Windows 10 migration uninstall
kb3021917
kb3035583
kb2990214
kb3050265
kb3065987
kb3075851
kb3083324
kb3083710
kb3102810
kb3112343
kb3121461
kb2952664
kb2977759
kb3135445
kb3123862
kb3138612

Telemetry service uninstall
kb2882822
kb3022345
kb3068708
kb3080149
kb3075249
kb3081954

Update stop list
Windows 10 migration
KB3021917
KB2990214 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3050265 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3065987 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3075851 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3083324 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3083710 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB2977759 (replaced with KB2952664)
KB3102810 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3112343 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3121461 (replaced with KB2952664)
KB3135445 (replaced with KB3138612)
KB3123862
KB3035583-v3
KB2952664-v16
KB3138612
KB971033
KB2882822 (replaced with KB3080149)
KB3022345 (replaced with KB3068708)
KB3068708
KB3080149
KB3075249
KB3081954

So MS is still pushing Win 10 via nags and etc at Win 7/Win 8 users?

I could understand that if it were still 'supposedly' free, but now it is pay for I don't see that MS should be pushing it so forcefully to people who obviously don't want it... especially not now that Win 10 is about to become a damned subscription service.

The arrogance of MS is without rival; treating its customers and their PCs like possessions and using them as pawns in its push for even more power in the PC/tech world.

I thought that Apple was the most arrogant PC/tech company in the world, but MS passed it in leaps and bounds with its Win 10 agenda and piss-poor attitude to users.

I have zero nags or reminders.  I'm happily oblivious to all on my prime system still running MS's best OS [7].

It's likely to be a cold day in hell before this one goes to 10 ...

You've been 'obliviously' lucky, unlike so many who had nags galore and Win 10 forced down their throats.

So what's your take on Win 10 going to a subscription service?  Like would you go to it when Win 7 is unsupported and becomes unviable/unsafe as a net connected machine?

As for the cold day in hell, I was given no choice but go to 10. MS did it behind my back.  However, it'll be a steamy tropical day in the Antarctic before I go to a subscription service for my OS.  It's bad enough they force crap down our throats once a month without this subscription debacle that's fast approaching us.

The proggy I used was "Never 10" which clearly worked.

Along with those win 7 'updates' [about 4 of them] that were permanently 'hidden'.

I don't get anything like a 'reminder' to upgrade/whatever .... just the 'usual' Win 7 updates as expected.

If/when 7 is no longer getting security updates I'm sure that best-practices will keep me secure enough anyway.

I have other machines I can use if I want to 'enjoy' the pain that is win 10 ...

As far as I know MS stopped pushing Windows 7 systems to upgrade to Windows 10 via Windows Update some time ago.

Also running Windows 7 here.

This wasn't directed at me, but I don't think you have to worry about that. MS operates similar to Google now. They target all users inclusive poor users in India and other places with even lower income.

Google lets handset makers make official Google backed Android phones if they include Google Play services. The agreement is that all handsets from the handset maker must include Google Play services. That's why no Android handset maker dares to make an Android phone without Google Play services. Because then they would never be allowed to make a phone which uses Google Play services. Google wants data and users so it doesn't drive costs higher than even the poorest can afford. Google has even released special low-bandwidth Android phones for those who have a hard time paying for data consumption.

Microsoft is very similar to Google. It wants Windows 10 everywhere. I don't think devices with screen size under 10" even require a license fee. Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi is free.

So I would be willing to bet the farm (luckily I have no farm), that we won't see Windows subscription in the consumer space.

What can happen in the next decade is that Windows 10 may come with "S mode" by default on new computers. Today it's free to unlock "S mode" computers, but I think MS will start charging $50+ for unlocking "real Windows" once the Windows 7 userbase is small enough. But that will only apply to new computers. You can freely use Windows 10 on existing hardware until Windows 10 doesn't support your hardware anymore.

Subscription would be counter productive for Microsoft. They have a Store with software they want to sell, but right now half the userbase is on Windows 7 and another 100 million or so are using Windows 8.1 and even XP.

If a lower cost option like Linux would become a threat (like it was on netbooks ten years ago), Microsoft simply gives Windows away for free. It's about market dominance, not about extracting the last dollar from poor people.

If you can afford roof over your head, water and bread, you'll be able to afford Windows too. What Microsoft has done with Windows 10 is the opposite of what Apple has done with macOS which is clearly aimed at rich users (who don't care about hardware).

I think the oligarchs are happy with this setup:

Apple - Premium

Google - Mainstream (mobile)

Linux - Hobbyist

Microsoft - Mainstream

I expect Microsoft to lose users because not all Windows 7 users will make the jump to 10. But in essence what you see above is what it will look like for the foreseeable future.

Ok, rich was an exaggeration just as writing that Mac users don't care about hardware. Nevertheless, outside US Macs are really expensive and nowadays even Mac enthusiasts complain about Apple's design decisions. The new Macbook Pro keyboard, Touch Bar, throttling CPU because of too thin design etc. Apple should fire "designers" and start letting "engineers" design the products instead.  

Anyway, I found an article that shows that Windows subscription as presented by Computerworld is not happening.

https://www.howtogeek.com/360938/no-microsoft-isnt-turning-windows-10-into-a-paid-subscription-service/

Finally a bit of that 'common sense' [elusive as it is]...

In the past I subscribed to Technet ... which was a yearly fee....and that gave me SEVERAL licences to all sorts of MS OS and Apps - far more economically than buying them one at a time retail.  But even that was not really for the every-day user/consumer...

Yup, same as what I was using on my HP 2-in-1 when Win 10 was forced upon me.  I didn't any get nags or popups... nothing.   Then one night, MS covertly bypassed my preventions and used Scheduled Maintenance to download and install Win 10.   BASTARDS!!!

I've decided that when Win 10 goes to subscription that one of my main machines will go to Win 8.1 - maybe even both of them - and disconnect it/them from the net if I have security concerns.  I can always have a Ubuntu and/or Mint machine when I need to be connected to the internet.  Point is, I'm not going to miss out.  I'll have Win 8.1 for all my programs and main tasks, and a Linux based machine to surf the net if I have doubts about connecting the Windows machines.

I recall somebody saying not to believe everything you read in the internet, not sure who it was, but I don't... and I sure as hell don't believe anything Microsoft says.  So until this subscription thing is sorted one way or the other, I'll go with my gut. 

Oh look, dinner time.  

To be honest, I doubt very much that Stardock would ever develop its customisation products for MacOS.  I'm not saying it won't ever happen, but at this time I do think it is rather unlikely. Thing is, if Micronut goes down the toilet, who knows what'll happen.

Apart from 3 Windows based PCs I also have a MacMini that I'd like to customise with Stardock apps, but I do recall somebody saying a while ago that Stardock apps would only be made for Windows.

I'd also like to see Stardock products developed for Linux Ubuntu and Mint, but I won't hold my breath.  Regardless of what happens with this Windows subscription thing, however, I will be running 2 Win 8.1 machines with the must-have ObjectDesktop installed to get my customisation fix, then Linux Ubuntu and/or Mint on my 3rd rig if/when I have to ditch Win 10 on it.

They still try sneaking in Windows 10 updates....caught 3 of them just recently which is why I keep the list.