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Was perusing notes on the Microsoft conference going on today and they said that users of Win7 and Win8 will be offered free upgrade to Windows10. Hopefully we'll get some more details as far as release dates soon. Looks like they will be fully restoring the Start Button menu too. Matt, did you say you were beta testing Win10 already? If so, how are you liking it? EDIT Found Matt's thread: Matts Windows Beta Thread
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Yes, quite an intriguing announcement today. Microsoft wants all devices to operate the same way, and they think giving the OS away will increase app development. They might be right.
Nothing new to report. I'm using Windows 10 right now to type this. I really love the stability - not a hint of a stutter in a month.
Note that I have not yet installed any music software. I anticipate that, if I tried, I would encounter some problems with signed drivers for music peripheral devices.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thanks for the info. I'll probably dive head-first in when beta is complete. I like to get it fairly early in the process so I can help others that have issues when they get it.
Part of the IT geek thing. Early adoption of Win OS.
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Yes, I have a similar motivation. Having taught computer science for forty years, I like to keep current because people expect me to.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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this could be good news for me. I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 interface on a win 7 machine and a win 8 machine. It had problems on both. Their support came up with a fix for the win 8 machine that isn't available on win 7... if I can bump both machines up to 10 and the fix works on both machines, I'll be a happy camper. Well.. maybe a less grumpy camper.  So... how soon is this supposed to be available?
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Thanks for the info. I'll probably dive head-first in when beta is complete. I like to get it fairly early in the process so I can help others that have issues when they get it.
Part of the IT geek thing. Early adoption of Win OS. I used to be that way until changes started happening faster than my learning curve and wallet could keep up. I've become retro in my old age. Seriouly considering selling the house and moving to a cave...
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This is cool if true. I have Win 7 and have been considering upgrading to 8 but if they're giving away 10 that would be awesome.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Right now, and who knows if this will hold, the plan is to upgrade all 7 and 8 machines. Windows 10 is expected to be released in Fall 2015.
Hey Pat, I have a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 on one machine under Windows 8.1. What kind of trouble did you have? [Maybe start another thread]
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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This is cool if true. I have Win 7 and have been considering upgrading to 8 but if they're giving away 10 that would be awesome. Yeah, I think it will help people on the fence about upgrading, especially those who haven't jumped to 8. It is true..... Microsoft Announcement "Today was a monumental day for us on the Windows team because we shared our desire to redefine the relationship we have with you – our customers. We announced that a free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year after launch."
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Great news for this "fence sitter". I`m running Win 7/64 and it's been absolutely flawless so I've hesitated to upgrade.
Add the negative hype about Win 8 (no Start button, etc.) and I questioned the need to upgrade. FREE makes the decision obvious, however, I will ghost my HD in case I should need to roll back.
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shouldn't there be a windows 9 in there somewhere??
Windows has a long standing reputation of following a good operating system with a dog... so in a way it kinda makes sense to skip a version and get straight to the next good one.
But.. wasn't 7 considered the last one everybody liked?
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shouldn't there be a windows 9 in there somewhere?? They announced Win 9, then a few days later they said that it was going to be free. A few days after that MS said they cancelling 9 and going straight to 10. Now 10's free.
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Free is good (maybe).
Like Vista I will skip over Win 8 completely no matter what.
But the thought of installing an new OS, and who knows how many programs have to be re-installed, reconfigured, re-authorized. Or that simply won't work (which leads to new SW that has to be bought) and drivers that won't work (which leads to new HW that has to be bought)
When I built this PC (3 years ago now from XP to Win 7 - with additional dual boot Win XP HD) it took MONTHS to get all SW installed, configured and working properly. (my Programs List goes into the hundreds and that's just each programs/mfg main folder)
Then there was the stuff that STILL only works in WIN XP - that had to be RE-INSTALLED for that OS again on new PC and re-authorized, configured ...
and on, and on.. not looking forward to that all over again
Matt
does Win 10 come with a VM? I've done zero research on Win 10 to date
thx
Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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Free is good, but...
My laptop, for example, cannot be upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8 because HP thought a 1 year old laptop was too old to be bothered with providing the appropriate video drivers for it. I love my laptop, but I'm basically stuck with Win7 on it because of video drivers.
Of course, I'll give Win10 a try and hope for the best.
The HP laptops are dual mode video, where they use one driver for high performance when plugged into the wall and another with lower performance (and hence less battery drain) when running on the battery. Nice idea conceptually, but as Mac used to say... "drivers, drivers, drivers".
I am running the Win10 Beta in a virtual machine and it works on the laptop, but of course, that's based on the high performance video driver (plugged in).
Yay, Microsoft; boo, HP (even though overall I really like the laptop).
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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What I heard was that it was a subscription model. You have to pay MS every month or every year to keep using W10. The 'free' offer is for a few months, then MS starts charging the subscription fee.
Did I hear wrong?
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I don't think anyone really knows yet, I think your right a subscription model is being considered by MS, but it is also true, it appears that win 7 and Win 8 users will get a free upgrade - I have read.
Perhaps MS want us all to move up to WIN 10 and then spring a subscription model on us, for 'upgrades' ?
I shall be keeping Win 7 on my system
Z
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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There have been lots of movements over the years, some good, some bad.
The decision by Microsoft not to allow a software upgrade from XP to W7, but to require a fresh install wasn't received well.
Their failure to deliver a decent 'internally' user-friendly O/S in Win 8 has been a disaster.
XP was one of the best, most reliable and robust O/S's to come from this company. Win 7 has essentially also proved itself.
As far as trying to do anything more than absolutely superficial, they fell into an abyss with their Windows 8 effort.
With Android, Linux, Mac and others knocking on the door very heavily, no wonder they are trying to try to claw-back some ground by offering a freebie.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Wow! Amazed at all the Win8 haters. It's not that bad! It's essentially Win7 with the metro screen and lack of start button. Operating-wise it's just as robust as Win7. No issues at all.
Is this really a lack of understanding of Win OSs? I realize it's a pain to do software upgrades or reinstalls but I've NEVER had an issue with my music software or drivers due to an OS.
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Wow! Amazed at all the Win8 haters. It's not that bad! It's essentially Win7 with the metro screen and lack of start button. Operating-wise it's just as robust as Win7. No issues at all.
Is this really a lack of understanding of Win OSs? I realize it's a pain to do software upgrades or reinstalls but I've NEVER had an issue with my music software or drivers due to an OS. Steve I chose Win 7 Pro over Win 8/8.1 because Win 7 Pro has a XP and older emulation modes while Win 8/8.1 does not. I have some old programs that do exactly what I need with a lot less hassle then some of today's 'all in one' programs. In fact I have an old Corel PhotoPaint program that I use a lot for my pictures as it is fast and simple. Plus I have a vinyl album and CD database (it started in an Atari) as well as my music songbook database running on MS Office 95; these are off line of course. Plus I know about Open Office and such but I find them clunky at best. I know that someday I will have to change but in things like this I hate change. Ps - I'll bet that Win 10 doesn't have an emulation mode either.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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