Windows 7 RCs Shut Down To Force Updates 414
nk497 writes "The release candidate for Microsoft Windows 7 will expire June 2010, and the software giant will let users know they need to pay to upgrade by shutting down the system every two hours for three months. According to Microsoft: "The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.""
Story's title is flamebait (Score:5, Interesting)
It's not shutting down to force updates, it's shutting down when the trial period expires.
This is well known, was discussed here several times and is clearly mentioned on the Microsoft download page.
To be honest it seems like slashdot has more stories about Microsoft than about Free software.
Re:I See No Problem With This (Score:5, Interesting)
An upgrade is technically possible... (Score:5, Interesting)
Say, oh, 15 million people install RC (I did.)
Come June, you want to start getting paid (you're M$), you have two options...
1. Release an 'upgrade to paid version' where you charge people FULL PRICE for the equivilent of whatever they're running. (I'm using ultimate)
2. Force people to pay for the version they choose AND reinstall everything.
Now, to get the most money out of me, and I'd bet most everbody, they should do #1. A year from now, I'm going to have installed a lot of stuff, done a LOT of customizing and unless it's just time to rebuild, I'm REALLY not going to want to reinstall. I would be HAPPY to pay for Ultimate at that point. The alternative is go back to Vista which I've already paid for or reboot every 2 hours. Neither are good for me, so I'll start looking for a crack. Time is money, and I'd spend way more money rebuilding to get off the RC than I'd spend paying for an ultimate license.
But, I'd bet Microsoft is going #2. No betting actually, that's the plan. So they're going to have a bunch of people who are just going to deal with reboots. Then there will be a bunch of people who are going to go the cracking route. Then there's the people who are going to pay, but will downgrade because they don't use all that ultimate crap anyway. And what's left, are the people who fall in line and do what M$ wants them too. But think of all the money they could have gotten from the others, had they only offered an upgrade path...
And it's not like it's a complicated upgrade, just replace the part of the system that makes this an RC build! That's got to be easier than a service pack!
Re:Crackfix please (Score:3, Interesting)
Do you just apply the new license or do you need to reinstall?
It's also nicer than the alternative (Score:5, Interesting)
The normal course of action for a time limited demo would be to simply stop functioning when your time expires. That is what I expect from such things and how most of them work.
However, what happens if you didn't get all your data off and so on? Well, this offers you a way to be able to operate the system, just with restrictions. It is a nicer way of handling things.
I thought 7 was supposed to be free? (Score:2, Interesting)
After the debacle of Vista, I could have sworn I read on this very site a few weeks ago that Win 7 was going to offered as a FREE upgrade, at least to Vista users. Am I on crack or did I actually see that story?
Re:Crackfix please (Score:4, Interesting)
I think it's a silly restriction for game demos if you can't save. It's reasonable that you can't load (after all, it's a demo), but is there any reason why you shouldn't be allowed to continue a game on the full version after you started it on the demo version?
Re:Crackfix please (Score:3, Interesting)
It's their software. When you installed it, you agreed to their licensing terms.
You don't like the terms, don't install the software.
Re:Crackfix please (Score:3, Interesting)
Also... wanting to try the new mainstream OS makes me a diehard Windows fan?
As opposed to just crashing every two hours? (Score:3, Interesting)
Will they include a dialog box so that we know Windows didn't just crash again?
Actually, this reminds me of an entry from SKB's classic Devil's DP Dictionary:
An oldie, but a goodie!
Its only the first RC, out of possibly several. (Score:1, Interesting)
It seems to me that everyone is also forgetting that this is a Release Candidate. Read Candidate. It is also entirely possible that Microsoft will choose to have a second release candidate.
So all the griping about how you may have to reinstall upon the commercial release of windows 7 is really counting your chickens before they hatch, you may have to do it again in August with RC2.
Re:Crackfix please (Score:2, Interesting)