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Let me address two things: the content of the article and Forbes in general.

First, the article doesn't really cite anything-- but if you dig around you find that what MSFT is doing is setting up a subscription model where if you want to license Windows in enterprise as part of a subscription you can. MSFT has world's most complex enterprise licensing schemes and this is just another option.

Second, Forbes basically lets anyone contribute. They are cashing in on the name recognition of Forbes with click-bait articles. Is it to much to ask for professional articles? Perhaps one where facts are outlined and some amount of research is gathered? Instead, the author seems to have grabbed a headline from the Internet and then extrapolated that MSFT is on their way to charging everybody-- with no evidence.

I'm sick of low-effort, crap journalism. It's not even journalism-- it's a blog post under the guise of journalism.

Moderators: Could we add "Enterprise" to the article title here on HN?

Subscription options on the Enterprise side are not new and not surprising in the least. Windows has essentially always been a subscription for Enterprises of certain sizes; this points to an expansion down to a next lower tier. Again, not surprising.

The clickbait would have you believe this may eventually in some presupposed future Microsoft may roll this out to consumers, but the article is supposition at best and misdirection at worst.

(Everything I've read, including the Windows 10 EULA, seems very apparent that Microsoft is "right sizing" the consumer Windows experience by making the de facto experience [You buy a license Windows for the lifetime of a computer with the purchase of that computer], because consumers didn't pay for upgrades, into the reality of the experience, aligning it with other operating systems, in that [You buy a license for the lifetime of a computer with the purchase of that computer and that includes updates for the lifetime of that computer].)

More accurate title: "Microsoft adding a monthly-charged tier to Windows enterprise licensing options."

Horse's mouth source: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/07/12/annou...

Yup, just like Office 365, or even the new subscription model to effectively lease Surface tablets. This article takes a minor announcement of Windows Enterprise being offered the same way, then spins into full-time FUD about the notion that they'll do it to consumers. (Even if they did, people who got the free upgrade already have their license, they'd never need to subscribe.)