The dog-and-pony show is over, but a key question remains: Why isn't Microsoft releasing the January Technical Preview?No matter how you slice it, Microsoft knows how to put on a great presentation. While I've been around the Microsoft block far too many times to believe things will turn out as neatly as presented, the grand scheme looks very inviting. And the holograms! Even if they aren't really holograms, imagine the kind of damage programmers could do with a hologram API in Windows.
ICYMI, the whole presentation is now available in nonstuttering video on the Microsoft website.
The main open question, to my mind, is the licensing can of worms teased by Terry Myerson and, after the presentation in the Q&A session, by Satya Nadella. "Windows as a service" may or may not be equivalent to "Windows for rent." Only time will tell -- Microsoft sure isn't. InfoWorld's Serdar Yegulalp hits the high points of how Windows upgrades will be free for existing users -- at first. Paul Thurrott has posed a fascinating, central question:
But consider this line: "Once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device -- at no additional charge." This suggests to me that keeping Windows 10 up-to-date going forward is not optional. That in order to get this offer—or perhaps just to get Windows 10 as a consumer, regardless—will require you to let Microsoft keep your system up to date.
