Microsoft might want to be making Windows 12 a subscription OS, suggests leak
While this has been a hunch for a while among the Windows enthusiast community, a new leak seems to be further providing somewhat solidifying evidence that it could indeed be the case, that Microsoft’s next-gen OS, casually referred to as Windows 12, could be a subscription-based OS. I have no innate issue with the subscription model for software – especially in the mobile world … ⌘ Read more

Another nail in the coffin.

That article links to this one.

So, you buy a new computer for $800 and you have to pay a subscription just to use it? There’s no doubt the subscription will start out optional, but if things continue the way they’re going we will get there. When that day comes, the general public will get out their credit cards and do what the computer says. I have no faith whatsoever that they won’t.

Of course, by that time, I imagine you won’t be able to turn off Secure Boot or enroll your own keys on most computers, making your computer an appliance completely owned by Microsoft, just like an iPad is completely owned by Apple.

@mckinley@twtxt.net To be fair I think iPad/iPhone is a bit different? You buy the “device” but you most certainly don’t pay for a subscription to the OS? 🤔 Maybe I’m wrong here and it’s all the “same same” 🤔

@prologic@twtxt.net In that paragraph, I was comparing it to iOS devices because you cannot install another operating system on them. That is the point of Microsoft® Secure Boot after all.

Another thing about i{Pad,}OS, it’s impossible to use it without an online account with the operating system vendor. Windows, of course, is getting increasingly harder to use without a Microsoft account. The goal is clear.

@mckinley@twtxt.net Fair points