Microsoft might move Windows 12 to a subscription model, according to a new leak
Microsoft's Windows 12, the upcoming major iteration of the PC operating system, may potentially adopt a paid subscription model, as suggested by a recent leak reported by German site Deskmodder. This would mark a significant shift for the consumer-facing version of the Windows operating system.
The leak emerged when Deskmodder observed several subscription-related entries within the INI configuration file of the Canary channel build. These entries were not present in the Windows 11 23H2 Release Preview build when both were compared using WinMerge.
However, it's important to note that these are merely a few lines of code, and their presence might not necessarily indicate a definitive move towards a subscription model. Microsoft has yet to confirm the existence of Windows 12. The only information available about the next Windows version is a potential launch year of 2024.
Update:
According to Zac Bowden from Windows Central, it doesn't appear that what was found in the leaks conclusively affirm that Windows 12 for consumers will be based on a subscription model (We also noted in the last paragraph: "it's important to note that these are merely a few lines of code, and their presence might not necessarily indicate a definitive move towards a subscription model"). According to the article, while references to a subscription model were discovered in recent Windows preview builds, they seem to be associated with an "IoT Enterprise Subscription" edition of Windows 11, rather than the standard client version of Windows. Although there might be new subscription-based features in the future, the fundamental operating system for home users will remain free, as implementing a monthly fee for it is not a feasible business model, at least for the time being.
Comments
Say Hello to Apple MacBook Pro 2023!
When Linux is free, not run by a greedy scum bag company, and I can run it on pretty much any easily repairable hardware I want?
Hahaha.... I think not.
This turns out to be completely false, surprised there is no update issued to correct this story. Windows Central corrects the record. https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/no-of-course-windows-12-wont-require-a-subscription-to-use
If I was Paul I'd do an immediate correction with an apology for not being in-depth with his research.
Nah. This is about M$. Something like this isn't farfetched at all. Even if the CEO said no such thing will happen, you have no actual reason to believe them.
-- They could actually implement it another way - like removing the built-in adware for a fee, making Windows without a subscription less functional, etc. Kind of similar to what Amazon does with Kindle devices or what Spotify and other online services do.
You sure seem invested in this, responding to everyone's comments and telling them they are wrong.......
Hey, I've updated the news piece with the info shared by Windows Central and other blogs (I really like Zac and Jez personally). Just as a quick note, we also made it clear at the end that this was not confirmed and should not be taken as a fact: "It's important to note that these are merely a few lines of code, and their presence might not necessarily indicate a definitive move towards a subscription model."
i still don't know why people still uses windows
Two reasons mainly:
Applications and hardware compatibility.
I hope the end user don't just stupidly paid for this company 💩 and hope that make a sense to the end user to try Linux who is really better for an office use !
Turns out it's untrue and pure speculation that was proven to be false.
About the subscription model ?
With this, Windows completely takes over and controls the PC. That is to say, as the colleague already mentioned, that one buys a PC for a lot of money, to have to continue paying to use an OS that takes away the user's sovereignty. I just know that my next PC is going to be without an OS, to install and use with Linux.
I'm still on Windows 10, because 11 has little new to offer and they're already talking about launching 12 in 2024? It would be crazy, it will divide users even more.
Windows has had pretty much nothing new that was actually GOOD since 7.
Turns out it's untrue and pure speculation that was proven to be false https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/no-of-course-windows-12-wont-require-a-subscription-to-use
That's mad! Can you imagine paying thousands for a device and then paying thousands to use it?
What makes it worse is... it's still going to be the most used OS on the planet because it's still going to be the most convenient one to get with a laptop/desktop.
People are actually going to pretend that paying for what will probably be a yearly subscription isn't so bad as if they immediately forgot that they weren't doing it before.
Only the dumb sheeple will do that. The rest will either bend over, grab their ankles, and switch to Apple. Or, make the only sane choice and switch to Linux
That is true, but you need to remember that for every shepherd, there are 500 sheep. Sheeple are the majority on this planet.
Also, switching to Linux, specifically to the corporate-backed Linux distros is pretty much the same deal because they will eventually do everything M$ is doing.
So even in the Linux community, there is still a lot of sheeple who use "W" distro because it feels like Windows or "X" distros because it feels like Mac, and unfortunately, those distros are usually corporate-backed. Of course, there are exceptions.
For the most part, the only popular distros that are corporate-backed crap are Ubuntu and their derivatives. And, a lot of the Linux community is getting fed up with Canonical's crap and dumping them, just like they did Winblows. Some distros have even stopped using them as a base and went straight Debian. I wouldn't be surprised if Linux Mint does the same soon. Especially since LMDE already exists and has been gaining popularity.
Yeah, I kinda agree with you on community-based distros dropping Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.
However, I feel as though Zorin, KDE Neon, Linux from Scratch, etc. will just never move, and excluding Mint (and Manjaro which should really stop getting recommended), those are pretty much the top-recommended distros for Windows users who don't want to feel like they are re-learning how to use an OS.
Linux Mint has certainly taken the necessary steps so I think it's only a matter of 'when' instead of 'if'.
Turns out it was an unfounded rumor that was heavily exaggerated https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/no-of-course-windows-12-wont-require-a-subscription-to-use