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Microsoft has already softened their pricing strategy by offering Windows for free on small tablets and by not charging for the upgrades from Windows 8 to 8.1 or to 10.

Perhaps they don't see Windows as the cash cow that it once was and will make all upgrades free.

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Actually, they even include Windows 7, not only 8 or 8.1 [0]. I guess that "for the first year" will probably be extended as well...

Edit: if this [1] reuters article is true (I couldn't find a reference on Microsoft's site), they are also including pirated versions...

[0] http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about

[1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/18/us-microsoft-china...

This is because 8 and 8.1 are a downgrade compared to 7 and weren't received well. Consider that Windows XP has a bigger market share than 8 and 8.1 combined.

It wouldn't surprise me to see them make the base OS for home users free, and then only charge for enterprise specific features. Think of 7 Home Premium as free, and Ultimate/Enterprise now the paid versions.

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