This isn't really news. Microsoft has long offered extended support to enterprises with volume license agreements. For Windows XP, Microsoft called this "custom support".[1]<p>Windows XP custom support was billed annually. It may be news if Microsoft switch to monthly billing for Windows 7, but the blog post[2] linked in the Forbes article does not mention monthly billing.<p>[1] <a href="https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/kdean/2014/01/12/windows-xp-end-of-life-support-options/" rel="nofollow">https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/kdean/2014/01/12/windows...</a><p>[2] <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2018/09/06/helping-customers-shift-to-a-modern-desktop/" rel="nofollow">https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2018/09/0...</a>
Reminder: forbes.com/sites/* isn't the same as a forbes.com article. It's essentially a blogging network that just so happens to use the Forbes domain.
Archived copy without GDPR nag screen:<p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180909080100/https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2018/09/08/microsoft-windows-7-monthly-charge-windows-10-free-upgrade-cost/" rel="nofollow">https://web.archive.org/web/20180909080100/https://www.forbe...</a>
Whatever happened to ReactOS? We don't hear much about it these days. But it seems like Linux + Wine/ReactOS is becoming more and more efficient in the enterprise in terms of admin headaches.
> while Windows 7 users have long been able to laugh at the ongoing problems of Windows 10 users, it now appears it will be those users who upgraded for free who will get the last laugh…<p>This semi-serious statement is based on the assumption that the cost of "ongoing problems" for Windows 10 users is lower than $139.