It was a year ago today — Friday, July 29 — that Windows 10 first launched with the yearlong promise that it would be a free upgrade for users still on Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. That year has now passed — as indicated by the impending release of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
If you’re not sure how to claim your update, go read our guide. But we’re guessing you’re well aware that Microsoft wants you to get up to date. The company’s increasingly prominent upgrade notifications have nagged many users to make the leap.
Should you upgrade? We think so! The latest version of Windows 10 is the best desktop operating system so far, capable of everything earlier versions could do, and much more. We’re particularly fond of Task View, which greatly enhances window management, and the Action Center, which has developed into a superb notification center that can connect with most platforms, including big ones like Facebook and Slack.
And the price for refusing to upgrade now is high. If you decide to stick with an older version of Windows, you’ll have to pay $120 for a full retail copy for Windows 10 Home, or $200 for a retail copy of Windows 10 Pro. There may be a lower upgrade price revealed now that the free upgrade is going away — but we don’t know what that would be, yet. Anyone who grabs the free upgrade will also be eligible for all the future Windows 10 updates.
If you don’t upgrade, your computer is living on borrowed time. Windows 7 has already passed its mainstream support date, and it won’t receive any updates — including critical security updates — after 1/14/2020. Windows 8 and 8.1 lose mainstream support on 1/9/2018, and extended support on 1/10/2023.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your free update now, before it’s too late!
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