It seems like the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system will be free not only for Windows 7 and 8.1 users in the first year, but also for people who enjoy the pocket-sized computer known as Raspberry Pi.
When it was launched in 2012, Raspberry Pi was quite a sensation, as apparently it had been inconceivable for a computer (even a low-specced one) to carry such a small price tag. The second major release of Raspberry Pi, which was announced today, is meant to have an even greater success, as it will sport a free version of Windows 10, all that thanks to Microsoft. More specifically, Redmond will be “delivering a version of Windows 10 that supports Raspberry Pi 2.”
Gone are the days when Windows (a rather power-hungry OS, I’d say) used to be promoted alongside the most powerful desktop PCs and laptops out there. Windows 10 will create a seamless connection between the computers, smartphones and tablets running it, so it really is a solution for the masses. Obviously, the version that will be available on Raspberry Pi 2 will be stripped down of some features, but the particular details of that are currently unknown.
So how exactly did this Raspberry Pi 2 running Windows 10 story come to be? Microsoft will be giving away free copies of its latest OS to the Maker community, through the Windows Developer Program for IoT. The thing you should take away from all of this is that later this year, you will be able to buy a fully-functional Windows machine for $35, something that has really been unheard of until now. More details will be unveiled in the coming months, but for now, this news is really exciting!
Microsoft has adopted for its latest OS a model that has been practiced by Web browser developers for years. Until the final version is launched, the company will rely heavily on telemetrics and feedback collected from users in order to fix bugs and improve features. Chances are that the Redmond giant will continue doing so even after releasing Windows 10 officially. This is something new for the company, so it’s no surprise that some are looking at this approach with fear, but I think that things will work out just fine, both for them and the users.
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