Why you shouldn't pay retail price for Windows 10

[VioletDragon]

MS doesn't really care how you activate Windows 10 they just want you to use it so that they can make money off of you in other ways like advertising to you or selling your personal data. They should just make it completely free to anyone with Windows 10 compatible hardware. Do away with product keys completely. IMO.

I agree with you there.

 

[CaptainKernelPanic]

MS doesn't really care how you activate Windows 10 they just want you to use it so that they can make money off of you in other ways like advertising to you or selling your personal data. They should just make it completely free to anyone with Windows 10 compatible hardware. Do away with product keys completely. IMO.

Windows most likely will do away with activation, there just isn't much sense for it in 2017. Keys are cracked, and they do little to stop software theft. Why bother with keys when Windows can make money harvesting your data and selling it to third parties? Seems a lot more efficient and cost effective than using a software licensing method that everyone bypasses.

To add a bit more to the discussion, Windows has softened up on people actually activating the software...
https://www.howtogeek.com/244678/you-dont-need-a-product-key-to-install-and-use-windows-10/

Everyone thought the "free" upgrade would go away in July for good but I knew that was rubbish when I heard it. They "claimed" it's gone away but when they still open up loopholes to let users use Windows 10 in without paying full price, it suggests their interests are not in keys anymore.

Just my 2 cents. Oh, and assistive technologies offer "claims" it's going to end December 31, 2017. We'll see.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade