Tiled Linux Distros

Dashrender

@Dashrender said:

MS in this case probably realized the same thing... when they released Windows 8.1, they didn't want people freaking out thinking they would have to purchase the next version by calling it Windows 10 or Windows XYZ because they always knew it would be completely free forever, why, because it was required to fix the boongoggle that was Windows 8.

Perhaps. But this doesn't fit their other patterns, like that of making Windows 10 free or avoiding a boondoggle name. So seems unlikely, but possible, of course. But if this is the case, like the last statement about avoiding the number 9, this is in support of what I said - that the number doesn't imply that the two are special or interchangeable.

You keep supporting what I thought I was saying, but stating it as if it is the opposite.

my quoted thought was incomplete - MS for whatever reason didn't feel that they could get away from the boondoggle of a name of Windows 8 because of the problems mentioned in the quote, they were kinds screwed either way. I think they might have been even more screwed by trying to call Windows 8.1 vs 10 because 8.1 was a fix to the boondoggle - they didn't' have time market such a weird name change (skipping 9)

scottalanmiller

Most things that I've seen recommend a range. I just looked at Steam as an example (it was open.) They have Windows 7 as a minimum and recommend 8.1. They don't mention 8, but they don't mention 10 either. I think that because 8.1 was a free update in most cases weird things happened - like some shops were just confused (which I think is obvious) and many others simply felt that if you were keeping up to date, you'd go to 8.1 given that it was free.

Linux distros often work that way, assuming that you've stayed on the latest within a series that is free.

scottalanmiller

@Dashrender said:

@scottalanmiller said:

@Dashrender said:

MS in this case probably realized the same thing... when they released Windows 8.1, they didn't want people freaking out thinking they would have to purchase the next version by calling it Windows 10 or Windows XYZ because they always knew it would be completely free forever, why, because it was required to fix the boongoggle that was Windows 8.

Perhaps. But this doesn't fit their other patterns, like that of making Windows 10 free or avoiding a boondoggle name. So seems unlikely, but possible, of course. But if this is the case, like the last statement about avoiding the number 9, this is in support of what I said - that the number doesn't imply that the two are special or interchangeable.

You keep supporting what I thought I was saying, but stating it as if it is the opposite.

my quoted thought was incomplete - MS for whatever reason didn't feel that they could get away from the boondoggle of a name of Windows 8 because of the problems mentioned in the quote, they were kinds screwed either way. I think they might have been even more screwed by trying to call Windows 8.1 vs 10 because 8.1 was a fix to the boondoggle - they didn't' have time market such a weird name change (skipping 9)

They had done so much effort with the move to Blue, I'm surprised they didn't leverage that in some way.

Dashrender

@scottalanmiller said:

@Dashrender said:

Then we have today, the release of Windows 10 - honostly, I'm not entirely sure why they gave it away other than Microsoft really doesn't make the much money on upgrades only on new hardware sales, but of course they shorted themselves there too because now people won't have to upgrade some gear for a few more years.

My guess is that they gave it away because the value of selling a desktop OS is low while the value of owning the platform on which people do all of their computing is high. It is very hard to sell Windows Server, Azure, Office 365, MS Office, MS SQL Server, Exchange, SharePoint and Windows Mobile when people don't use Windows on the desktop. The desktop makes little money, is not a competitive advantage yet is a keystone in their overall strategy.

Of course.. you're right - the same reason that Ballmer bought Nokia.. it was important to keep Windows phone alive, even if it was tiny because it's part of their entire platform and strategy.

Dashrender

Well @DustinB3403, now that we've completely taken over your thread.

Here are some codes you can try to use to install that USB Win8.1 stick you made.

Windows 8.1=334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
Windows 8.1N=6NPQ8-PK64X-W4WMM-MF84V-RGB89
Windows 8.1 Single Language=Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC
Windows 8.1 Professional=XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
Windows 8.1 Professional N=JRBBN-4Q997-H4RM2-H3B7W-Q68KC
Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Center=GBFNG-2X3TC-8R27F-RMKYB-JK7QT

with any luck you'll be able to pull the Key from the BIOS and sub it in once you get this loaded. make sure you use the key for the same as what was installed on the machine originally.

dafyre

I recommend trying that command that Scott posted a bit ago.
I just checked form my laptop, and it actually works...

cat /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM and you sohuld be able to identify your key in there...
(Pro Tip: Its the last bit of the blurb, lol)

DustinB3403

I got the 8.1 installer to work, which it did immediately pull the product key and activate. Albeit the Windows 10 Installer wouldn't pull the MSDN key.

In ubuntu I was able to pull the product key using "sudo cat ls /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDN" which output the product key (as a part of a string but still readable)

Dashrender

so you put a Windows 8.1 key into windows 10 to make it install?

DustinB3403

Windows 8.1 to a "normal" install. I left the update for her to decide when to install, but downloaded it.