Microsoft tackles China piracy with free upgrade to Windows 10

Reuters has reported that Terry Myerson, who runs Microsoft’s operating systems unit, announced that Microsoft Corp is making its biggest push into the heavily pirated Chinese consumer computing market this summer by offering free upgrades to Windows 10 to all Windows users, regardless of whether they are running genuine copies of the software.

It is suggested that Microsoft never made any money off pirated copies (and chasing after pirates is futile) and if they manage to get everyone who is currently on windows 7 and 8.1 to switch to Windows 10 it is hoped they will make their money with online cloud services like Skype and ‘Office 365’.

Secure

The other Big plus with managing to get all those with pirated copies of windows onto a legitimate licenced version means that the systems will be updated and securely patched meaning that viruses that can be circulated with illegal copies of the software will be stopped in their tracks. Making a safer ecosystem for all Windows users around the world.

Unfair?

It is unclear if this will apply to all pirated copies of Windows 7 and 8 in other countries. If it does not then it is feared the problem will persist. And maybe seen as rather unfair to favour China in this instance. Make this available to the entire world and move on.

Cheap PCs for All!

These new press releases from Microsoft that recently included the staggering news that free  full versions of windows 8.1 for under 8inch Tablets have resulted in an excited OEM manufacturers (people who sell PCs with Windows on them) as they can drop their prices and become ever more competitive, like the fantastic full Windows 8 tablets now are for sale at under $60 (£45), that is only possible due to the free version of Windows on offer and now makes them cheaper than their Android counterparts.

Windows need to reclaim some lost ground to Apple, Android and in particular Chrome books running Chrome OS (by Google). And to achieve this Microsoft will be required to undertake something brave and exciting to achieve their goals – like this announcement to achieve it.

I watch with interest!