This Hacker News discussion revolves around Microsoft's Windows 10 end-of-support policy and the "free" upgrade to Windows 11, with users expressing a range of opinions and concerns.
The Dissatisfaction with Windows 11 Hardware Requirements
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the artificial and exclusionary nature of Windows 11's hardware requirements, which prevent many otherwise functional machines from upgrading. Users feel that these requirements are arbitrary and that Microsoft is not truly offering a free upgrade when it necessitates new hardware.
- "I have a perfectly good machine that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11 for some arbitrary reason." - hnhg
- "That free upgrade refuses to work with my hardware." - derivagral
- "Even if I wanted to, my CPU isn't supported for (IMO) completely nonsense reasons." - spencerflem
- "Win11 doesnât support all hardware Win10 runs on. Free upgrade is meaningless in that sense." - sedatk
- "I wish. I have a completely capable machine that won't accept the upgrade, due to some completely artificial requirements MSFT built in." - justin66
- "My very expensive tower PC can't "up"grade because it doesn't have a TPM 2.0 module. So unless Microsoft plans to give me a new CPU (and new mobo) it's not free for many users." - zanderwohl
- "It's not a free upgrade if you have no choice" - mystified5016
The perception is that these requirements are a deliberate attempt to push users toward newer hardware, rather than a genuine security or compatibility concern.
The Broken Promise of "The Last Version of Windows"
Several users recall Microsoft's earlier marketing of Windows 10 as the "last version of Windows," implying a continuous support model. This promise is now seen as broken with the introduction of Windows 11, leading to feelings of betrayal and distrust in Microsoft's communications.
- "Windows 10 was marketed with the promise of being the 'last version of windows' by microsoft employees. Personally I think they should be held to that promise, at least in so far as supporting it as long as they still support any other version of windows." - gpm
- "The upgrade to windows 11 is not free in so far as it doesn't support the hardware that people have." - gpm
- "> Windows 10 was marketed with the promise of being the 'last version of windows' by microsoft employees\n\nIt was just that - marketing! To get a load of people to migrate to it, right? 'Do it guys, it's the last one you'll need to do, we promise'" - octo888
- "Trust Microsoft? Not even once" - octo888
- "Microsoft made the announcement through very trusted Microsoft media experts which they have since burned. I remember their emphatic assurances at the time but didnât believe them." - cjbgkagh
- "I previously worked at MS so asked friends about it and they agreed that there was an attempt to foster the impression of windows as a SAAS both internally and externally." - cjbgkagh
- "It wasnât marketed that way. It was a throwaway line that became a meme at Ignite back in 2015\n\nIt was meant to convey the change in delivery model for Windows updates." - meowkit
- "A Microsoft employee tasked with public relations declaring it so at a Microsoft event in front of the press is Microsoft marketing it that way." - gpm (This is a rebuttal to a comment suggesting the "last version" statement was not official marketing).
This perceived deception fuels skepticism about Microsoft's intentions and a general erosion of trust.
Concerns Over Forced Online Accounts and "Enshittification"
Another recurring theme is Microsoft's push for users to create and use online accounts for Windows, which many see as an invasion of privacy and an unwanted complication. This is framed as part of a broader trend of "enshittification" â making products progressively worse or more exploitative.
- "People rag on a company that is trying to force you to use an online account to log onto your local PC?" - GeekyBear
- "Doesn't using Windows Backup to qualify for these extended Windows 10 security updates require that you purchase more than the default amount of cloud storage too?" - GeekyBear
- "They make it close to impossible to install windows without making an account, you either need to mess around in the registry or run some weird Powershell commands in order to skip the account creation step. They do this because they know a non-technical person will just create an account instead. It's fucking bullshit and it is 100% intentional." - ManlyBread
- "Technically being able to opt out of a Microsoft account by solving a puzzle wrapped in a riddle that Microsoft changes every few months is as close to forced as their legal team is willing to go." - mystified5016
- "I have perfectly good machine that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11 for some arbitrary reason. ... I actually quite like Windows now that WSL2 is decent, but I don't need this specific form of enshittification in my life (along with all the tracking and ads)." - hnhg
The difficulty in opting out of Microsoft accounts highlights a deliberate design choice to steer users towards their ecosystem.
The "Free" Support Extension is Not Truly Free
The offer to extend Windows 10 support is viewed with suspicion, as it appears to come with strings attached, often involving paid services or cloud storage. This further reinforces the critique that Microsoft's "free" offerings are rarely without cost or hidden obligations.
- "> As the article's title notes, with strings attached." - bell-cot
- "Microsoft announced that you can extend Windows 10 support if you enroll in Microsoft Backup or purchase âMicrosoft Points.â Just think if they get printer manufacturers in on this, just to keep your ink cartridges âauthenticâ and up to date, and you can keep using Windows 10. And so on..." - paulkrush
- "Itâs interesting/unsettling to extrapolate a dystopian future from these moves." - paulkrush
The discussion also touches on the broader concept of software support, with one user suggesting that if a company can no longer support its proprietary software, it should open-source it.
- "In other words continue to supply the proprietary software that runs on my hardware.\n\nHow about, if you can't or won't "support" your product anymore, you are required to give away the source code.\n\nWe should be done holding users hostage." - timewizard
This sentiment reflects a desire for greater user freedom and control over the software they use.
Comparison to Other Tech Giants
The discussion briefly touches on how Microsoft's support practices compare to other major technology companies like Apple and Google, particularly in the context of mobile operating systems. While acknowledging that Microsoft's support for Windows 10 is longer than many Android devices, the comparison highlights that other companies also have their own models of planned obsolescence or limited support lifecycles.
- "Windows 10 came out almost 10 years ago and they offered a free upgrade to Windows 11. I know people love to hate on Microsoft, but theyâve done better than most technology companies when it comes to security updates here. Youâre lucky to get even half of that length of support from most Android devices for example." - dlachausse
- "If we're comparing them to other software companies, what would be their fairest comparison? Is there another company that manages the overwhelming majority of client desktops around the world?" - bezier-curve
- "Apple? Certainly in education and other sectors. Their support horizons are t as long." - adastra22
- "Google with over 50% mobile os market share and they support each Android version for 3 years." - charcircuit
- "And no one said the situation with Android devices is great." - arp242
While Microsoft is seen as performing relatively well in terms of update longevity compared to some segments of the Android market, the specific issues with Windows 11 upgrades and Microsoft's overall business practices are still a major point of contention.