I got an exciting new icon on my windoze taskbar. Apparently I'm eligible for a free win10 when it's released into the wild. This offer is available for a period of one year, so hopefully in that time they'll release a non-fucked version.

I'm so excited I could pee right now.

I thought W10 was going to be free to everyone anyway ?

I think they backpedalled on that, or it was originally misreported, or something. I can only assume this latest thing is a hype-builder to make it seem somehow exclusive or limited or something. Although I suspect the reality might be that it also lets them preload a lot of it to make things quicker when it does go live.

Not everyone, as Milko points out. Apparently you have to be running 7.1 or 8.1 (hahaha!).

And your hardware has to be compatible. So presumably those with an Apple Watch need not apply.

I've just noticed I have that too. I asked Jim to lend me his 8.1 to try out and they want to give me 10 for free now.

Just got it too on my copy of Win 7 Ultimate provided by Jim. Though my laptop does have a Win7 Pro licence. 

I wonder what happens if you have a full copy of 7 or 8.1 (i.e. purchased as opposed to ready installed) get a free upgrade and subsequently update your hardware motherboard or whatever so that you need a new install. 

Unexpected notifications about special eligibility to get free software... now, where have I seen that before...?

It gets even better - for some of the super special lucky upgraders, you'll get your software uninstalled.

No, really - your AV will probably be replaced with Windows Defender (if it's not detected or deemed not current), and anything Microsoft decides it doesn't like will be removed before you're allowed to upgrade.

Oh yeah, and then there's the "feature deprecation" - the fuckwits don't know what deprecation means, because what they're doing is removing Windows Media Centre, DVD playback, desktop gadgets, and Hearts.

:|

Hearts?! Fuckers.

They're removing all the games, but Minesweeper and Solitaire will have special versions to replace them. Hearts is being ditched because they're lazy and/or arseholes.

Perhaps they've discovered that it's the network code in Hearts that's been the source of all their security woes over the years :'D

Honest, m'lud.

...Except Candy Crush. Because Microsoft is just epic when it comes to jumping on bandwagons that have already gone the distance...

Awwww, no one unlocking the next Kingdom for you?

That must be a win8.1/appstore thing, it doesn't appear on my win7 install

No, it's a bundled-by-default-with-Windows-10 thing.

OK. I misread "They're removing all the games...Except Candy Crush" as CC already being installed.

No matter, the main thing from your link is that it appears that the weepin' an' wailin' an' gnashin' of teeth over the loss of Hearts may have been premature. We can all sleep better for that.

No, not except Candy Crush - they're removing existing games.

They are then bringing in others, including Candy Crush, which has always been shit and yet is still trundling along in its shitness in some quarters so its not really surprising that they'd try and lure people into upgrading by using it.

> Because Microsoft is just epic when it comes to jumping on bandwagons that have already gone the distance...

That really better have been deliberate irony, though I fear it were not and thus you deserve nothing less than a hard slap on the cheeks.

I can't find the original source for that "And they are coming back in Windows 10" quote - it's all over news articles but not being returned when I search for it.

The official Windows upgrade thing says: Solitaire, Minesweeper and Hearts Games that come pre-installed on Windows 7 will be removed as part of installing the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft has released our version of Solitaire and Minesweeper called the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and “Microsoft Minesweeper”.

Also, Google's suggested search is a bit sinister...