[LINK] Microsoft reveals business costs to keep Windows 10 secure

[David]

On 4/04/2024 11:58 pm, Stephen Loosley wrote:

> Microsoft will offer Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 users, with pricing starting at $61 for the first year.
>
> The pricing for additional security updates will be offered to consumers for the first time ever with Windows 10. Businesses and consumers will need to purchase ESU licenses for each Windows 10 device they plan to keep using after the end of support cutoff date next year.  For businesses, the first year is priced at $61. It then doubles to $122 for the second year and then doubles again in year three to $244.  If you enter into the ESU program in year two, you’ll have to pay for year one as well since the ESUs are cumulative.

Some time ago I speculated that Microsoft may have decided few people want any more major upgrades to Windows (they aren't rushing to migrate to Windows 11, despite all the "encouragement") and so they might be planning to slowly migrate their loyal user base to Linux.  This was prompted by the appearance of OpenSuSE in the MS Store and the discovery that Windows 10 & 11 allows some native Linux utilities to run under Windows, and the full OpenSuSE O/S to be run natively with a suitable licence.

The recent con job allegedly run by a national actor in an attempt to insert a backdoor in the Linux XZ compression utility was discovered by a Microsoft Engineer too.  Then there's CrossOver Office from Codeweavers at https://www.codeweavers.com/

So is it possible we'll see a Microsoft distribution of Linux which slowly replaces Windows?

A Microsoft distribution could include any MS special software currently in Windows 10/11, MS could presumably charge for some types of ongoing support (a recurring revenue stream), and it would allow MS to go for all those organisations currently running Linux servers.  And the icing on the fruit cake: all the development work is done by those nice Linux volunteers!!!

What more could a corporation want...

_David Lochrin_