Microsoft’s two-tier society – still nothing learned from Apple?

After six years, the era of Windows 10 ends, and Microsoft will soon be distributing Windows 11 to its users. Generous as you are, you don’t ask a single cent for the update. Cleverly copied from Apple, but once again there was one point where they weren’t really paying attention – a comment.

I have to say, Windows 11 looks nice and promises to be a modern update for the Microsoft system – Congratulation. Visually, there are bonds here and there on the Mac. Such as the lower menu bar, reminiscent of the dock. But it doesn’t have to be a disadvantage, on the contrary. In another point, too, at least a rudimentary approach is based on macOS from Apple – the costs.

Windows 11: Update à la Apple free of charge

If you are already using Windows 10 and have a compatible PC or a suitable notebook, the doesn’t have to pay anything for Windows 11. Mac users have known this gesture since 2013, because Apple didn’t charge a cent for OS X Mavericks (10.9) back then. Since then, all subsequent system versions have been and are also free of charge – by the way, Apple does not really differentiate between update and full version, it only runs on the Mac anyway, and Apple has already made money with it.

So now Microsoft is also adopting the tactic of free distribution, even if only for Windows 10 users. But if you are seriously using an older system, your PC will probably not be able to do anything with Windows 11 anyway. In this respect, I do not blame the decision-makers from Redmond. But there is another point of criticism that I find nasty.

If you are wondering whether Windows 11 runs on your own PC, you will find the answer in ours Video:

As a Mac user, I’m used to an X day. On that, Apple will release the next major system update – free of charge and worldwide at the same time. Anyone who wants can then initiate the download or get the update later – as you want. But I don’t have to wait, why should I?

New buyers preferred: Free updates to Windows 11 only much later

At Microsoft, on the other hand, you see it differently. Seriously, they actually only want to provide the paid update to Windows 11 in the course of the year. The however, free updates for existing users will not follow until 2022. Several months are actually planned for the distribution of Windows 11. Just why? Do they want to burn a CD or DVD beforehand and then send the update to the users by post or how?

I can understand that there are a few more Windows than Mac users out there, but a company like Microsoft should nevertheless manage to provide the resources for a worldwide, simultaneous online distribution. Everything else is extremely embarrassing. What do you want to achieve with such a forced two-class society?

I lack any understanding. Or is there more to it? I think out loud … maybe one or the other user should refrain from free updates of their old hardware and get a new computer with Windows 11 in the meantime. One from Microsoft’s partners or, ideally, of course, immediately a Surface Laptop or something similar directly from the Windows manufacturer. I admit, a bold thought, almost an outright conspiracy theory. Or, the other explanation … Microsoft is actually so incompetent and cannot handle the simultaneous, worldwide distribution. Admittedly, both statements are anything but flattering. I come to the end: If you already copy things from Apple, you better do it right.

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are solely the views of the author and are not necessarily the position of the entire GIGA editorial team.