Here’s your Surface-related news fix for this week. While the Surface Book is continuing to dominate the headlines, there was a bit of a scandal about Microsoft forcing Windows 10 upgrades onto computers with older versions of Windows. Yes, this includes Surfaces still running Windows 8.1.
Here are this weeks news topics:
- Microsoft offers $300 Macbook Bounty But Excludes Surface
- 1TB Surface Book Pricing Information
- Windows 10 Upgrade Mistake
- Customers Ask Microsoft To Change Update Practices
Let’s get started…
[divider]Weekly Surface News Roundup: Microsoft offers $300 Macbook Bounty
As part of their Easy Trade Up program, Microsoft is offering $300 if you trade in a MacBook towards the purchase of a new Windows computer from the Microsoft Store. That $300 can go a long way to help you get a new Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book.
The trade-in must be operational and no more than 6 years old. If you don’t have a Macbook, don’t fret, you can get $200 for just about any laptop you might have sitting around.
Better yet, you can even get the credit for up to 14 days AFTER you purchase a new SP4 or Surface Book. You just need to take some pictures and send Microsoft the old laptop or MacBook. See the Terms and Conditions for more information.
Oh, there is one BIG catch…. The offer ends on the 20th so, you’d better hurry if you want to take advantage.
Also, you can’t trade in multiple old laptops….. I asked.
😉
Related: Information Week, EasyTradeUp (Microsoft)
[divider]Weekly Surface News Roundup:1TB Surface Book Pricing Information
Pricing information for the 1TB Surface Book has recently popped up on the Online Microsoft Store along with the option to pre-order. Up until now, the i7/512GB model was the largest (and most expensive) Surface Book option at $2699 USD but.. the new model makes it look cheap in comparison.
The i7/1TB Surface Book with 16GB of RAM is priced at a staggering $3199 USD!!!!
Ouch!! Still though, it looks like a nice machine.
Related: Betanews, Phonearena, Thurrot
[divider]Weekly Surface News Roundup: Windows 10 Upgrade Mistake
Microsoft is calling the recent deployment of the Windows 10 upgrade package to all older versions of Windows a “mistake”. It all started earlier this week when many Windows 7 / 8.1 users began reporting they were being forced to upgrade to Windows 10, despite never reserving a copy nor indicating they even wanted to upgrade.
After several folks reached out to Microsoft about this (and a lot of bad press), Microsoft has “fixed” the upgrade, so that it is optional and won’t try to install automatically.
What do you think? Was it a “mistake” or did someone get a little over-zealous in their efforts to boost Windows 10 numbers?
Related: Venturebeat, Arstechnica
[divider]Weekly Surface News Roundup: Customers Ask Microsoft To Change Update Practices
Windows 10 users have started an online petition directed at Satya Nadella (Microsoft’s CEO) demanding the ability to better control how updates are delivered to computers running Windows 10.
Right now, Microsoft is treating Windows 10 as a “service” which effectively means they will be pushing out changes and updates as they feel is necessary. While it is possible to delay these updates, you can’t really prevent them from installing eventually (even if you don’t want them for some reason).
If the signers of the petition are successful, it will disrupt Microsoft’s plan of delivering Windows 10 as a service. In case you’re wondering, Microsoft is trying to offer Windows 10 as a service for a couple of potential reasons (depending on how cynical you are, pick your favorite):
- If you’re not cynical, the reason is to ensure the best experience and security by handling the updates for you – so you don’t have to worry about it. This will make Windows 10 better over time.
- If you are cynical, the reason is so that Microsoft can start charging you (eventually and over time) $$$\month for the privilege of using your computer. That’s how services work, after all.
Frankly, I believe the truth is in the middle. They do want to try to make things better over time but, as a business, they’re not opposed to having a steady monthly revenue coming in from everyone running Windows 10.
The Change.org petition had collected more than 1,850 virtual signatures as of this morning (Sunday).
Related: ComputerWorld, Change.org
[divider]And that’s it for this week. I’ll be back next week with more Surface-related news stories.
Tim
[tweet][stumble][Google]