Why Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? Is it Still Free?

Why upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

If you’re among the 50.06% of desktop PC users that are still with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you’ve probably thought about doing an upgrade to Windows 10 at least a few times. Perhaps scary news about forced updates and other features kept you away from the free Windows 10 Upgrade; maybe you just didn’t have the time to upgrade; or maybe you just prefer being on the older versions – Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 – because you’re comfortable with them.

Whatever the reason, we recommend that you upgrade to Windows 10 for free, while you can. Why? Here are some of the benefits that Windows 10 will bring to your desktop device:

Enhanced Security Features

In reality, this is one of the more valuable benefits you’ll get from Windows 10. Not only does Windows 10 keep getting security patches, but the Microsoft Edge browser that comes with the new OS version is more secure as well, protecting you from various malware, including ransomware, better than any other browser.

Microsoft is already winding down support for older versions. Windows 7 still has extended support until January 14, 2020, but mainstream support stopped as of January 13, 2015. Windows 8 mainstream support ends on January 9, 2018. That’s one reason to upgrade to Windows 10, especially since there’s a free option still available – from none other than Microsoft itself.

Windows 10 Creators Update is Coming

The second reason for you to upgrade is Windows 10 Creators Update (version 1703), which is dropping this month to all users of the Anniversary Edition as well as all new Windows devices launching this year.

Creators Update brings a lot to the table: VR support, 3D Paint, Game Mode, better security and a whole lot more. Read more about it here.

An Even Bigger Update is Coming in 2017

Known to everyone as Redstone 3, the next major update after Creators Update is coming at the end of 2017, according to Microsoft’s roadmap for Windows 10. If you upgrade to Windows 10 now, you’ll automatically get the next one when it comes, and every major Windows 10 update after that.

The biggest deal about Redstone 3 is its ability to bring the full desktop experience to mobile devices. While the Surface Phone is the bearer of that capability, Microsoft is expected to release a similar device this year that will run UWP apps from Windows Store. It’s sort of like a preview model for Surface Phone and it’s expected to hit in time for the holiday season.

Other Benefits of Upgrading to Windows 10

There are tons of other advantages to upgrading your device to Windows 10, such as a better desktop experience, faster boot time (especially with an SSD), native security with Windows Defender, the ability to use Cortana for a host of functions, DirectX 12 graphics technology, UWP apps and so on.

You’ve hopefully decided to get off the fence after learning about these benefits, so if you’re ready to upgrade, just head over to Microsoft’s Accessibility page linked below to get the free Windows 10 upgrade. This version is for assistive technology users, but Microsoft has defined that in such a broad way that even if you use keyboard shortcuts like copy-paste, you’ll technically eligible for the free upgrade.

Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

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