Microsoft has announced that it will offer Windows 7 and 8 users a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it is released later this year.
The free upgrade will be available for 12 months after the release of Windows 10, as Microsoft has decided that it is more important to get the greatest number of people using Windows 10 as quickly as possible than to squeeze a few more dollars out of their existing customers.
Apple has long offered free upgrades to its OSX operating system, and it results in them having fewer legacy installs to support and has the bonus of keeping users happy that they are still being cared for after their purchase.
A free upgrade from Windows 8 had long been expected, but with many users, especially in the corporate environment, keeping with Windows 7 rather than face the headache of the MetroUI, Microsoft has decided that it would be best to offer the free upgrade to Windows 7 users as well.
Now Windows XP is no longer supported (and very, very old), and Windows 7 and 8 with free upgrades to Windows 10, much of the Windows userbase should be using the latest version within the first few months of its launch, making the OS more attractive to developers.