14 DAY TRIAL // We already knew that Windows 10 is going to be offered free of charge to users running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 on their devices, but a post that Microsoft rolled out the last weekend seemed to extend this promo to everyone participating to the Windows Insider program.
In just a few words, Microsoft said in an official post that Windows 10 insiders, meaning those who are running preview builds and are using a Windows Insider account, would get the RTM version of the operating system free of charge. More, Microsoft said, this copy of Windows 10 will be activated so they won't have to pay to use the new OS.
Then, the company changed the original announcement and pointed out that the offer was only available for consumers with a genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 copy, which again led to more confusion among insiders.
Obviously, it was really hard to say whether Windows 10 would be free for insiders or not, but in a short statement published on Sunday, Gabriel Aul, head of the Windows Insider program, says that all insiders using the Microsoft account they introduced when registering for the program would get the final bits at no charge.
This time, however, Aul mentions nothing about activation, so while insiders could be offered the RTM bits at no cost, there's still no confirmation whether this copy of Windows 10 would be activated or not.
Why so much confusion?
For Microsoft enthusiasts, the poor choice of words that the company is using for this announcement is the biggest dilemma, especially because Gabriel Aul could have said it clearly that installing Windows 10 preview builds and using a Microsoft account would bring you a fully free and activated copy of the operating system.
Some say it's because of legal issues and Microsoft's lawyers themselves made changes to the original announcement, but there's certainly a better way to tell insiders if they can get a free copy of Windows 10 or not.
In the meantime, one thing is for sure: Windows 10 will be free for those with a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, so if you have one of those, you're on the lucky side.
@ZacB_ @joebelfiore Yes, as long as running a prerelease build connected with registered MSA: http://t.co/vlaGyfwzbr
— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) June 21, 2015