MS potentially locking down windows

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/3/16968024/microsoft-windows-10-s-mode-editions-features

Thoughts?

It'll mostly be on Microsoft-branded hardware. So long as 3rd-party hardware have the non-S version, I don't care. Plus, the OS can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro through Microsoft for "a one-time fee of" $49.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/03/windows-10-s-microsoft-faster-pc-comparison

That's a better deal than what I got with my 2010 netbook. It came with Windows 7 Starter. To get Windows 7 Home Premium, I had to pay full price.

Microsoft is switching its approach to Windows 10 S, its new version of Windows that’s designed to compete with Chrome OS.

Doesn't affect gamers or productivity users so I don't care.

Looks like Microsoft is targeting "casuals" and temporary educational users (i.e. people that don't own the computer, only use it) to pad their numbers.

I smell an awkward, unnecessary, and draconian measure coming...

"Oh, well, 60+% of people were happy with Windows 10 'S-mode' so we can move to a more secure version for everyone"

Meh, you should care a little bit. Might migrate over to gamers and productivity users eventually. Change occurs slowly, sometimes imperceptibly. You might boot up Windows one day to find you have to pay extra to use non-MS programs and such.

UPDATE on this: https://www.pcauthority.com.au/news/microsoft-will-reportedly-replace-windows-10-s-with-s-mode-484640

It's just going to be a MODE for Windows so you can choose which one you want to use.

There should be no fees to get out of S mode. That is unacceptable.

I agree, but I'm guessing it's depending on the device it comes with.

There will be low resource devices with S Mode enabled.

That's how they'll lose all those customers. MS isn't about to lose its entire corporate and gaming user base (the former of which is its core customer) to sell more apps from its store. It doesn't make any business sense, so it's not going to happen.