Windows 8 (later 8.1) has struggled to capture the interest of PC owners, but now Microsoft appears ready to make them an offer they can't refuse: a free upgrade. The company may be working on a version of Windows 8.1, which currently starts at $119.99, that costs very little or nothing to install.
There's a catch of course. This specific version of Windows, rumored to be called "Windows 8.1 With Bing," would have deeper hooks into Microsoft services than your typical Surface tablet. The details aren't known, but presumably the general idea would be akin to Amazon's Kindles With Special Offers, which display ads on the device's screensaver and sometimes at the bottom of the screen.
[seealso slug="dual-boot-windows-8"]
Does that mean a Windows 8.1 With Bing machine would display Bing ads on the Start screen? Maybe. Or perhaps the OS wouldn't let you change the default search engine in Internet Explorer. It will be a delicate balance for Microsoft to steer users strongly toward its services while also providing the degree of user-driven customization that's generally expected with a PC.
That's probably why the company is treating the software as an experiment, as ZDNet reports. Microsoft has treaded this line before, providing Windows XP and 7 "Starter" editions -- versions sold to PC manufacturers at a much lower licensing fee than full Windows. The starter editions had an extremely stripped-down set of features from Windows proper, lacking even the ability to change the desktop background.
Screenshots of Windows 8.1 With Bing leaked on Wzor.net. The images, if genuine, don't reveal much about the compromises that the supposedly low-cost OS will impose upon customers, although the system profile notes there is limited touchscreen support, for just eight touch points (full Windows 8.1 supports ten).
Are you a Windows 8/8.1 holdout? Would a zero-cost version finally persuade you to take the plunge? Or is there something more fundamental about the experience that is holding you back?
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