The Real Reason Windows is Free - And what that costs you!

Dave's Garage • April 18, 2025

Dave's Garage

@davesgarage

About

Windows History, Windows vs Linux Comparisons, Arduino Project Tutorials, Shop Projects, ESP32 Information, and more in Dave's Garage. With DIY info and practical step-by-step tutorials. From hobbyist to engineer, everyone is welcome!

Latest Posts

PT4M

Shipping a Mainframe Was a Mistake - Why You Don't Drop a Mainframe!

Dave's Garage1 month ago

40989

PT4M

Let's Create a Commodore C64 BASIC Interpreter in VSCode!

Dave's Garage1 month ago

71009

PT4M

Microsoft “Improved” Notepad. I Un-Improved It.

Dave's Garage1 month ago

PT4M

How AMD Stole Intel’s Future: The Untold x86-64 Story

Dave's Garage2 months ago

Video Description

🚀 Ever wondered why Windows 10 was given away for free? Join Dave Plummer, a retired Microsoft engineer from the MS-DOS and Windows 95 era, as he dives into the real reasons behind Microsoft’s bold move. From declining PC sales and Windows 8’s backlash to the rise of free macOS and Linux, discover how market pressures and Satya Nadella’s vision transformed Windows into a service. Uncover the hidden costs—telemetry, ads, and a shift to subscriptions—and what it means for you. Don’t miss this deep dive into Microsoft’s strategy! Subscribe for more tech insights from Dave’s Garage! #Windows10 #Microsoft #TechHistory

The Real Reason Windows is Free - And what that costs you!

Dave's Garage

About

Latest Posts

Shipping a Mainframe Was a Mistake - Why You Don't Drop a Mainframe!

Let's Create a Commodore C64 BASIC Interpreter in VSCode!

Microsoft “Improved” Notepad. I Un-Improved It.

How AMD Stole Intel’s Future: The Untold x86-64 Story

Video Description

You May Also Like

Essential Windows Upgrade Kit

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Laptop 2024 14” WUXGA 1920 x 1200 Touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 12-core, Intel Graphics, 32GB DDR5, 512GB SSD, Backlit KB, FP, Wi-Fi 6E, 5.0MP + IR Camera, Windows 10 Pro

Lenovo 2024 ThinkPad Laptop 14&quot; WUXGA 1920 x 1200 Intel Core Ultra 7 155U 12-Core Intel Graphics 32GB DDR5 512GB SSD Wi-Fi 6E Windows 10 Pro Backlit KB 5.0MP + IR Camera Touchscreen FP Thunderbolt 4

Industrial Mini PC, KINUPUTE Fanless Desktop Computer Core i7-5500U 2.4-3.0GHz, Windows 10 Pro, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 2xNICs, 6xCOM RS232, 4xUSB 3.0, HDMI/VGA Ports, Full Metal Case

Lenovo Thinkpad E16 Gen 1 16&quot; WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Touchscreen Laptop - Intel Core i7-1355U (10 Core) Processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 Pro - Black (21JN003XUS)

Dell UltraSharp 24 Monitor - U2424H

Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 27&quot; 4K UHD WLED LCD Monitor - 16:9 - Black, Silver EPEAT

Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse, 2.4GHz with USB Mini Receiver, 12-Month Battery Life, 1000 DPI Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop - Black

Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad, HTPC Keyboard for PC-connected TV, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, Tablet - Black

Logitech G203 Wired Gaming Mouse, 8,000 DPI, Rainbow Optical Effect LIGHTSYNC RGB, 6 Programmable Buttons, On-Board Memory, Screen Mapping, PC/Mac Computer and Laptop Compatible - Black

Logitech G203 Wired Gaming Mouse, 8,000 DPI, Rainbow Optical Effect LIGHTSYNC RGB, 6 Programmable Buttons, On-Board Memory, Screen Mapping, PC/Mac Computer and Laptop Compatible - Black

Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

CORSAIR iCUE Link XD5 RGB Elite LCD Pump-Reservoir Unit - D5 PWM Pump - 480x480 IPS LCD Screen - 22 Addressable RGB LEDs - 440ml Nylon Reservoir - White

CORSAIR iCUE Link XC7 RGB Elite CPU Water Block - Transparent Flow Chamber - 24 RGB LEDs - Fits Intel® LGA 1700, AMD® AM5 and Older - White

CORSAIR Hydro X Series iCUE Link XH405i Custom Cooling Kit – Hardline Water Cooling Loop – XC7 Elite CPU Water Block – XD5 Elite D5 Pump Res – XR5 360mm Radiator – 3X QX120 RGB Fans

CORSAIR iCUE Link XD5 RGB Elite LCD Pump-Reservoir Unit - D5 PWM Pump - 480x480 IPS LCD Screen - 22 Addressable RGB LEDs - 440ml Nylon Reservoir - White

CORSAIR iCUE Link XC7 RGB Elite CPU Water Block - Transparent Flow Chamber - 24 RGB LEDs - Fits Intel® LGA 1700, AMD® AM5 and Older - White

CORSAIR Hydro X Series iCUE Link XH405i Custom Cooling Kit – Hardline Water Cooling Loop – XC7 Elite CPU Water Block – XD5 Elite D5 Pump Res – XR5 360mm Radiator – 3X QX120 RGB Fans

Corsair MP600 Elite 4TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD for PS5 – Included Heatsink – M.2 2280 – Up to 7,000MB/sec Sequential Read – High-Density 3D TLC NAND – White

Western Digital 2TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5&quot;/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - WDS200T3B0A

DreamQuest Mini PC Win11 Pro,Intel N95 (Up to 3.4GHz) 16GB RAM 512GB SSD, Mini Desktop Computers with 2xType-C(10GB/s) /4xUSB 3.2/Dual LAN/4K Dual HDMI Display/WiFi 5+BT5 for Home Office Use

KAMRUI Hyper H2 Mini PC, i5-14450HX Processor Mini Gaming PC (Up to 4.8GHz, 10C/16T), 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Mini Desktop Computers, Triple 4K Display 6*USB3.2, USB-C, HDMI, DP, WiFi6, BT5.2, Office Home Global Recycled Standard

Mini PC, Intel Twin Lake N150 (Beat N100/N95, up to 3.6GHz), 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Dual LAN, Mini Desktop Computers Windows 11, 4K Triple Display, Type-C/WiFi 6/BT5.2/Micro PC for Home Office Business

C4 Mini PC 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 3550H Mini Desktop Computer (Beat N150/N100/N95) Dual 1000Mbps NIC LAN, 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Micro PC, WiFi 5, BT 5.0, Triple Display, PC for Home Theater, Office

Portable Air Conditioners, wobuzhi Evaporative Air Cooler with LCD Screen, Fan Speed&amp;Spray, 7 RGB Lights,USB Powered,1-8H Timer, Personal Air Conditioners, Portable Air Conditioners for Home Office

llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad with Powerful Turbofan Gaming Cooler Radiator with Infinitely Variable Speed, Touch Control, LCD Screen, 3-Port USB Hub, Seal Foam for Notebook Computer 15-19in

MSI MAG CORELIQUID A15 240 - AIO ARGB CPU Liquid Cooler - 240mm Radiator - AM5, LGA 1851 Ready - Dual 120mm ARGB PWM Fans, Black

MSI MAG Coreliquid A13 360 - AIO ARGB CPU Liquid Cooler - 360mm Radiator - LGA 1851 Ready - Triple 120mm ARGB PWM Fans, Black

KAMRUI Hyper H1 Mini PC W-11 Pro, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Processor (up to 4.7GHz), Mini Desktop Computers with 32GB RAM 512GB M.2 SSD, Micro Computer Support 4K UHD for Home Server Business Office Global Recycled Standard

BOSGAME P5 Pro Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Mini Gaming PC, 32GB DDR5 512GB SSD Desktops Computer, Quad Display, Dual USB 4.0 &amp; HDMI, 2.5G RJ45 LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2

GEEKOM A8 Max Mini PC (Ultimate Performance), AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (Advanced Computing), Dual LAN Mini Desktop, 16GB DDR5 RAM &amp; 1TB SSD, Radeon 780M Graphics, Windows 11 Pro, USB4, 8K Support

GMKtec Mini PC Gaming, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U (8C/16T 4.70Ghz) Radeon 680M Desktop Computer Dual NIC LAN 2.5G, 16GB DDR5 +512GB SSD, Dual USB4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C M7 Ultra Global Recycled Standard

MSI Gaming RTX 5070 Ti 16G Gaming Trio OC Graphics Card (16GB GDDR7, 256-bit, Extreme Performance: 2580, DisplayPort x 3 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b, NVIDIA Blackwell Architecture)

LG UltraWide 34WP65C-B 34 Inch 21:9 Curved FreeSync 1ms 160 Hz WQHD(3440 x 1440) Gaming Monitor, Black

Lg gram 16-inch +View Portable Monitor with USB Type-C, DCI-P3 99% (Typ.), Auto Rotate, Two-Way Supported Folio Cover

StanbyME LG 27-Inch Class Smart Portable Touch Screen Monitor 27ART10AKPL. Built-in 3 Hour Battery, Full Swivel Rotation, Rollable. LG Stanbyme, Standbyme, Stand by me.

LG 24U411A-B 23.8&quot; FHD (1920x1080) IPS Display Computer Monitor, 120Hz Refresh Rate, sRGB 99% (Typ.), USB-C, Reader Mode &amp; Flicker Safe, Dynamic Action Sync, Black Stabilizer, Slim Stand Base, Black

Loading...

Lenovo 2024 ThinkPad Laptop 14" WUXGA 1920 x 1200 Intel Core Ultra 7 155U 12-Core Intel Graphics 32GB DDR5 512GB SSD Wi-Fi 6E Windows 10 Pro Backlit KB 5.0MP + IR Camera Touchscreen FP Thunderbolt 4

Lenovo Thinkpad E16 Gen 1 16" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Touchscreen Laptop - Intel Core i7-1355U (10 Core) Processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 Pro - Black (21JN003XUS)

Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 27" 4K UHD WLED LCD Monitor - 16:9 - Black, Silver EPEAT

Western Digital 2TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - WDS200T3B0A

Portable Air Conditioners, wobuzhi Evaporative Air Cooler with LCD Screen, Fan Speed&Spray, 7 RGB Lights,USB Powered,1-8H Timer, Personal Air Conditioners, Portable Air Conditioners for Home Office

BOSGAME P5 Pro Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Mini Gaming PC, 32GB DDR5 512GB SSD Desktops Computer, Quad Display, Dual USB 4.0 & HDMI, 2.5G RJ45 LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2

GEEKOM A8 Max Mini PC (Ultimate Performance), AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (Advanced Computing), Dual LAN Mini Desktop, 16GB DDR5 RAM & 1TB SSD, Radeon 780M Graphics, Windows 11 Pro, USB4, 8K Support

LG 24U411A-B 23.8" FHD (1920x1080) IPS Display Computer Monitor, 120Hz Refresh Rate, sRGB 99% (Typ.), USB-C, Reader Mode & Flicker Safe, Dynamic Action Sync, Black Stabilizer, Slim Stand Base, Black