timppu: Wasn't the upgrade (from Windows 7 or 8 to 10) free for pretty much everyone? At least it was for me, I am eligible even for the (free) Windows 10 Pro version for this old laptop where I use Windows 7 and Linux Mint side by side instead. :) I also recall activating the free Windows 10 on several of my friends' Windows 7 or 8 PCs as well.
scientiae: The hardware died and new retail computers are not available to purchase with an obsolete OS. (Actually, by the time the entry-level PC dies almost all the components are obsolete, too, even if the motherboard still works, certainly the peripherals make upgrading the motherboard necessary.) I suppose I could buy a PC without an OS, but that would require more effort configuring than I have to give to this sort of haberdashery.
I still have pristine copies of WinXP and Win7 (still in shrinkwrap) which I am planning to deploy (at some point) as multi-boot partitions for older games that hate Windoze 10.
timppu: Also as far as I've understood, just installing Windows 10 (with e.g. the MS Media Creation Tool) and never activating it doesn't really block you from any important features or functionality, mainly just some "can't change the wallpaper" kind of cosmetic stuff. And it doesn't even nag that much, just keeping some watermark on the wallpaper that Windows is not activated.
Whether it will also stay that way forever, who knows. Maybe MS cares less nowadays about the money it gets from license sales of Windows 10 Home, as long as as many users as possible are using it. Maybe there is a bit of push also because there are free alternatives too, like Linux, or how Google doesn't charge for Android (I think?).
Maybe MS has already decided that Azure is their future bread and butter anyway, for the most part.
scientiae: I don't know about others but one of my main gripes with Win10 is the touch-screen interface. I don't have a touch screen; I don't want a touch screen; I use keyboard commands (much quicker and easier to memorize and more reliable instruction to the device) whereas Win10 is built around poking the viewing area with oversized pointing implements (multiple fingers or a separate stylus) that make fine motor skills optional.
As for Azure I think you are correct. (We should give them an
award for tautology, since they have "Available regions", as distinct from "Availability Zones available" and those that have only been "announced".)
I notice the latest smart televisions have Android OS installed. I can't wait until my tv tells me I am not authorized to use it. /sarcasm ;P
edit: syntax
What are these mythological “ older games that hate Windoze 10.”, as I have not found any that do not work with win 10, with patches, tweaking etc. You need to do any any platform.
If you don’t like the interface of win 10, use openshell. I have not had any issue with using keyboard and mouse with win 10.
Not saying win 10 is without issues, and if you are not on pro then you will have far more issues, but mostly it’s no different to win 7 once you install a few things, and has very little compatibility issues outside admirably not supporting old drm systems.