Windows 10: an update rab that does not convince anyone

It is a group shot that has reached its target. Many consumer defense organizations have recently sounded the alarm about the upcoming abandonment of Windows 10 by Microsoft. And just days after the rain of petitions and open letters for Microsoft, the software giant came back And promised that the extended security updates would really remain free until 2026.

Unfortunately, the conditions to take advantage of these updates are still too unsatisfactory according to many specialists in the issue.

Lots of small conditions

First of all, this only concerns European users. The rest of the world will be deprived of these free updates unless you go through the program specially set up by Microsoft and which requires delivering certain data to the software giant. Second, connection to a Microsoft account will be compulsory to continue to receive updates until 2026. If the approach itself is not too restrictive, it is still in a new way for Microsoft to force the connection of a computer to the cloud. A practice Already largely assumed within the company. And finally, professional licenses are not affected.

A collection of small obstacles that does not seem to delight those who have campaigned for a compromise from Microsoft. If Euroconsumers, the association has folded the giant, considers itself “satisfied“The effort made, it still emphasizes that this remains the minimum union, since linking the availability of update to a data sharing agreement could be contrary to the provisions of the Digital Markets Acts, Large European law supervising GAFAM practices. Ditto for stopover in planned obsolescence (HOP) which considers in the columns of humanity that “It remains a sign that we can win“While regretting that the conditions of access”are not clear“.

A simple “snooze button”

Microsoft’s commitment time also tickles the associations that had mobilized in this case. The “bonus” of updates offered to European Internet users is just one “One -year snooze button“, asserts the European collective Right to repair. The CAP is always to require updates “Until 2030“, As Hop also asked.”A short-termist measure does not meet the requirements of what consumer can expect from a product still so widely used“Complete Euroconsumers.

In order not to fix anything, many voices also denounce Microsoft’s precipitation to put Windows 10 retired. “”Updates stops only 4 years after the release of Windows 11“Underlines Euroconsumers. For comparison, Windows 7 remained viable for 8 years after release of Windows 8 and Windows XP 7 years after the Vista. Already used across the Atlantic by an individual who decided to drag Microsoft in justice on the pretext that the firm “uses its dominant position on the operating systems market to reach a dominant position in the generative AI market“. The Microsoft AI is indeed integrated into Windows 11.

Of “smoking”?

A few days before the announcement of the extension of updates, the company had also replied to the French coalition “No to the Windows 10” tax “ by putting forward Other methods to take advantage of free updates. A position close to “smoking“For hop that requires”more visibility and clarification on this commitment“And denounce”A blatant lack of communication from Microsoft“On the subject.”The company continues to promote new PCs“Regrets Julie Caillard, in charge of advocacy at HOP.

The company’s Louvoyments on the subject are also in the viewfinder of Right to Repair. The association says “that less that Microsoft clearly informs the general public of this change of policy, millions of users and users will continue to think that they need a new computer, as Microsoft’s marketing suggests it“. Looking at the future, Euroconsumers judges that”The repeated stop of software management cycles may condition users and users to renew their devices prematurely “and to” lose confidence in the reconditioned products“.

More generally, Hop and Right to Repair requires legislative development to avoid new cases of premature software obsolescence like this. “”We should not have to fight against each company, for each device […] We need solid and easily applicable law to guarantee long -term software management“. Everything seems to point to a return of the same fight in 12 months.

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