To understand this, you have to understand that W10 will have multiple editions, each requiring a ‘service branch’ all of its own.
“There are going to be three Windows 10 servicing branches when the product launches: Current Branch (CB), Current Branch for Business (CBB) and Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB). Different versions of Windows 10 will give users access to different servicing branches.” – Mary Jo Foley
You should read her article linked in her name (also below), because I’m not going to ‘scrape’ her article, nor use extensive quoting. Just know there’s another branch: the ‘Long term service branch’ (the Long Term Servicing Branch, unique to Enterprise devices, allows users to only install security updates and defer any new features).
What it boils down to is this: W10 Home will have to accept (‘Current Branch’) all new features, fixes and updates MS pushes through Windows Update. They will be tested by MS and a public crew of selected testers before they’re pushed. However there’ll be no deferring nor choosing. You don’t accept? It might very well mean voiding your warranty and not receiving further updates.
W10 Pro will have two ‘service branches’: The ‘Current Branch (CB)’ or ‘Current Branch for Business (CBB)’. If CB is chosen, same rules as W10 Home. ‘CBB’ will be able to choose updating through Windows Update, through Windows Update for Business or through Windows Server Update Services. The Windows update for Business will allow Admins more control over how and when they deliver the fixes, patches and new features, but for how long, it’s not clear. In other words, they’ll have a longer leash, but the leash will be there, have no doubt.
The inherent stratification of rights over your own computer and what will go on it is clear.
However, I’d really like to know why MS thinks it has the right to pull this? Oh yeah. The license/OEM agreements. You continue to be a commodity, and commodities have no say, not that we have much of any now.
Also, it’s not clear if you’ll be paying a monthly fee to maintain the privilege of being in this “agreement”. Agreement…lol….and if you don’t pay? You’d better have learned Linux, because I’m betting that if you don’t pay 3 months in a row, your OS will work only in the most basic way.
Also unclear is to what degree they’ll allow you to customize your OS (as to skinning the UI), and if folks know, they aren’t talking. I’m glad SD mitigated MS’s screw-ups, but as to W10, who knows?
All this stuff is “informed rumor” at this stage, but with all the smoke, there’s got to be fire somewhere.
This Windows 8 –> Windows 10 thing started as a disaster, and continues down the same track, if for different reasons. “Resistance is futile”.
Not really: Resistance is Linux…and it’s looking better and better to me.
Sources:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/piecing-together-the-windows-as-a-service-puzzle-for-windows-10/
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/05/15/windows-10-home-and-pro-automatic-updates-could-become-mandatory/?_m=3n%2e0038%2e1609%2ehj0ao01hy5%2e1o42