The company originally planned to end the promotion on December 31, 2017. However, in its post, Microsoft says it wants the Windows 10 Pro path open for longer. So, the company has extended it to March 31, 2018. “For those that find they need an application that isn’t yet available in the Store and must be installed from another source, we’re extending the ability to switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro for free until March 31, 2018. We hope this provides increased flexibility for those people searching for the perfect back-to-school or holiday gift.” After announcing Windows 10 S in May, Microsoft confirmed it will allow users to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free. This was a logical move because it would mean the new Surface Laptop would be available to business users, as well as education ones. While the closing date of the promotion has been extended, the terms remain the same. This means when the deadline passes, customers will be charge $49 if they want to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. Microsoft also previously introduced a path back to Windows 10 S. This was for users who upgraded to Pro, but possibly changed their mind.
Windows 10 S
The newest version of Windows 10 was launched in May. It is an education-focused OS that leaves a lighter footprint than the normal platform. For example, it runs applications that are available in the Windows Store exclusively, which Microsoft says improves security and means better performance for modest hardware. The company released its Office apps on the Store to sweeten the deal. Windows 10 S was created to be a direct rival to Google’s Chrome OS-powered Chromebooks. Microsoft argues the Chrome OS has severe limitations, like a reliance on always being. The company debuted Windows 10 S to give customers what it thinks is a more complete choice. Like Chromebooks, devices running Windows 10 S can be affordable, but the software offers more. It does not need to be connected and can run full (32-bit) desktop applications.
