Looks like Windows 10 will be a free upgrade.

Had this email in my inbox this morning. Talking about W10

Windows 10: Microsoft aims for Windows everywhere | The Download Blog - CNET Download.com

 

I've been running the beta 10 since it came out. I use Windows 8.1 on a daily basis and have no issues, but I use it 100% in desktop mode versus tablet mode because I hated how you had to switch between apps and the desktop and got confused if I should install an app versus install the desktop app. With Windows 10, the metro screen apps are included in the start menu. The new notification bar/panel/action center that's coming and not available to us beta users yet is very informative. Lots of great things coming with Windows 10 and welcome the free upgrade. The other great feature of including Cortana and Project Spartan to allow you to annotate right on a webpage will be great for tablet users as well, but will have to wait to play with those.

Like anything we do on an enterprise level as a best practice, even though the only way to get 10 is to upgrade your existing OS, with that being said, the best experience will come from a fresh install of Window 7/8 and then upgrading to 10. Like everything I've ever tried to upgrade in the past, upgrading an existing OS will have its issues. Slowness, more problems than not, etc, etc. Start fresh to get the best user-experience!

 

I have win7. it works very well. RESIST CHANGE

 

They can have my XP Pro when they pry it from my cold, dead, laptop.