I have zero nags or reminders.  I'm happily oblivious to all on my prime system still running MS's best OS [7].

It's likely to be a cold day in hell before this one goes to 10 ...

The proggy I used was "Never 10" which clearly worked.

Along with those win 7 'updates' [about 4 of them] that were permanently 'hidden'.

I don't get anything like a 'reminder' to upgrade/whatever .... just the 'usual' Win 7 updates as expected.

If/when 7 is no longer getting security updates I'm sure that best-practices will keep me secure enough anyway.

I have other machines I can use if I want to 'enjoy' the pain that is win 10 ...

This wasn't directed at me, but I don't think you have to worry about that. MS operates similar to Google now. They target all users inclusive poor users in India and other places with even lower income.

Google lets handset makers make official Google backed Android phones if they include Google Play services. The agreement is that all handsets from the handset maker must include Google Play services. That's why no Android handset maker dares to make an Android phone without Google Play services. Because then they would never be allowed to make a phone which uses Google Play services. Google wants data and users so it doesn't drive costs higher than even the poorest can afford. Google has even released special low-bandwidth Android phones for those who have a hard time paying for data consumption.

Microsoft is very similar to Google. It wants Windows 10 everywhere. I don't think devices with screen size under 10" even require a license fee. Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi is free.

So I would be willing to bet the farm (luckily I have no farm), that we won't see Windows subscription in the consumer space.

What can happen in the next decade is that Windows 10 may come with "S mode" by default on new computers. Today it's free to unlock "S mode" computers, but I think MS will start charging $50+ for unlocking "real Windows" once the Windows 7 userbase is small enough. But that will only apply to new computers. You can freely use Windows 10 on existing hardware until Windows 10 doesn't support your hardware anymore.

Subscription would be counter productive for Microsoft. They have a Store with software they want to sell, but right now half the userbase is on Windows 7 and another 100 million or so are using Windows 8.1 and even XP.

If a lower cost option like Linux would become a threat (like it was on netbooks ten years ago), Microsoft simply gives Windows away for free. It's about market dominance, not about extracting the last dollar from poor people.

If you can afford roof over your head, water and bread, you'll be able to afford Windows too. What Microsoft has done with Windows 10 is the opposite of what Apple has done with macOS which is clearly aimed at rich users (who don't care about hardware).

I think the oligarchs are happy with this setup:

Apple - Premium

Google - Mainstream (mobile)

Linux - Hobbyist

Microsoft - Mainstream

I expect Microsoft to lose users because not all Windows 7 users will make the jump to 10. But in essence what you see above is what it will look like for the foreseeable future.

Finally a bit of that 'common sense' [elusive as it is]...

In the past I subscribed to Technet ... which was a yearly fee....and that gave me SEVERAL licences to all sorts of MS OS and Apps - far more economically than buying them one at a time retail.  But even that was not really for the every-day user/consumer...

To be honest, I doubt very much that Stardock would ever develop its customisation products for MacOS.  I'm not saying it won't ever happen, but at this time I do think it is rather unlikely. Thing is, if Micronut goes down the toilet, who knows what'll happen.

Apart from 3 Windows based PCs I also have a MacMini that I'd like to customise with Stardock apps, but I do recall somebody saying a while ago that Stardock apps would only be made for Windows.

I'd also like to see Stardock products developed for Linux Ubuntu and Mint, but I won't hold my breath.  Regardless of what happens with this Windows subscription thing, however, I will be running 2 Win 8.1 machines with the must-have ObjectDesktop installed to get my customisation fix, then Linux Ubuntu and/or Mint on my 3rd rig if/when I have to ditch Win 10 on it.

Now that I find disgusting, selling Win 10 in stores yet still trying to push it on Win 7/8.1 users for free.  I mean, they wouldn't be pushing it on 'stubborn' Win 7/8.1 users at a cost, now would they. 

That'd be unethical... but then, this is Micronut we're talking about.  

The 'Window' in 'Windowblinds' is the exact-same 'Window' as in 'Microsoft Windows..

The site's Forums from which you are posting is 'Wincustomize.com'.  The 'Win' in 'Wincustomize' is the same 'Win' as in 'Microsoft Windows'.

It's a pretty sure bet that the answer will be 'no'.

Apple could spend a penny of their ONE TRILLION DOLLARS on developing a sense of style and creativity/artistry themselves....

With that kind of success expect more dongles...

To their credit there seem to be nice improvements to Finder in "Mojave".

And with this program desktop sanity isn't far away...

https://brawersoftware.com/products/ubar

Only one problem to solve, their hardware or lack thereof. Try buying an Apple desktop PC without a screen baked in... Oh, I forgot, there's the Mac Mini from 2014 still on the shelves with the same 2014 price tag attached to it. Did someone say Apple and Microsoft are competing or do they make ads just for fun?

At least MacBooks and Surface devices compete to some degree, another reason subscription won't come to consumer Windows.

I think Windows will be mostly Cloud-based before consumer subscription. If you can stream games you can stream a desktop OS, right? When hardware is only a cheap terminal, a subscription service actually makes sense.

Yes, absolutely!  I haven't used my MacMini in a while due to other stuff going on, but I plan to set it up later today to have a look at the Ubar app that Anotherside linked to.  It looks very interesting indeed.  However, Apple itself, not could, but should develop apps to allow its users to customise their desktops easily and quickly.... and with a trillion in the bank, Apple could well afford to make those apps free... or at least VERY inexpensive.

There ya go, thinking like Satya Nadella and entertaining the prospect of Windows as a subscription service.  Thing is, we have various tech writers giving their opinions as to why Win 10 will become a subscription service, and others as to why not, and that, to a large extent confuses and clouds the issue.

Frankly, I don't take too much stock in what these writers say.  No, I look at Microsoft and past examples of its behaviour, and it's there that I see the Windows subscription service becoming a reality.  For example, Office was never ever a subscription service, and now it is.  My sister is a Microsoft Digital Image Pro owner, and she was recently contacted with regard to a subscription for that, and was she interested.  She wasn't!

As for Windows becoming 'cloud' based, well there's the perfect way to make it a subscription service... "you pay a monthly fee and we stream it"  I don't like that idea, either.  While I currently have ample internet speed to stream most anything, I may not when I move back to Tasmania. Then 'streamed' Windows could very well be useless to me.

In any event, I believe Windows as a subscription service is inevitable... it may not happen overnight, but it will happen.

Sometimes I play the devil's advocate... I think we are on the same page, it's just the time-frame that differs. I don't believe we'll see Windows as a consumer subscription within ten years. It's important to understand that Microsoft wants as many as possible to use Windows 10. If people ditch Windows 10 because they can't afford it then that's a huge failure for Microsoft.

If you try the Ubar program it would be interesting to know what you think. I have used docks and they are pretty, but for "getting things done" I prefer a taskbar.

And what's worse is that so many [gov't and non-gov't] are looking into your personal information.... even when they say they don't... or trade/give it to other agencies [gov't and non-gov't]

There is NO such thing as anonymity or privacy on the internet... even when they say they respect your privacy and/or anonymity.  The main aim of online companies, bar a few, is to beg, borrow AND steal whatever to make a profit.... entitled to it or not.  In most cases, because the identities used to beg, borrow and steal are NOT theirs, they're NOT entitled, just financially and legally more powerful.