Pricing and system requirements
Microsoft surprised everyone when it announced that it would be giving away Windows 10 for free (specifically for existing Windows 7 and 8 users). It showed that, for once, it was more interested in getting people to use Windows than it was in forcing people to pay for yet another upgrade. Instead, Microsoft made it clear that it was far more important to actually get people on Windows 10, which would make it a more viable platform for developers, as well as a gateway to its many online services. Windows 10 is more than a piece of retail software; it's the basis of Microsoft's future Windows empire.
After that first year, Windows 10 Home will cost $120, while the Pro version will go for $200. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft ends up extending its free offer even further though, especially if Windows 10 really ends up taking off. As usual, the Home version of Windows 10 is the one meant for most consumers, while the Pro version adds advanced features like Active Directory support. There are also editions meant for enterprise users and schools, and of course we'll see it hit mobile devices later this fall. (Side note: Microsoft also removed Windows Media Center in Windows 10, so be prepared for that shocker if you actually used it.)
As far as basic requirements go, Windows 10 is pretty much the same as Windows 8: You'll need at least a 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM (2GB for the 64-bit version), as well as 16/20GB of free hard drive space for the 32-bit/64-bit editions. Basically, just about anyone can run Windows 10. You can't buy a computer these days that doesn't meet those specs.
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