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Nick Statt/CNET
Editors’ note, July 27, 2015: This post was updated to reflect information from recent Microsoft announcements and events.
Microsoft has been busy detailing the next version of its operating system, Windows 10, for the past few months. Here’s everything you need to know about picking up the next version of Windows:
Pricing and release information
Windows 10 will be available on July 29 as a free upgrade (for the first year of availability) to existing Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users. To learn how you can reserve your free copy of Windows 10, check out CNET’s guide for more details.
Those of you who are interested in building your own PC can pick up an individual Windows 10 license. A copy of Windows 10 Home will retail for $119, while Windows 10 Pro will run $199. To upgrade from Windows 10 Home to the Pro edition at a later time, a Windows 10 Pro Pack will be available for $99.
Technical Preview
For those looking to live on the bleeding edge and get a feel for the new features, you can sign up to become a member of the Insider program and put the Windows 10 Technical Preview through its paces.
Live from Microsoft’s Windows 10 event (pictures)
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You can sign up for said program by visiting the Insider website and logging in using an appropriate Microsoft account. After accepting the terms for the program, you’re walked through the download process for the Windows 10 preview.
New builds are released on a semi-regular basis, adding both new features and fixing issues discovered and reported by fellow Insider users. If installing the latest Windows 10 build via flash drive is your thing, then let CNET’s Rick Broida be your guide with this handy tutorial. Keep in mind, even after Windows 10 is officially released.
The Insider program will continue after the official release, allowing users who prefer to vet future features and troubleshoot issues continue to do just that.
