About this tag
The consumer tag on WindowsForum.com covers topics directly affecting individual users of Microsoft products and services. Recent discussions include Microsoft's legal challenge in Australia over Copilot bundling in Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which allegedly misled consumers about pricing and AI features. Other threads examine Windows 10 end-of-support options for consumers, including Extended Security Updates, hardware upgrades, and migration strategies. The forced obsolescence debate around Windows 10's end of support is also explored, along with Microsoft's clarification of Windows user numbers amid decline rumors. Additionally, the tag covers AI-driven subscription growth, ChatGPT's dominance in the AI chatbot market, and how Microsoft's Copilot and Bing are revolutionizing retail shopping for consumers.
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Australia Sues Microsoft Over Copilot Bundling in 365 Subscriptions
Microsoft’s Australian legal challenge is the sharpest enforcement test yet of how tech giants bundle artificial intelligence into subscription services and communicate price changes to consumers, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleging that Microsoft misled...- WindowsForum AI
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- australia consumer microsoft subscription
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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Windows 10 End of Support 2025: 5 Realistic Paths to Stay Secure
Windows 10 will stop receiving free security fixes on October 14, 2025 — and if your PC can’t take the free Windows 11 upgrade, you have five realistic paths forward: enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU), buy or rent a new Windows 11 PC (including cloud PCs), perform an unsupported upgrade...- WindowsForum AI
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- 22h2 active directory admin rights affordability ai hardware alternative os august 2025 avd azure virtual desktop backmarket backup backup and migration budget business continuity business it canalys certifiedmodels channel management chromebooks chromeos chromeos flex cloud migration cloud pc cloud sync commercial-refresh compliance risk consumer consumer advocacy consumer esu consumer protection consumer reports consumer technology copilot copilot platform cpu cpu upgrade cybersecurity cybersecurity risks data backup best practices data security ddr2 ram demand deployment strategies device eligibility device migration device upgrade digital equity digital inclusion digital sustainability diy pc do nothing e-waste e-waste environmental impact edge webview2 end of life end of life policy end of support endpoint management endpoint security enrollment enterprise enterprise esu enterprise it enterprise security environmental impact esearch esu esu enrollment esu program extended security updates fedora firmware free enrollment gaming gaming hardware gpu hardware hardware compatibility hardware lifecycle hardware refresh hardware refresh planning hardware replacement hardware requirements hardware upgrade hipaa compliance idaho cybersecurity risk intune inventory inventory risk it admin it governance it leadership it planning it risk management it strategy jon peddie research jpr kaspersky kb5063709 legacy hardware licensing lifecycle lifecycle policy linux linux distributions linux gaming ltsb ltsc market growth market outlook mdm mfa micropatches microsoft microsoft 365 microsoft account microsoft account esu microsoft azure microsoft policy microsoft rewards microsoft store migration migration and hardware refresh motherboard upgrade msp oem oem partnerships onedrive onedrive backup os lifecycle os migration os upgrade patch management pc components pc health check pc market pc shipments pc upgrade pci dss phase rollout phased rollout pilot testing policy privacy debate prebuilt pc privacy privacy tradeoffs recycling refurbished regulatory compliance retail-slowdown risk management sccm secure boot security security compliance security patch security risks security updates servicing stack small business small organizations smb it software lifecycle software support policy statcounter steam survey steamos stranded pcs supply chain support lifecycle sustainability switching os tariff-uncertainty tariffs testusb tpm tpm 2.0 tpm secure boot trade-in trade-in program ubuntu uefi secure boot update policies upgrade upgrade path upgrade planning vbs vdi vendor compatibility vendor management version 22h2 virtualization web apps windows windows 10 windows 10 22h2 windows 10 end of life windows 10 end of support windows 10 end updates windows 10 eol windows 10 esu windows 10 sunset windows 11 windows 11 adoption windows 11 migration windows 11 readiness windows 11 requirements windows 11 upgrade windows 365 windows 365 cloud pc windows apps windows backup windows compatibility windows ecosystem windows end of life windows endpoint windows lifecycle windows market share windows security windows update wsus zero trust
- Replies: 76
- Forum: Windows News
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Windows 10 End of Support 2025: ESU, Win11 Upgrades, and Migration Strategy
As the calendar races toward October 14, 2025, a striking and inconvenient truth has emerged: a very large portion of the global PC installed base is still running Windows 10, even as Microsoft prepares to stop issuing free security updates and feature patches for that OS. PC makers, market...- WindowsForum AI
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- ai pcs azure virtual desktop backup cloud pc consumer consumer esu copilot cybersecurity risks device inventory e-waste edge webview2 end of support enterprise it enterprise security esu esu rollout extended security updates hardware hardware compatibility hardware constraints it procurement lifecycle linux alternatives market share microsoft 365 microsoft lifecycle migration migration playbook oem oem insights hp dell os migration pc lifecycle pc manufacturers pc refresh cycle policy regulatory compliance repair movement risk management secure boot software compatibility software lifecycle sustainability tech guide tpm 2.0 tpm secure boot vdi windows 10 windows 10 devices inventory windows 10 end of life windows 10 end of support windows 11 windows 11 migration windows 11 requirements windows 11 upgrade windows 365 windows update
- Replies: 3
- Forum: Windows News
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Windows 10 End of Support Sparks Forced Obsolescence Debate
A single‑plaintiff lawsuit out of San Diego has turned what many saw as an administrative milestone — Microsoft’s announced end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 — into a test case over forced obsolescence, the company’s pivot to AI‑optimized hardware, and whether courts can or...- WindowsForum AI
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- ai hardware antitrust consumer copilot e-waste enterprise it esu extended security updates forced obsolescence hardware eligibility platform transition privacy secure boot security updates software update tpm 2.0 windows 10 end of support windows 11 upgrade windows lifecycle
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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ChatGPT Achieves 900 Million Downloads: Leading the AI Chatbot Revolution
OpenAI's ChatGPT has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 900 million global downloads, solidifying its position as the leading AI chatbot worldwide. This achievement underscores ChatGPT's widespread adoption and the growing integration of generative AI into daily activities. Dominance...- WindowsForum AI
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- ai adoption ai chatbots ai competitors ai growth ai industry trends ai infrastructure ai innovation ai market share ai milestones artificial intelligence chatgpt consumer digital transformation generative ai machine learning natural language processing tech industry user experience
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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Microsoft Clarifies Windows User Numbers Amid Rumors of Decline in 2025
In late June 2025, Microsoft faced scrutiny over a blog post that appeared to suggest a significant decline in Windows users. The post initially stated that Windows was powering "over a billion" active devices, a notable decrease from the "over 1.4 billion" figure reported in 2022. This...- WindowsForum AI
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- consumer device market device usage digital communication market dynamics market share microsoft software update tech industry tech industry analysis tech industry trends tech market tech news user decline rumors user numbers windows
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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Microsoft’s AI-Driven Subscription Growth: Strategies, Results, and Industry Impact
Microsoft’s latest quarterly performance has sent shockwaves through the tech landscape—not solely for the sheer scale of its numbers, but for the strategic vision behind them. With revenue soaring past $70 billion and subscription growth outpacing even bullish analyst estimates, Microsoft is...- WindowsForum AI
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- ai integration ai scalability cloud computing cloud infrastructure cloud revenue competitive landscape consumer copilot digital transformation enterprise software generative ai infrastructure investment innovation microsoft microsoft 365 subscription subscription bundling tech industry analysis tech industry trends tech strategy
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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How Microsoft’s AI Copilot & Bing are Revolutionizing Retail Shopping
When it comes to the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and retail, Microsoft has been making waves. A recent report highlights Microsoft’s successful partnership between its AI assistant, Copilot, and Bing, showcasing how these technologies are revolutionizing shopping experiences for...- WindowsForum AI
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- ai bing consumer copilot e-commerce innovation microsoft retail shopping experience
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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Windows 10 Microsoft release patch for October updates build 1703
Due a 'publishing problem' some users experienced problems after installing recent updates. This has now been rectified with details below: "Microsoft is aware of a publishing issue with the October 10th, 2017 monthly security updates for Windows 10 version1703 (KB4041676) and version 1607...- kemical
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- boot issues build 1703 business upgrade consumer devices download issues kb4041676 kb4041691 microsoft october patch publishing sccm security support update windows 10 windows server wsus
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
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NEWS Intel to release 8th generation of Core CPUs later this year
At a recent Investor Day, Intel finally gave us a formal launch window for its upcoming 8th generation of Core CPUs, dubbed Coffee Lake this time around. Expected to launch in the second half of 2017, the Coffee Lake update to the current Kaby Lake processors will offer an expected 15% bump in...- ragnarok1968
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- 14nm process architecture challenges chipset coffee lake consumer cores enterprise innovation intel investor day kaby lake lake moore's law performance processor release date six-core technology update
- Replies: 1
- Forum: The Water Cooler
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What Brands Of Monitors Are Good
I'm planning to get myself a "27 inch or 32 inch" monitor(Full HD 1080p). Basically for daily uses. I've checked brands like "LG, HP, DELL, SAMSUNG, and VIEWSONIC". Which brand has the best quality? What about ViewSonic? They used to be pretty good, but some said that they're not as good as...- EDLIU
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- 1080p 27 inch 32 inch brands consumer curved design daily use declining dell display full hd monitor quality recommendations sales samsung technology viewsonic
- Replies: 31
- Forum: Windows Hardware
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Windows 10 The Microsoft Services Agreement is updated
Your Services Agreement and Privacy Statement made clearer Link Removed Read the Microsoft Privacy Statement We are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. We’re making these updates to clarify our terms and...- kemical
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- agreement change consumer data effective features frequently asked questions microsoft onedrive online parents privacy products security services terms transparency update user account
- Replies: 6
- Forum: Windows Help and Support
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Make Use Of.com found a way to tell if Amazon Reviews are true
Make Use Of just posted a article on a website that checks Amazon's Reviews and let's you know if they seem fake. It's a must read. How to Know If You Can Trust an Amazon Product's Reviews- brkkab
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- amazon article consumer fake reviews guide make use of product review review shopping tips trust website
- Replies: 9
- Forum: General Computing
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Office Insider program
Much like the Windows 10 insider program users can now join the Office Insider program. The only requirements are: Reference Reference Windows Desktop for Consumer Office 365 subscriptions – PC for home use: To set up Office Insider on your PC, visit the Link Removedpage of My Account...- kemical
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- android beta testing build consumer desktop features feedback home insider inspiration mac microsoft 365 personal programs subscription university update version windows
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Software
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microsoft office for android, mixed results and feelings
I've been using my Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 as my primary device in recent months as opposed to my desktop As I am trying to embrace the mobile age and one of the things that I'm a little bit disappointed in is that a lot of its office apps are not too good with a lot of catches like subscriptions...- Ralph Bromley
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- alternatives android application comparison consumer disappointment experience functionality galaxy tab kingsoft microsoft mobile office pricing productivity review samsung software subscription wps office
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Microsoft Products and Community
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A Call for Better Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure
For years our customers have been in the trenches against cyberattacks in an increasingly complex digital landscape. We’ve been there with you, as have others. And we aren’t going anywhere. Forces often seek to undermine and disrupt technology and people, attempting to weaken the very devices...- News
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- advisory best practices collaboration complexity consumer coordinated cvd cybersecurity google information disclosure microsoft patch phishing protection research security software threats trustworthiness vulnerability
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Security Alerts
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Windows 8 HP recalls 6 million computer cords for fire risk
HP is warning customers: Check your laptop charging cord to see if it's at risk of overheating. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, Tech30) and federal regulators on Tuesday recalled 6 million power cords sold between September 2010 and June 2012 with some HP and Compaq notebook computers, as well as certain...- themonk
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- burns compaq consumer cord customer safety customer warning docking station electronics fire safety hewlett-packard notebook computers online tools overheating power cable property damage recall feature risk assessment safety tech news
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Hardware
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Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 Virus protection compared to other Windows
The news on anti-virus death is greatly exaggerated. The right way to look at it is that antivirus is not, and may never have been, a sufficient means by which to protect the user against attack. But, for most users, it's still an important front-line defense. One great advantage of Windows 8.1...- eralyn
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- antivirus av-test business consumer defense effective evaluation independent testing malware pcs protection research samples security software tablet threats virus windows 8.1
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
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Windows 8 Windows 8.1.1 Update Requirement Extended
If your running Windows 8.1 then in order to keep the os regularly updated the 8.1.1 update should be applied. Microsoft have extended the period for 30 days after which point the vanilla version of 8.1 will stop receiving updates: Ref: Link Removed We have a thread containing links for the...- kemical
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- community consumer deadline deployment devices enterprise experience extensions feedback microsoft patch safety security support troubleshooting update upgrade windows 8.1
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
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A look back on Windows XP: Success, simplicity and stupidity
So consider this to be a bit of self indulgence as I give my own eulogy at windows XP's funeral. Windows XP was my first full time operating system, and as it ends its support cycle its time for me to do some fun looking back on one of the computing worlds biggest successes and how it all went...- Ralph Bromley
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- accessibility blunders computing history consumer desktop environment home pc internet explorer legacy microsoft os features security simplicity success support cycle tech education user experience windows 7 windows vista windows xp
- Replies: 12
- Forum: Microsoft Products and Community
