FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Current netbook alternatives

Feb 16, 2016 | 4:36 pm

#33

WIRunner

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nkedel

In general, most new business line machines with Windows 10 Professional will have downgrade rights. In practice, even if sold with Windows 10 (non-Pro, what used to be "Home") most Dell and Lenovo machines will have a royalty-OEM key in the BIOS, and be downgradeable in practice even if not technically licensed for it.

Keep in mind that on the next generation of machines post-Sky Lake (coming out late this year, probably early next for real retail availability) will officially be unsupported with any earlier OS, and while it's not clear that means you can't use Windows 7, it does mean that driver support is going to be a lot more limited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Error 601

I haven't encountered an HP (of any description) yet that didn't still have the SLIC keys for Windows 7 baked in. This includes the HP Stream Mini that I had to temporarily install Windows 7 on for compatibility reasons.

Correct, access to the license. If it is baked in, no worries. This isn't always the case, and as mentioned in the future it won't be possible at all to use an OS older than W10.

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