Are you currently using Windows XP, Vista, or 7?
You probably are. The vast majority of Windows users have not yet switched to Windows 8 – and probably will never switch.
If you’re part of that majority, then I have good news for you: Windows 9 could be free.
According to Mary Jo Foley – who has repeatedly demonstrated that she has inside sources at Microsoft – Windows 9 is in active development and Microsoft is considering some major promotional incentive offers.

Those offers could include free upgrade deals for Windows XP, Vista, and 7 users. Free upgrade deals would immediately boost the adoption of Windows 9 and boost some of Microsoft’s biggest fans onto modern operating systems.
Of course, a free upgrade offer would also cost Microsoft a lot of money.
Microsoft has never given away an operating system for free. It seems unlikely they would give away Windows 9 for free – even after the debacle that was Windows 8.

However, Microsoft would be crazy if they didn’t have some sort of promotional offer for all their fans still using older operating systems. I would expect an upgrade offer between $20 and $60 for early Windows 9 adopters.
But a free upgrade offer would be even better.
In any case, an early public preview of Windows 9 is expected to be released in fall 2014. A full consumer release is expected in spring 2015. We’ll keep you updated about any free PC upgrade offers!