Microsoft has a plan in place to get our money, one way or another. Extended Security Updates will be available to ALL Windows 10 users vice just corporations. Windows 10 reaches the end of support on October 14, 2025. Here is the reasoning as stated in the article below:
According to Statcounter Global Stats data, over 68% of all Windows systems are still running Windows 10, while only 26% of them run Windows 11.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-to-let-windows-10-home-users-buy-extended-security-updates/
With over the top hardware requirements for Windows 11, coupled with the rumored Windows 12 release, which is also "rumored", to have AI chip requirements. There isn't anything remotely close to common sense going on at Microsoft.
Another take on the coming fiasco with ESU paid updates to consumers. I have to agree with the author on this one.
https://www.neowin.net/editorials/paid-extended-windows-10-support-will-be-a-nightmare-for-consumers/
I think a subscription to 0Patch would be a cheaper option.
More on Microsoft and its 2024 release. Note how this "just happens to coincide" with newer AI powered devices:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-plans-big-2024-windows-release-with-heavy-on-ai-and-groundbreaking-features/
Back to one feature update per year
"Hudson Valley," the next-gen Windows release, will change (again) how Microsoft updates its operating system with new features. According to the report, Microsoft abandoned the idea of adding new capabilities to the OS with one or two updates every year. Now, it wants to release one yearly update full of new features.
Despite that, Windows 11 will most likely receive one more "moment" update in the first half of 2024 before Microsoft releases "Hudson Valley" somewhere in September or October. "Hudson Valley" will be based on the Germanium platform, and the first computers powered by it and ARM processors should hit store shelves in June 2024. Germanium will bring multiple improvements and platform enhancements that will benefit computers with ARM processors, such as the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon G Elite.