triple_l: windows store - its worrisome cause microsoft power can threaten innovative stores like GOG
Exactly why I won't be using it. It IS optional. For now, at least. And if that ever changes then I'll switch to Linux. I've had my toes in it since 1998 and actively working toward getting myself off of system locked software and using open source/cross platform whenever possible. The last holdouts have been Adobe products due to my job... still not sure what I'm going to do about those if I need to jump ship to Linux. WINE is an option for older versions, but I have to stay up with the latest versions for client compatibility.
forced telemetry - with always-on net software providers feel they need to monitor you and i'm against it
Again, this is only for the dev/insider preview. This is not going into the retail release. And if it "accidentally" does, security experts will raise all kinds of hell.
forced auto-updates - they already confirm this, with the home edition you no longer have choice and that is very bad
You and I interpret that very differently. I read it as home users can't turn off updates entirely (which, let's be honest, is a good thing), not that updates are forced on them at Microsoft's whim. I, personally, always have updates automatically downloaded, but don't let them install until I'm ready for them. Which I've not seen anything with their statement that indicates otherwise.
internet as requirement - in the past never saw microsoft listing internet as a requirement for a OS and that for me is worrisome
Internet has been a requirement since at least 2000/2001, and even earlier than that for Linux, early 90's even. Where you been the last 15 or so years?
windows as a service/client - personal computers were never "clients" but stand-alone machines, so making it a client means less power to you user and more to the provider
Personal computers have always been clients. You either have the server bundled in, as is with most computers these days, or you have a "thin client" that is little more than a screen with a keyboard and mouse, connecting to a server.
I think you're confusing "service" with "server". Windows as a service is worrisome only in so much as they could, at some point, start charging a subscription fee. You already have this, basically, in the enterprise environment. But, unless they've been lying through their teeth (which I absolutely wouldn't put it past them), Windows is not moving to a subscription model. What they are saying with "Windows as a service" is that they want to move away from "versions" and just have Windows, so you're always on the latest Windows with the latest updates. No more of this clinging to a 14 year old operating system that's the bane of security and the boon of malware dealers everywhere.
It's a bit like what Apple has done with OS X. Instead of charging $130 for the new version, they're just giving it away for free, because the more people using the latest version with the latest security updates, the better for everyone (except malware pushers, of course). Apple's money comes from their hardware. Microsoft's money comes from their business products and enterprise. Windows licenses are a drop in the bucket and they can give it away like candy and not be affected, financially, in the least. Hell, the vast majority of Windows licenses are to OEMs which are often given it for free or nearly free, anyway. No, Dell/HP/Lenovo/Toshiba/etc. does not pay the same $100 for an OEM Windows that you pay... if they pay anything, it's maybe $10.