The Windows 10 Farewell Tour: AI PCs, Tariffs, and Subscription Support

On this episode of Tech Brewed, host Greg Doig dives into the drama surrounding Windows 10's upcoming end-of-life deadline. With Microsoft set to end support in October 2025, nearly half of all PC users are still hanging on to Windows 10, prompting businesses to pay extra for extended security updates rather than upgrading. Greg breaks down the sluggish PC upgrade cycle, the rising popularity of AI-powered computers, and how major players like Dell and HP are navigating this tech transition. From skyrocketing costs for extended Windows 10 support to the surprising demand for AI PCs, this episode unpacks why change is so hard—and why the next big shift in computing might be powered by artificial intelligence. Grab your favorite drink and let’s make sense of the moves, the holdouts, and what it all means for the future of tech.

Transcript

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Welcome to techbrood with your host Greg Doig. We dive deep into the latest tech trends, innovations and conversations that matter. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, industry professional, or just curious about how technology is shaping our world, you found the right place. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let's explore the fascinating world of technology together. The great Windows 10 holdout a love Story that Needs to End Greg I'm your host Greg Doig, and today we're talking about something that's given Microsoft Executives stress induced itwitches Windows 10 users who just won't go the support ends in October 2025, and yet approximately 50% of PC users are still clinging to Windows 10 like it's their favorite pair of worn out jeans. Dell and HP executives basically confirmed this in their recent earnings calls. The PC upgrade cycle is apparently moving at the speed of government bureaucracy. They're saying this migration will stretch through 2026 with businesses leading the charge because, well, they have IT departments that actually make decisions. Some of these companies are actually paying Microsoft to keep Windows 10 on life support for another year. They're monetizing it. Their Extended Security Updates program is like a subscription service for commitment issues. Year 1 $61 per device Year 2 $122 Year 3,$244 by year three, you're paying more to avoid a Windows 11 than most people spend on their Netflix, Spotify and Disney plus combined. Talk about expensive nostalgia. HP's consumer PC shipments jumped 8% last quarter, and commercial shipments were up 3%. But here's the plot twist. AI PCs made up 25% of their sales, which beat their expectations. Apparently people will upgrade for artificial intelligence, but not for a slightly different start menu. Meanwhile, Dell's playing a different game. Their consumer revenue dropped 7%. But, and this is peak capitalism, they made more money by charging higher prices. Dell's Jeff Clark is betting on moderate growth because, and I quote the business logic here, computers get old and Windows 10 is about to become a digital ghost town. The global PC market grew 6.5% overall, but Dell somehow managed to swim against the tide with a 3.2% decline. But here's the silver lining. Gartner predicts AI PCs will hit 77.8 million units this year. That's 31% of the entire global PC market. Apparently the future is artificially intelligent. And just to make this whole situation extra spicy, PC prices are going up thanks to tariffs. HP CEO mentioned that AI PCs with Microsoft's Copilot plus certification cost 5% to 10% more than regular computers. Half the computing world is playing chicken with Microsoft's support deadline. Businesses are literally paying to avoid change, and somehow, AI computers are the unexpected heroes of this whole drama. Will Windows 10 users finally upgrade? Will Microsoft's extended support program become their most profitable accidental business model? Find out next time on as the Operating System Turns. But kidding aside, that's all for this episode. Remember, change is inevitable. Except from Windows 10 users, apparently. And as always, hey, keep your drivers updated and your coffee stronger than your WI fi signal. Foreign thank you for tuning in to another episode of Tech Brood. If you enjoyed today's discussion, don't forget to subscribe. Wherever you get your podcasts, have questions or suggestions for future topics, reach out on our website or social media channels. Until next time. Greg asked me to remind you that the future of tech is brewing right now, and we're all part of that journey. Stay curious, stay connected, and we will catch you on our next episode.