Anyone who moves to a new Microsoft operating system in its first year of issue is taking their lives and their data into their hands. Microsoft doesn't need beta testers. They've got all of us to experiment on . . . except for those who refuse to work for them for free. Oh, and just for the record, I started with DOS 2.0. I know whereof I speak.
They are just trying to retain market share because they have been loosing ground lately. Think of it like the Saudis in an oil glut tied to OPEC about now. You loose market share (via Iran into oil market) and when things are about to get competative you want your market share regardless of its present value. I dont think they are doing it for "free". They need to keep the market share they have had for the last 30 years.
Windows 10 is better than Windows 8 and 95% of the population will suck it up for nothing more than its "free". Microsoft will get valuable feedback for minimal liability and almost assuredly a "service pack" will be available post rollout for "free". They need to sell it now to save face and fix it later if needed. "Give the people what they want" Yeah right? They need to capture new technology like touch screen, social networking protocol, graphics, "cloud" technology etc. and this may be their last bastion of hope to keep their market share.
Ive been working in the computer industry all my life and what the public reads and hears is "Hollywood" like anything else.
bld522: Let me know if you need any help with your newfangled software

. I have working processors, math coprocessors, chipsets, controllers, graphics, and BIOS for the original motherboards running Microsoft 1.0XX including IBM production test diagnostic software and working 80286-8 processors and math co-processors.
LMAO...yea, sure did!
Actually, I forgot, I actually started on the IBM keypunch computers (HIUS 3162), anyone remember those? before the TRS 80...duh, how did I forget that?
Im one of those original founders ("Dellionairs") you might have heard of for what thats worth. I was an original founder of Dell Computer (then PC's Limited).
Floppy disk! Remember them?
Top left was EGA color graphics BIOS for gaming etc (Dell 1986). Middle is Intel 80287 Math coprocessor which was a complement to the regular 80286 processor (square one on the right). It was a several hundred dollar add on so you could do advanced mathematical functions. All this is on your cell phones now btw. ENJOY!
Yep Cul I remember the punchcards. You had to turn your card in to the computer center and hope they didnt get any of them out of order or you whole program would be screwed up. You had to keep all those cards in order or no way the program would run. Memories eh? I remember the computer center would post a sign what the turnaround time would be. Sometimes it would take them the next day before they could run your cards. sometimes the mainframe would "eat" your cards and you would get them back n a box all out of order and that meant a week of work sorting and making new card to get your program in order again so you could run it. Sure was satisfying when you ran something without a hitch tho.