Windows 10 won't be coming to everybody who wants it on July 29, as Microsoft's official launch date might imply. Instead, the company will be conducting a more gradual rollout. A new post on the Windows blog by VP Terry Myerson details the exact schedule for the release that would-be upgraders can expect, and the reality is more nuanced than a monolithic launch date might lead one to believe.
As it turns out, the new OS will first be deployed to members of the Windows Insider Program—those who have been testing Win10 in its prerelease form. Microsoft will then use feedback gathered from this first wave to "listen, learn and update the experience for all Windows 10 users." Regular folk who have reserved the operating system will then be notified in gradually increasing numbers from there on out.
The Windows reservation widget that so many of us have probably noticed in our system trays of late isn't just for putting one's name on the list, either. It appears that Microsoft will be gathering information about the quality of upgraders' experiences and conducting readiness checks on PCs still in line for the upgrade in order to ensure a smooth experience.
Users might be warned about incompatible apps or devices before the upgrade, but it appears that those with incompatibilities will still be able to install Windows 10, for the most part—they'll just be helped to find "alternative compatible solutions in the Windows Store after [they] upgrade."