Windows 10: Amazon confirms sales on USB sticks

The Windows 10 release will be released on July 29, for most users of Windows 7 and 8.1, the upgrade is free. If you are not qualified for the free update, you may have to buy a corresponding PC with a license of the predecessors (or with Windows 10) or the retail version with DVDs of the new Microsoft operating system. Alternatively, Microsoft’s USB sticks could be used to allow users to update or clean-install their windows. Corresponding rumors have been taking place in the past weeks.


Lesetipp: Windows 10 release on USB sticks?


These rumors now appear to be true. The US website from Amazon lists "USB Flash Drives" with Windows 10 Home and Pro. The prices are the official amounts that Microsoft has named for the US: approximately 200 US dollars for the Pro and approximately 120 US dollars for the Home version of Windows 10.

Lesetipp: Windows 10 - Microsoft calls official prices


As previously reported, the sticks come with Windows 10 in both 32- and 64-bit versions. However, only one of the variants is usable. A stick contains only one license. Apart from this, the waiting period might piss on impatient users. Amazon USA will be launching August 30th as the launching date for delivery - one month after the Windows 10 release.


Since Microsoft USB sticks with Windows 10 itself has not announced yet, the date of the 30th August could only be a placeholder - shortly before Amazon USA will have the August 16th specified. After all, the item is sold and shipped directly from Amazon, not via a merchant.


But before you can now cheer and order: Amazon the United States has not yet released corresponding product pages, according to the product descriptions Amazon USA also exclusively within the US borders. Exceptions are so-called "APO / FPO" addresses. These are, for example, US military bases outside the national borders.


At this time, the product pages for Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home on Amazon.com can only be seen as a quasi-confirmation for future USB sticks with the new Microsoft operating system. These would come mainly from users of ultrabooks and netbooks, which are usually not equipped with an optical drive. In addition, the Windows setup from the USB stick normally runs much faster than a disk.