Windows 10 Support for Older Hardware is at Risk

Microsoft with the Windows 10 operating system has been moved into a Software as a Service (SaaS) model instead of the more traditional 5 + 5 model of earlier versions of Windows. (meaning, 5 years of feature and security updates, and 5 extra years for security updates only.) Microsoft included a hardly read note that you are eligible for Windows 10 for the “supported lifetime of the device.”  The problem is that each Windows 10 update receives security fixes for just 18 months. Version 1607, the latest that these Clover Trail machines can install, will drop out of support in early 2018 - after which they'll cease to receive any patches at all.

"The following Intel Clover Trail processors are currently not supported on Windows 10 Creators Update:

• Atom Z2760
• Atom Z2520
• Atom Z2560
• Atom Z2580

Acer is working with Microsoft to resolve this issue but how long before other processor’s support is pulled as well. With hardware evolving the push is on to continue to write code to take advantage of it and there is a lot of overhead to keep code in for machines that meet these expectations. It stands to reason that Microsoft will continuously prefer to support new and newer systems, choosing to prioritize these over older hardware configurations.