Microsoft will distribute Windows 10 on USB sticks, just like Paul Thurrott predicted a month ago. The USB drives are already available for pre-order on Amazon in both Home and Pro editions.
Getting the USB drive won’t be the fastest way to get the new operating system. Right now, Amazon states they won’t arrive until August 16. Windows 10 beta testers will be able to download the final version on July 29, followed by a rollout to other users over multiple days.
Amazon is currently the only place to order a physical copy of Windows 10. Neither the Microsoft Store nor Best Buy have the USB stick listed right now.
The USB option also means paying for an upgrade that is free to existing Windows machines. The prices for the USB version of Windows 10 are the same as Windows 8.1: $119 for Windows 10 Home and $199 for Windows 10 Pro. Windows 7 and 8 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free for the first year.
However, if a user is building a computer from scratch, doesn’t have a fast enough internet connection, or doesn’t have Windows 7 or 8, a USB stick may be the only way to get the newest version of Windows.
Apple sold USB drives with OS X Lion for users who wanted a physical copy of the operating system or didn’t have fast enough internet speeds. However, they now allow users to create a bootable drive for upgrading systems, or users can upgrade in an Apple store.
