I like Dell. My most used products are all Dell. My laptop is an XPS 13, my tablet is a Venue 8 Pro and my monitor also bears the badge. But I don't particularly like this message which appeared today alongside an update of the company's Backup and Recovery app. The update is supposed to be for Windows 10, allowing you to backup your stuff, create a recovery image and so on. Just like you could in Windows 8.1, but for Windows 10.
Only to create a system backup for Windows 10, or as far as I can see, use most of the apps features, you'll now be asked to pay for a premium license. £33.13 to be exact.
And I don't like that.
As the message up top shows, unless you stump up you'll only be able to recover back to Windows 8.1. Then go through upgrading all over again. And you won't be able to use the app to back up any of your data. OK, you've always needed a premium account to get the most from the app, including backing up all your data. And there are other, arguably better ways to do that part.
So now I, like many others, will be left with the decision to make. Personally, I'll probably take the risk, I don't really like being held to ransom. But the box in the image up top is persistent upon rebooting after the app updates until you do something. It's a pretty crummy way to try and sell a product. After all, we bought the products with this service included. I just hope that new machines sold with Windows 10 don't try and upsell, too.
Come on Dell, I know you can do better than this.
