Imagine a flute that refuses to play without an Internet connection to log in to Azure.  Imagine a cello that emits a loud chime in the middle of Saint-Saëns' "The Swan" to remind you of tomorrow's dentist appointment.  Or a piano that glitches every other note because a background update process decided to run.  Or how about a saxophone with AI that caps off your solo with a snarky comment, "Woah, did you run out of air support or just talent?"

To an electronic musician the laptop or PC is our musical instrument.  With it, we are expected to provide flawless and uninterrupted performance for hours; in the studio, on stage, or in an orchestra pit.    The importance here of stable and reliable technology cannot be overstated, as neither Internet connectivity nor tolerance from producers, directors and conductors is assured.   We also need as much raw compute, memory, and I/O processing power available for our specialized software to complex digital signal processing with virtually zero latency.  Having the latest productivity and entertainment features that Windows offers is not only valueless in these situations, but can severely impair the computer's usability.

Not only musicians, but other professionals such as Audio/Video Producers, Visual Artists, and Engineers in STEM fields likewise require such dedicated  computing platforms that prioritize long-term stability and raw performance.  Microsoft already has the product: Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Service Channel)  It is a version of Windows designed for reliability and consistency over a much longer support lifecycle; meant for single-purpose and mission-critical devices. That perfectly describes our machines, but unfortunately, licensing of this product is virtually inaccessible.

Currently, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC is only licensed for device OEMs and to large organizations for their mission-critical systems. and is not generally available for purchase by individual consumers.  There is clearly a demand for this version, as there are a lot of sellers of dubious legitimacy online.   Personally, we went through the contract red tape with an authorized distributor and exclusively run genuine licenses of Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC on our live performance laptops.  They have been rock solid for years and perform much better than our Windows 11 Home machines that have better specs.   While tech savvy creatives have succeeded in moving to Linux, the only other frictionless option that exists to run mainstream applications is Apple.   To be fair, Macs are capable and beloved by creative professionals, however it is still a consumer-oriented OS with plenty of similar challenges.  Anecdotally we have not encountered a gig where peers using Mainstage have not had to reboot their MacBook at least once in the middle of a show during a multi-week production run!  Our Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC laptops just work every time, all the time!

Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC could also potentially draw more users away from outdated systems like Windows XP and 7, increasing sales while benefiting the broader technological ecology.  People say they still use XP because it just works and never changes.  The lack of security updates is immaterial to wise users who don't put the machines on an outside network.  Making Windows IoT LTSC available to all could eliminate barriers for individuals who are taking security risks just to have a highly stable system for dedicated use.  

Join us in asking Microsoft to open up retail access to all the benefits of Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC to individual consumers. Brand it as something like "Windows Zen". Let's make it possible for professionals to purchase genuine licenses for this reliable and long-lasting version of Windows, ensuring smooth and consistent performance over the lifetime of their "instruments". Please sign this petition to help get this important option available to a broader public. Your signature could make a significant difference in simplifying access to stable technology for creators worldwide.