Windows 7 Half-Price Sale Starts Friday

[MJA]

But U.S. shoppers who pre-order between June 26th and July 11th will receive discounts of 50% or more, Microsoft said. For instance, Windows 7 Home Premium will sell for $49 during the discount period, while Windows 7 Professional will sell for $99. Participating retailers include Best Buy and Amazon, as well as Microsoft's own online store.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218101425

[zoobie]

They used to wait in line for new Windows OS's...I think those days are gone
I wouldn't be surprised if MS put OS's on the back burner and developed other items for the masses...

[lordsmurf]

Windows just operates the system, it's not really useful for "features".

[bendixG15]

I wouldn't be surprised if MS put OS's on the back burner and developed other items for the masses...

MS has been trying for years to develope "other items for the masses". Trouble is, they don't know what to develop.

Some has suggested that the half price sale was born because Red Hat sales are up while Windows is languishing.

[RLT69]

The prices for the half cost sale is for UPGRADES versions not retail versions.

Windows 7 Home Premium is priced at $199, with an upgrade from Vista or XP costing $119.
Windows 7 Professional is $299, with upgrades going for $199.
Windows 7 Ultimate is priced at $319, with the upgrade version at $219.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218101425

Microsoft is not selling the retail version of Home at 75% off for $49!

[mrswla]

I'm a Windows 7 RC user right now. So does that mean if I bought one of these upgrade versions I would have to reinstall XP or Vista and then install the 7 upgrade?

[ocgw]

The prices for the half cost sale is for UPGRADES versions not retail versions.

Windows 7 Home Premium is priced at $199, with an upgrade from Vista or XP costing $119.
Windows 7 Professional is $299, with upgrades going for $199.
Windows 7 Ultimate is priced at $319, with the upgrade version at $219.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218101425

Microsoft is not selling the retail version of Home at 75% off for $49!

Even then they are charging $50USD for what amounts to a service pack

ocgw

peace

[PowerFalcon]

What about for Canadians ? We seem to always get screwed over, I hate this damn country already.

[handyguy]

MS said that if you buy a Vista PC, you get W7 for free.

[PowerFalcon]

You expect most people to to do that? And besides what is the time frame for the purchase of a Vista PC from which date to which date?

[MOVIEGEEK]

MS said that if you buy a Vista PC, you get W7 for free.

This is a good promotion but I would wait till October and buy a new PC with 7 on it, that way there's less chance of problems.
The promotion runs 6/26-01/31/10.

'Prior to Windows 7's launch, starting on Friday of this week, Microsoft will offer a "technology guarantee" program to people who buy new Windows Vista-based PCs from participating retailers or PC makers. That program, running through January, will give those PC buyers free upgrades to Windows 7 when it comes out. The offer applies to PCs wih Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate.'
http://www.techflash.com/microsoft/49087111.html

[PowerFalcon]

Microsoft needs to iron out some of the wrinkles in the pricing of Windows 7.

a) What about previous Vista owners wanting to upgrade ?
b) What about Windows XP owners wanting to upgrade, which brings up Vista upgrades should cost less then XP
c) What about the cost of new purchases ?

And Microsoft should have a 30 day promotion where as you can get Windows 7 for at least $49.00 no matter if it's US or Canada. You will be able to pick up the latest release of OSX for $29.00 at that cost no wonder no one pirates OSX.

[RLT69]

MS said that if you buy a Vista PC, you get W7 for free.

That is incorrect. From the article:

"Anyone who buys a PC from a participating OEM or retailer with Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate on it will all receive an upgrade to the corresponding version at little or no cost to customers," wrote LeBlanc."

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?article...on=All+Stories

It is unclear what the purchase date is for people who buy PCs with Vista preinstalled can upgrade to Windows 7 at the discounted price.

[MOVIEGEEK]

PCWorld.com says it will be a free upgrade for those who buy a Vista PC:
'Microsoft said that customers who will buy a new a new Windows Vista machine between now and October 22 would get free upgrades to their respective versions of Windows 7. The offer is available for Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions. Computers shipped with Windows Vista Home Basic will not be eligible for an upgrade. The offer runs until January 2010.'
http://www.pcworld.com/article/167444/windows_7_upgrade_faq.html

This official website says it's available worldwide for those who buy a Vista PC from 6/26-10/22:
https://windows7upgradeoption.com/Landing.aspx

Also the upgrade discs offer(through Amazon,etc) is available to US,Canadian and Japanese residents...so take this info with a grain of salt because I haven't seen an official statement from MS.

[edDV]

Here is the direct link to MS W7 Upgrade Option Program Information
https://windows7upgradeoption.com/ProgramInformation.aspx

Here is the pricing
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-Windows-7/category/102?WT.mc_id=msccomhpfeature_win7

[edDV]

It looks like you can upgrade from any XP or Win2000 to W7 Home Premium for $49.99.
The upgrade includes both 32 and 64 bit versions.

You need W7 Pro at $99.99 to get XP emulation
"Run many existing Windows XP productivity applications in Windows XP Mode. 2"

[KTH]

Will the upgrade version of Windows 7 invalidate your XP or Vista key like upgrading from XP to Vista. I don't know if I would call going from XP to Vista an upgrade though.

[edDV]

I think you can run your old XP as a dual boot on the same hardware. To my knowledge, that has always been the case.

I'm wondering what the home built Win7 OEM prices will be for new machines.

[hudsonf]

I'm a Windows 7 RC user right now. So does that mean if I bought one of these upgrade versions I would have to reinstall XP or Vista and then install the 7 upgrade?

right from a microsoft faq page "I am running Windows XP, can I upgrade to Windows 7?

Microsoft designed Windows 7 Upgrade media for Windows Vista. A customer with Windows XP can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade media but must back up their files, clean install, and then reinstall their applications." So you will be able to do a clean install. There may even be a way to install over the RC and not have to lose everything.

[Jake802]

The upgrade includes both 32 and 64 bit versions."

Has this been confirmed?

[edDV]

The upgrade includes both 32 and 64 bit versions."

Has this been confirmed?

It comes right off the MS page
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-Upgrade/product/B0F9E641

[mrswla]

I'm a Windows 7 RC user right now. So does that mean if I bought one of these upgrade versions I would have to reinstall XP or Vista and then install the 7 upgrade?

right from a microsoft faq page "I am running Windows XP, can I upgrade to Windows 7?

Microsoft designed Windows 7 Upgrade media for Windows Vista. A customer with Windows XP can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade media but must back up their files, clean install, and then reinstall their applications." So you will be able to do a clean install. There may even be a way to install over the RC and not have to lose everything.

I'm not running XP, I'm running 7RC. I knew from the beginning that installing 7RC I would have to do a clean install when 7RC was offically released. But what I don't want to do is reinstall XP just to install 7. I would like to just format my harddrive and install 7 from a clean drive. But that sounds like I would have to get an oem or full version of windows 7, not the upgrade. Is there a way to just install win7 on a clean drive and use my old XP key?

[yoda313]

Ok I'm confused here. I have a hp pc I bought from office depot a couple years ago. Its running vista premium 32bit oem.

That doesn't mean I'm eligible does it?

One thing now does make it a little interesting for Windows 7 to me - this h264 integration into windows media center. While I do have a western digital tv media player and a ps3 I do like the media center coupled with my xbox 360. Even though all of them are in the same room the 360 is really slick with the media center. I do have the hauppauge hd pvr now and it records h264 in m2ts files. Would windows 7 play them natively in media center now? And would that work with the 360?

That might be worth 50.00 right there.

Oh and would a dual core amd 2.7ghz with 2gbs ram be suitable for windows 7?

[MOVIEGEEK]

The upgrade includes both 32 and 64 bit versions."

Has this been confirmed?

On the MS site it says 'This product includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.', I assume it detects what version you already have.

That doesn't mean I'm eligible does it?

Unfortunately no, you have to buy one from 6/26-10/22.

Oh and would a dual core amd 2.7ghz with 2gbs ram be suitable for windows 7?

Run the compatibilty advisor: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx

[yoda313]

Unfortunately no, you have to buy one from 6/26-10/22

Ah. Ok.

But at least I could buy just an upgrade disc and not a full copy and I could install it on my vista pc. Those normally run what a 100.00 for an upgrade version instead of the full suite? Or is it 150.00 for a upgrade package?

I may not be so ready to upgrade if its in that range. I don't really need it right now.

[edDV]

The upgrade includes both 32 and 64 bit versions."

Has this been confirmed?

On the MS site it says 'This product includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.', I assume it detects what version you already have.

I hope it means you can install 32 bit now and reinstall as 64 bit later under the same key.

[Jake802]

Thanks edDV

[edDV]

Unfortunately no, you have to buy one from 6/26-10/22

Ah. Ok.

But at least I could buy just an upgrade disc and not a full copy and I could install it on my vista pc. Those normally run what a 100.00 for an upgrade version instead of the full suite? Or is it 150.00 for a upgrade package?

I may not be so ready to upgrade if its in that range. I don't really need it right now.

Per the MS site
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-Upgrade/product/B0F9E641

W7 Home Premium Upgrade List = $119.99 Pro is $199.99

[yoda313]

W7 Home Premium Upgrade List = $119.99 Pro is $199.99

Thanks.

Hmmm.... The price of two video games.... might be worth it. Any confirmation on that h264 compatibility in windows media center? I swore I saw that in another article somewhere.....

[edDV]

W7 Home Premium Upgrade List = $119.99 Pro is $199.99

Thanks. .....

W7 Home Premium Upgrade Pre-order Price = $49.99 Pro is $99.99